March 11, 2025

What NOT to Put on the Moving Truck!

Moving to a new home can be a thrilling adventure, but mostly it’s exhausting and arduous – especially packing and hauling everything you own from one place to another. In fact,  some might experience the process as stress-inducing heartburn! But to make the move safe for your belongings and everybody involved, there’s a definite list of DON’Ts — things to leave OFF the moving truck. 

One professional mover says, “My rule of thumb has always been: if it blows up or makes a mess, could be injured or die in transit, keep it off the moving truck.” Some items that pose a danger seem like common sense exclusions (explosives, flammables, chemicals) others might not be so clear-cut (batteries, paint, important paperwork).

Top 10 List 

Here are the top 10 items movers agree that should either be disposed of or transported in your own vehicles. 

  1. Wax candles, lighters and matches
  2. Gasoline or kerosine
  3. Household cleaning products
  4. Fertilizers
  5. Food and perishables
  6. Houseplants
  7. Pets, including those in cages or tanks
  8. Valuables: expensive items, jewelry, heirlooms and items that are irreplaceable
  9. Important or sensitive documents: passports, birth certificates, deeds and legal documents
  10. Prescriptions, medical equipment and mobility devices

Move Firearms Safely (and Legally!)

It might not seem so, but transporting firearms during a move can be complicated, since federal and state regulations vary. Some firearms may be transported legally, while others may require special permits. If you plan to move pistols, rifles or shotguns, first ensure that they’re unloaded and stored securely in a locked container. Keep the ammunition separate from the firearms, and follow all legal requirements for transporting them, especially across state lines.

Moving Horror Stories

One moving company shared the story of a customer moving from California to Idaho with a large safe. He was told both verbally and in writing that the safe had to be transported EMPTY. En route to Idaho, the moving truck was stopped for regular inspection in Utah, the inspector held up the move to ensure that the safe was empty, and found a firearm was in the safe which delayed the move and caused a series of legal proceedings to prove that the company and driver were innocent.  Guess who paid those legal bills?

Rather than take a chance, do your homework to follow specific laws or consider using a licensed firearms dealer or a specialized firearm transportation service like ShipMyGun.com. They can ensure compliance with all legal regulations applicable to your move.

Where’s the Cat?

A recent issue of Forbes Magazine recounts the story of Anna Chiranova, Founder of Uncanproduction, when she decided to move. After sending off non-essential items like furniture, extra clothes, and such, Anna thought she was off to a good start. “We go to head out and realize, um. Where’s our cat?” said Anna. “We called the movers, and they said they’d keep an eye out for him. They found him hiding in a hole in the couch, terrified out of his mind.” Word to the wise: locate pets BEFORE the movers pull out of the driveway.

Movers’ Logic

When relocating for work, a man packed a box of computer hard drives tight into an emptied cabinet drawer with bubble wrap to keep them safe. When the movers arrived, they were told about the packed drawer and everyone agreed to leave it as it was. Fast forward three weeks, to the new place and to the man’s horror upon finding the movers had relocated all the hard drives into a large box of other unrestricted computer components which destroyed two 2TB drives full of important scans, docs and files. Transport important files and documents yourselves.

What If the Truck Crashes?

Cheryl Polson, Graduate Education and Outreach Director at Kansas State University packed up a truck full of family heirlooms and antiques along with other belongings and waved off the movers as they headed from Denver to Carbondale, CO. The four hours to their new destination didn’t seem to warrant extra insurance. But while the weather was supposed to be mild that winter day, an unexpected storm in the mountains iced the roads making travel precarious. Short story: the moving truck lost traction on a turn and upended, decimating thousands of dollars’ worth of uninsured antiques. The moral of this story: opt for insuring your valuables to the maximum against damage, theft and loss!).

Looking Glass: Community in Proximity

When moving to Looking Glass, it doesn’t hurt to referrals from the residents who live here and have made the move before you on the group Facebook page. It’s one way to start getting acquainted with your neighbors in this friendly assortment of people who look out for each other! The builders in this Parker community, Dream Finders Homes, Taylor Morrison, D.R. Horton (and soon Richmond American Homes) design and build for the today’s, with multiple parks, trails and amenities. Check out this lively master-planned community today!