Feedback on Movers
 

Planning and researching for a future move. Does anybody has any experience dealing with any of the movers below or any other movers. Is there any one better than other or they all are same. They all charge by weight using Tariff 400-N and 18% :wow: fuel surcharge. Any tips in dealing with movers.

Atlas Van lines
North American Van Lines
United Van Lines

Have you tried Two Men and a Truck? I hear some things about them...

good luck

Juan

I've used United to move across country twice and they were excellent. The local branch i used was Liberty Moving on Long Island. If you want their contact info let me know.

No, Did not hear about them. Have you used them or heard good about them?

DO NOT USE "Two Men and a Truck". DO NOT!

LeMans, I used this free service (free to me anyway) to setup my move from NY to California in 1998 and my move back to CT in 01. Essentially they do all of the work for you in finding the movers, help you compare the estimates, and if something breaks or you get a credit, they help you get your $ back. I would absolutely use them again.

They also found me prices on car transporters and set that up for me as well. A great time saver, and at the price I paid, well worth the $$.

No, I did not use them myself, but (for some reason) they are all over the place here in the Charlotte area. I've just heard good things about them, that's all. Just trying to give you another choice... Apparently, X5 User has a differing view on them. That's all I know...

I used Atlas to move to Phx from OC,CA 1 year ago. Service varies by location/franchisee. My best advice is to buy the absolute best insurance available from them i.e. full replacement coverage with zero deductible. I had ~$800.00+ worth of claims that were handled without question since I bought the insurance. If you have the option, make sure your stuff does not get crated and handled twice!

Oh, I forgot to mention. We used Wheaton to move to Cali, and Allied to move back. The companies are all pretty much the same. It's all about the driver!

I agree.

Doesn't matter the company, but go with a national one. As previously stated...it's about the driver. Are you paying or is this a company move....I would get at least three estimates and compare the weights. You don't want to get screwed on the price unless it's a binding move....jmo good luck! These things are unfortunately a crap shoot....................

I am paying myself for this. :banghead: They have given different estimates of weight, but say that they will weigh the truck before and after loading and I pay based on actual weight. They all use what they call "400-N tariff" (whatever that is) and their discount ranges from 61 to 65%.

The 400-N Tariff is the regulations that govern all movers by federal law. They will weigh the truck before and after, but it is still good to know that the estimator's are close...you don't want any big surprises. In the end go with who you like if all things are the same. This is the person you will call if things should go bad. Are you packing yourself? If so, will they give you free used boxes...that can be a bonus too!Oh, another thing, will the move be handled by their agency or are they bringing in a a driver from somewhere else(self haul or line driver is the term)...just a question to ask.

Look at all the cahrges...
 

I have used Wheaton, Allied and Atlas mainly for x-country moves. Used Two Men and a Truck for a local move here in Tampa.


The gotcha with movers are all the extra charges that add up (flights of stairs, large objects, parking permits, etc.) these can be small in comparison with the overall $/Mile, but they do add up. The other things to ask about is the discount off of noraml rates. 60 - 65% is not uncommon. Moving rates also go down significantly after the summer moving season. Better rates are available after Labor Day until the Holidays.

Also ask about how many packers they intend to use and are they from a reliable source. The driver / owner is incented to keep costs down by hiring fewer packers / loaders. This can slow things down or can introduce less than professional staff into the equation.


- Ask for the details.

United twice...moving is such a pain in the a$$.

Even though you're paying the bill yourself, there are certain circumstances where the moving expenses where tax deductable. I've deducted over $10k in moving expenses when i moved from NY-LA-NY.

check this out:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/

It is major pain. Thanks everyone.

I have some slightly different thoughts. My experience is based on 12 company-paid moves in 21 years of marriage, all with 2 kids along, 3 of those moves were overseas. We have used Atlas, Allied, and a few you haven't listed (overseas).

1) I don't think the driver matters much at all. Usually they were contract drivers. The packers matter most, and then the crew chief for loading the truck. If the packing is done right, the driver is irrelevant. If the packing or loading is done wrong, even the best driver won't save your stuff.

2) Go for packing references at the origin. Pick your mover based on those references. If you have a professional moving company the rates differ slightly, for equivalent services. As another poster noted, it is the extras that will kill you. One quote may have them in, another will low-ball it but the extras bring it back to the same price. Unloading is simple compared to packing. Don't pack yourself unless you have done it enough to be good at it. If you do pack yourself, buy proper packing materials. Don't skimp on boxes or paper. Full detailed inventories. Sign off every box when they carry it in to the truck, and carry it off. One set-up box to go in last, and come out first.

3) Have a full and itemized inventory before the packers arrive. We maintain our inventory between moves, it makes it simpler. It is currently over 1000 lines, all with serial numbers, purchase details, reference photos, etc. It makes claims very easy, if you do need to make claims. Household insurance is pretty easy as well.

4) Full value moving insurance. Anything less is a big gamble.

5) Get rid of everything that you really don't need, before the movers give you a quote (or mark it as not going so it isn't priced in). Amazing how much junk we all accumulate.

6) Don't share a truck or container.

7) The packers are your friends. Don't hover over them, but do let them know your expectations. They will usually have one very qualified packer, and some labourers. If you are lucky, it will be a packing team that always works together, and knows lots of packing tricks. If you see things going on that you don't like, stop them and contact the moving company. Ensure that they have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available. A little extra effort from them makes everything go much easier.

Good luck.

Good points, JCL. Thanks. The United guy did mention that they will put some other stuff in the 53' truck with my stuff. :mad:

My experience is that it doesn't really matter about what moving company you are using, rather it's all about the driver and the crew. If you get a good driver/crew then the moving experience can be a breeze. Get a bad one and you're hosed!! Most big moving firms have both good and bad crews. The trick is to find out from referrals the good crews and make a special request to have them on your move. It's worth the effort, believe me!

(note that with my moves, the driver was also the crew chief - so the driver was the lynch pin to the whole deal, as he set the expectations for how the job was going to be handled)

:goodluck:

2 years ago, I used fairly big moving company here in N. VA. Everything went well up until when my wife asked where was our Sony Vega TV. I looked in the back of the truck and they had multiple blankets on top of the TV. The guy had no response.

I also rode with the guy.

The only advice i can give is to make sure everything is accounted for and good luck.

My experience with allied moving company was okay. The driver was very nice, polite and explained everything.

We used them, they were great. (Unlike our local United affiliate who scratched the crap out of our hardwoods and it looks like a critter let loose over our wood furniture)

That is a thread really resuscitated from death! :confused:

:wow: Back from dead.
I ended up using North American and it was a bad experience. They driver was bad guy who picked up some help from street and was cutting corners. Got 2 guys for a 4 guy job. They broke lot of furniture as driver said that truck broke on the way and had to be towed. I had bought full insurance but they only reimbursed for repairs. It was a nightmare. Never again with North American. :thumbdown