Life & Style

Life Skill #85: Loading a moving truck

Packing a moving truck is like cutting your own hair. The more you do it, the better you'll be at it. (One common pointer: The chance for success increases substantially if you keep the beer on ice until the work is done.) Here are tips to help things go more smoothly:

In a perfect world, all the boxes would be the same size. "But the reality is they're not," says Dean Schroeder, a 33-year veteran of United Parcel Service, where he trains the managers who train the people who load the trailers. "Ideally, if you have a choice, it would be good to have them all the same size and shape."

Load the heaviest items first: a fridge or piano. Move them to the front of the truck, and equalize the weight. Use moving pads or blankets to cover furniture and prevent damage (pillows, comforters, towels and cushions make good padding too). Break down what you can (bed frames, for example) and fit them in where there's space.

You want a snug fit, so things are held in place. But not so compacted that boxes get crushed and items damaged.

If you're moving just boxes, start loading from the front of the truck to the back. Begin with what Schroeder calls a cornerstone. "It's the package that sets the depth and height of your wall, and it's a sturdy one," he says. "Maybe 18 to 24 inches wide, by 12 to 24 high. That package is usually touching the last wall, the end of the trailer, and that sets the depth."

UPS trains its crews to work from left to right. Put the cornerstone on the left side, then the next package should be the same height.

Heavier and sturdier packages go on the bottom, lighter ones on top. Build at least three shelves of boxes, rather than one tall (and unstable) column. For anything stacked above chest level, use a small stepladder.

Designate a loader. Others assisting with the move can bring things out to the truck, but it works best if one person is inside fitting pieces together and acting as the team quarterback.

Use all the space, not only so things don't shift during transit, but also for efficiency purposes. "Smaller packages are used as filler," Schroeder says. "If I have packages of different sizes, I may have space between or behind. I'm filling that space with smaller packages while I'm still building the shelves."

Essentials to go suggests packing a box or suitcase of necessities. If they're all in one place, you won't have to spend your first night in the new place digging in boxes looking for a toothbrush or the next morning looking for clean underwear. A tool kit and a box of cleaning items should also be among the last items on the truck, and thus the first off.

— W.H.

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