How to Prepare and Pack for a Backload Move
To prepare for a backload, book 4 to 6 weeks ahead, plan around a pick-up and delivery window rather than a single day, and send an accurate room-by-room inventory. Pack in sturdy, labelled cartons that stack well, keep valuables with you, and check your insurance covers goods in transit.
On a dedicated truck, if you suddenly remember the outdoor setting on the back deck, there's usually room for it. On a backload there might not be. The space on the truck was planned around the list you gave us, and the rest of it belongs to someone else's move. A backload rewards people who are organised. Here's how we'd prepare if it were our own move.
Sort the timing first
Book early
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead where you can. School holidays and the end of the year are when demand is highest, so give yourself more time again if your move falls then.
Plan around a window, not a day
Backloads are scheduled around the other jobs on the trip, so we'll work with you on a window of a few days rather than one fixed date. We give you two weeks' notice of your pick-up and delivery day.
Think about what that means for you. Where will you sleep if the furniture leaves before you do? What if it arrives a couple of days after you? A night or two at a mate's place, a furnished rental, or short-term storage with us can cover the gap. Sort it before you book, not the night before. If your dates can't move at all, our dedicated interstate removals service gives you definite loading and unloading times instead.
Make the inventory honest
This is the step that makes or breaks a backload. If you're new to shared loads, start with what backloading is and how it works. We plan the space on the truck from your list, so if the list is short, your things may not fit in the space we've set aside.
Use our Detailed Quote form. It goes room by room and adds up your cubic metres as you go. A few tips on what gets missed:
Walk the whole property. Garage, shed, carport, under the house, the side passage, the back deck. Pot plants, bikes, the barbecue and the kids' trampoline all take up room.
Measure the big stuff. Corner lounges, fridges, wall units, a king bed base. Jot down the length, width and height.
Count your boxes, roughly. Even a rough number is a lot better than "a few".
Declutter before you quote. Every cubic metre you sell, donate or take to the tip is space you don't pay for.
Items that aren't on your list can change your quote, or leave us short of room on the day. If something changes after you've quoted, let us know straight away.
Pack for a shared truck
Your boxes will be stacked and strapped alongside other people's goods, so they need to hold their shape and be easy to identify.
Boxes that stack
Use proper removal cartons, not fruit boxes or garbage bags. We can supply standard cartons, book cartons and porta-robes.
Heavy things in small boxes, light things in big ones. Books and tins in a big carton are a back injury waiting to happen.
Fill the gaps with packing paper so nothing shifts, and wrap fragile items one by one.
Tape the top and bottom properly. A box that won't close flat can't be stacked.
Labels that can't be missed
Each customer's load is kept separate on the truck with dividers, but labels still matter. Write your surname, the room it's going to and a box number on at least two sides of every carton. Keep a list of the numbers so you can tick them off at the other end.
Furniture
Take beds apart if you can, put the bolts in a zip-lock bag and tape it to the frame. Empty drawers and cupboards. Clear out your fridge and washing machine and have them ready on moving day. Our crew will blanket and strap every piece, and delicate items get wrapped inside the house before they go anywhere near the truck.
If you'd rather not do it all yourself, we offer a professional packing service. Lots of people split it: they pack the everyday stuff and let us do the glassware and the good furniture. Have a look at our packing and storage page.
What not to pack
We don't carry aerosols or gas bottles, so leave those out. Keep other flammable or dangerous things off the truck too, such as fuel, paint thinners and pool chemicals, and drain the fuel from the mower and the whipper snipper. If you're unsure about an item, ask us when you book.
Keep documents, valuables, medication, keys and anything you can't replace with you, not on the truck.
Pack a bag for the gap
Because your things might arrive a day or two after you, pack a bag or a tub that travels in the car. Sheets and pillows, a few changes of clothes, phone chargers, medication, the kettle and some mugs, pet food, and whatever keeps the kids happy.
Sort out insurance before pick-up
Armstrong Removals holds general freight insurance covering pick-up and set-down of goods. It doesn't include in-transit insurance. So before moving day:
Ring your home and contents insurer and ask whether your policy covers your belongings while they're with a removalist in transit.
If it doesn't, arrange transit cover.
Take a few photos of your better furniture before it's wrapped.
On the day
Have everything packed and ready before the crew arrives. On a shared run there are other customers waiting down the road.
Make sure there's somewhere for the truck to park, and let us know about steep driveways or tight streets.
Moving out of or into an apartment? Book the lift with the body corporate and follow their rules on lift covers and time slots.
Keep pets and little ones out of the way while we're carrying.
At delivery, tick your numbered boxes off your list as they come off the truck, and tell the crew straight away if anything looks wrong. If a box is missing or damaged, let us know within 24 hours of delivery.
Your backload checklist
Booked 4 to 6 weeks out, with a plan for the window
Full room-by-room inventory sent through
Boxes packed, taped, labelled and numbered
Beds apart, bolts bagged, drawers empty
Aerosols, gas bottles and other dangerous goods left out, valuables kept with you
Overnight bag packed for the car
Insurance checked
Parking or lift booking sorted
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book a backload?
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead where possible, and earlier if you're moving during school holidays or near the end of the year.
Can I add items after I've had a quote?
Yes, but tell us as soon as you can. A backload is planned around the space on your list, so extra items can change your quote and need room on the truck.
What won't you carry on a backload?
We don't carry aerosols or gas bottles. Leave out other flammable or dangerous items too, and keep valuables and documents with you.
What if a box is missing or damaged at delivery?
Check your numbered boxes off as they come off the truck, and let us know within 24 hours of delivery if a box is missing or damaged.
Do you supply moving boxes?
Yes. We can supply standard cartons, book cartons and porta-robes, and we offer a professional packing service if you'd rather not pack yourself.
Is my furniture insured in transit?
Armstrong Removals holds general freight insurance covering pick-up and set-down of goods. It doesn't include in-transit insurance, so check your home and contents policy or arrange transit cover.
Ready to book your backload?
Still deciding whether a shared truck is worth it? Read our take on the benefits of backloading and when it's the wrong call, or see routes and timing on our backloading and shared loads page. When your list is ready, send it through as a Detailed Quote, start with a Quick Quote, ring us on 0480 890 300, or contact us online.
