Jamieson Truck and Car Rentals

Are you preparing to move to a new home? If so, you might feel overwhelmed at the thought of packing your belongings, loading them into a moving truck, and driving safely to your new destination. Luckily, moving doesn't have to feel that way.

Whether you're moving across town or across the country, you can make your move easier by remembering a few simple pointers. To help you feel more confident about your move, we've put together the following step-by-step guidelines to loading a moving truck.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before you can start packing and loading your belongings, you'll need to gather the following supplies.

• Cardboard boxes
• Packing tape
• Furniture pads, paper padding, and plastic stretch wrap
• Tarps and blankets
• Mattress bags
• Tie-downs, such as moving straps, ropes, or bungee cords
• Dolly
• Step stool or small ladder

Step 2: Remember a Few General Guidelines

Once you've gathered your supplies and you're ready to pack, you can start preparing for your move. As you do so, keep these tips in mind.

Distribute weight evenly. Whether you're packing boxes or loading the moving truck, remember to spread weight across your surfaces. Don't put all your heavy items in one box, and don't put all your heavy boxes in one corner of your moving truck.

Pack in layers. Put heavy items at the bottom of boxes, and fill the boxes with lighter filler items. Use this same principle when loading your moving truck-put the heaviest boxes on the bottom.

Drape a blanket over any exposed surfaces of your furniture. Your furniture is more likely to sustain damage if items rub up against one another during transit.

Practice safety. To prevent accidents, follow moving safety guidelines. Secure the moving ramp, remove debris from walking paths, lift with your legs, and strap light or fragile items to the moving truck.

Step 3: Educate Yourself on Proper Furniture-Specific Packing Techniques

You might not have trouble packing your items into boxes, but you might have a few questions about loading specific types of furniture. After all, you don't want to damage an expensive TV or antique bed frame during your move.

For those pieces of furniture that require extra attention, remember the following guidelines.

Appliances. Empty appliances of all contents. Wrap them with plastic wrap to prevent doors from opening during the moving process. Tape all cords to the back of the appliance to prevent damage to the appliance's electrical components.

Aquariums. Empty aquariums of their contents, then fill them with soft padding. Wrap the aquarium in stretch wrap, then place it on top of a sturdy stack of boxes.

Chair and couches. Individually wrap the legs on your couches and chairs with bubble wrap.

Dressers. Place soft, non-fragile items inside dresser drawers. Wrap the drawers with plastic wrap to prevent them from falling out in transit.

Glass. Wrap mirrors and picture frames in bubble wrap and blankets. Then, strap glass items between mattresses and box springs to prevent movement.

Rugs. Roll your rugs tightly, then secure them by taping the edges.

TVs. Wrap both sides of your TVs with bubble wrap and furniture padding. Most people assume the front of their TV is the only thing that can sustain damage, but the back can sustain damage just as easily. Pack your TV upright, and secure its face against a box.

Wood furniture. Wrap all wooden furniture, especially antique furniture, with plastic wrap. Then, cover the furniture with a blanket. Wood is especially susceptible to damage in a moving truck, so you'll want to keep your wood items away from sharp edges.

Step 4: Pack and Load the Moving Truck

Once you've packed your boxes and prepared your furniture, you can load into the moving truck. For many people, this is the most stressful part of the move, so take it slowly.

Stack boxes against the back wall of your moving truck. Remember to place heavy boxes on the bottom and lighter, more fragile boxes on the top.

Place a blanket pad on the floor, then load your box springs and mattresses. Place them vertically against your stacks of boxes, then strap them to the side wall of your moving truck.

Lay another blanket on the floor, then load your couches. Remove pillows from the couches, then stand them vertically with feet toward the wall. Secure your couches to the side wall with straps. Use the pillows to fill spaces throughout the truck and prevent items from falling.

Load all furniture, except appliances, next. Place heavy, sturdy furniture (like dining room tables and dressers) on the bottom. Stack lighter furniture (like chairs and end tables) on top. Secure each piece of furniture with straps. If you do stack furniture, don't forget to place a blanket pad between each layer to prevent scratches and dents.

Load appliances, like refrigerators and washing machines, last. You'll need to use these items sooner than other items, so you'll want to be able to unload them right away. Place all appliances upright in your moving trucks, and secure them against the wall to prevent movement. Appliances are often top heavy, so they might require extra straps for reinforcement.

Keep these guidelines in mind as you pack your belongings and move to your new home. The more you use these tips, the more efficient and smooth your move will be.