When you face a move from your current home to a new place, you face the enormous task of getting all your belongings from point A to point B. Bringing in professional movers for help is always a good decision. The pros can step in and do the heavy lifting for you by loading and hauling your belongings where they need to go. However, certain items may not be safe to transport in a moving truck.
Here are just some of the items that are prohibited.
1. Live Animals or Pets
Most moving companies will not handle live animals or pets. While you may already anticipate that you will have to transport your usual pets like a cat or a dog, you may find it surprising that some movers will also not handle things like live fish, birds, or reptiles. In general, pets can pose risks to the other items being moved, but pets and other live animals can also be prone to injury during transport.
2. Corrosive Materials
In general, a product is considered corrosive if it will deteriorate surfaces or the skin. Corrosive materials can pose risks to the rest of your belongings when placed on a moving truck, but they can also pose a risk to the movers who may be handling these products. A few examples of corrosive materials you may find around your home include:
- Rust removal products
- Bleach
- Oven cleaner
- Drain cleaner
- Lead-acid batteries
- Paint stripper
3. Combustible or Flammable Items
Combustibles and flammables are products that can either explode or catch on fire when exposed to specific environments or agents. In general, professional movers do not handle these items because they can pose such a risk. For example, the enclosed trailer of a moving truck is not ordinarily climate-controlled. Therefore, the excessive heat inside the trailer in the summer could mean an explosive butane cylinder would be at risk of exploding. Propane cylinders, cans of gasoline or diesel, aerosol cans, and even tiki torch fuel are examples of prohibited items.
4. Live Plants
Live plants do not necessarily pose any risks, but most moving companies do prohibit the transport of live plants for a few reasons:
- Live plants can topple and cause damage to your other belongings
- Live plants may not be legal to transport across state lines
- Live plants can be sensitive to damage during transport
5. Personal or Sentimental Items
You should keep sentimental or personally vital items with you during your move. Moving companies won’t transport these items.
Professional movers should not move things like keepsakes, expensive jewelry, family heirlooms, coin collections, and other valuables. Whether the things in question are valuable art pieces, cherished family photos, lovely jewelry, or other precious items, plan to move these valued items carefully on your own
Talk to Your Mover
As you prepare for moving day, make sure you take care of the personal belongings the pros may not. Be sure to get a complete list of non-allowable items from your moving company in advance to avoid any issues on moving day.
Getting ready to move and still need a moving company? Reach out to us to get a free quote for your move today.