Moving Labour Crews: Loading and Unloading Help by the Hour
A moving labour crew is a group of workers supplied by the hour to load, unload and carry. It is labour only: you or another party supply the truck, the planning and the packing materials, and the crew does the lifting. It is a different product from a full-service mover, who brings the truck, the plan and the responsibility for the whole move.
Describe the job and add your city. Free to request, no obligation.
Businesses book labour crews when they already have the truck or a rental, when a delivery has to be unloaded, when furniture has to be moved within a building or when a mover is short of hands on a busy day. It suits office and warehouse jobs where the work is mostly carrying.
Because the crew works under your direction, the order should be specific: how many people, the start time, the addresses, stairs or elevators, the heaviest items and whether the crew needs dollies, straps or blankets. Settle who supplies equipment and who is responsible for the goods before the day.
What the work includes
- Loading of trucks and trailers at the origin
- Unloading and placement at the destination
- Carrying furniture, boxes and equipment up and down stairs
- Moving items within a building, between floors or rooms
- Assisting a mover with extra hands on a large job
- Basic wrapping or strapping, if equipment is supplied
- Clearing and staging items for pickup
- A written order listing addresses, times, crew size and equipment
When a labour-only crew makes sense
You have a truck but not enough people to load it
A delivery arrives and needs several hands to unload
A full-service mover quote is more than the job needs
A moving company is short of workers on a big day
Furniture has to be rearranged inside a building
How the work goes, step by step
Describe the job
Give addresses, times, number of workers, item types and access conditions.
Settle responsibilities
Decide who supplies the truck, equipment and packing materials, and who is responsible for the goods.
Written proposal
You receive hourly rates, minimum hours and billing terms.
Crew arrives
Workers report to your contact and receive instructions on the first item.
Finish and sign off
Hours are confirmed at the end of the job.
What changes the price
- Crew size and hours
- Cost scales with the number of workers and the hours they work, subject to a minimum.
- Item weight and access
- Heavy items, stairs and long carries slow the work.
- Equipment supplied
- Dollies, straps and blankets can come from you or the crew, and the proposal should say which.
- Time of day and week
- Evenings, weekends and month-end are busier.
- Travel between sites
- Travel time may or may not be billed, so check it.
- Minimum hours
- Short jobs still bill a minimum.
What a good quote spells out
- Hourly rate, minimum hours and how travel time is counted
- Who provides the truck, dollies and packing materials
- Who is responsible for damage to goods and building surfaces
- Stairs, elevators and parking arrangements at both addresses
- Cancellation and overtime terms
Moving Crews: questions people ask
Is a labour crew the same as a moving company?
No. A moving company supplies the truck, planning and handling of the whole move. A labour crew supplies workers only, under your direction.
How much do labour-only movers cost?
Published guides put a two-person labour-only crew at about US$70 to US$95 per hour. See the cost guide for the sources and limits.
Does the client need to provide a truck?
Yes, for loading and unloading you supply the vehicle or use a rental. The crew handles the lifting.
Who is responsible if something is damaged?
Agree it in writing beforehand. Because the crew works under your direction, check your own coverage and the agency's terms.
Other Mainforce services
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