As
if moving weren't stressful
enough, did you recognize that there are several
belongings your movers can't put on the
moving truck?
When you select your moving company, they should give you a list of the articles that they can't put on the moving truck to your new house in Little Rock. They are not trying to make your life difficult, they are heeding the U.S. Department of Transportation statute (49 CFR 100-185) which details hazardous materials that aren't acceptable to load on a moving van. There are a few things on the list of non-transportables that aren't hazardous, but that won't endure being on a moving van and the moving company won't move.
Since you're a reasonable law-abiding person, it has probably never occurred to you that you're actually housing dangerous explosives wherever you keep your cleaning supplies. You have possibly looked around the garage and pondered about your lawn machinery going on the moving van, but there are many other things that are regarded to be dangerous and you will have to be in charge of removing from the property.
Any item with chemicals is a definite moving no-no. This is because chemicals have a bad habit of exploding if they are combined with other chemicals, which can easily occur in a moving vehicle. A ground rule is that if you cannot place the item in your normal trash for pick up, it can't be packed up and put on the moving truck. So not only do you need to empty the gas tanks on any lawn machinery (mowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers, etc), either use any fertilizers and grass seed or gift it to your friends—a little Miracle-gro and a little leaking gasoline can have a bad result. And what’s worse—anything that is damaged are your responsibility because you were advised what not to load on the moving van. It is not the moving company's job to check all your boxes for dangerous items, so make sure that any hazardous materials-including old paint, batteries, aerosol cans, charcoal, and paint thinner—are NOT boxed for the trucks. The best thing to do is transport them to your local hazardous waste drop-off facility or give them away to someone who can use them.
What
about your houseplants? The pantry? Your cat?
If you can believe it, a couple
people have asked that their pets be transported on the moving
truck—the answer is a firm no.
That the moving company can't move your plants might
be a tad more unanticipated. Interstate
moves pose a problem because
some states monitor foreign vegetation being brought in, and you do not want to unintentionally
introduce pests to either the moving van
or your new house. If plants are being transported
more than 150 miles you could need to obtain
a specific permit to transport
them—so if you're the person who transported
in canker worms or aphids, your new state can locate you. As for food items in your cupboard,
only box up sealed, non-perishable stuff with a
long shelf life. Or, donate your new
canned goods, cereals, and cookies to a local charity,
and begin anew at your new home. Trash anything perishable or open, unless you're
going to ice down coolers and transport them yourself.
While your valuables are not hazardous or likely to start an ash borer breach, most moving companies are hesitant to transport jewelry, cash, stock certificates and other valuable belongings. The risks of being misplaced are too great, bring them along with you in a carry on, or place them with other valuable documents.
Other stuff you may not recognize is hazardous—nail polish, cleaning supplies, liquid bleach, fire extinguishers—are also not approved to be moved commercially. Again, anything chemical or flammable is not allowed on a commercial truck, so be wise and get rid of or pack those items by themselves. The easiest choice is to properly dispose of these things and purchase everything new after you have moved, so you'll have brand new cleaning supplies and batteries to go with your brand-new abode.
