Here's Everything Your Movers Won't Move

Moving through a moving company means you must abide by certain rules and standards to ensure your property, the moving crew, and the moving truck are all protected while in transit. Movers often refuse to move certain things because they legally aren’t allowed to, or because doing so could cause harm to them or others.  

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with everything your movers won’t move. So once moving day comes, there’ll be no surprises for you or for your selected moving company.  

Everything They Won't Move and Why

We’ve all experienced that moment of packing something for a move that you weren’t supposed to. The inconvenience of having to throw those things away, or hastily stuff them into the back of your vehicle, could be avoided entirely if only you’d known what you could and couldn’t bring with you. Below, we’ve listed everything your movers won’t move, and why.  

Chemicals

Most household chemicals feature warnings on their labels meant to prevent ingestion and skin irritation. Also, most chemicals found in the house are flammable. Placing those in tightly packed boxes on an often hot or cold truck trailer could create dangerous situations while your items are in transit. Here’s all the chemicals movers won’t allow you to put on the truck:

• Bleach
• Paint
• Automotive repair and maintenance chemicals
• Cleaning supplies  
• Gasoline
• Lighter fluid
• Nail polish remover
• Paint thinners  
• Pesticides and weed killers
• Ammonia
• Acids
• Poisonous liquids
• Darkroom chemicals
• Pool chemicals

Bottles/Tanks

When stored in a temperature-controlled environment, pressurized bottles and tanks pose little to no risk to household occupants. However, if placed in an environment that is constantly moving and not regulated by temperature, those tanks become miniature bombs. Of those, these are the ones movers encounter most often:

• Aerosol cans
• Butane tanks and bottles
• Propane tanks and bottles
• Oxygen tanks and bottles
• Propane cylinders
• Scuba tanks

Combustibles

Though this one seems self-explanatory, many don’t realize that common household items are combustible under the right conditions. Here they are:

• Lithium-ion batteries
• Car batteries
• Ammunition
• Fireworks
• Matches and lighters
• Firearms (movers may transport these, but they must be unloaded, and you must disclose the make, model, and serial number)

Perishables

Movers can’t be held responsible for perishables that may, well, perish while in transit. It’s also illegal for movers to transport live plants more than 150 miles in the United States. These perishables include:

• Alcohol
• Perishable, unpackaged food
• Live plants

Important Documents

Important documents don’t pose safety risks to your movers, but it’s essential that you keep them in a separate bag on your person during your journey. At any moment you may have to refer to these documents, and once the door’s shut on the moving truck, you won’t see your valuables again until they're at your next destination. The list below contains most of the important documents you should set aside while packing:

• Passports
• Deeds
• Tax returns
• Identification  
• Checkbooks
• Financial statements
• Anything with your social security number
• Medical records
• Optional are treasured photos and family heirlooms  

Establish an Open Line of Communication

At every step of the way, you can discuss with your movers what they won’t be able to transport on moving day. Taking into consideration the items listed above will ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. For more moving safety tips, you can check out our blog on packing items so they arrive at your destination safe and sound.