Household Moving - Long Distance

Selecting a van line is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Knowing how a van line operates not only will help you in selecting a mover but also will be useful when you're in the midst of the move. Generally speaking, more than one van line agency is involved in an interstate or inter-province move (from one state or province to another). While it might appear somewhat confusing to a newcomer, this very tightly and carefully coordinated agency network provides flexibility and efficiency to both the moving public and the moving industry.

To illustrate the moving process, let's take a look at a typical move. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Smith are moving from St. Louis to Denver. More than likely, they'll arrange the move through a St. Louis-based agency of a van line. This company is commonly referred to as the booking agent. This agency registers the move with its van line which, in turn, assigns it to an interstate van heading in the direction of the Smith's new home. That van is owned and operated by the hauling agent.

Your Possessions En Route - For the Smith's move, the van that carries their household goods might well be on a longer trip from Memphis to Boise, for example. It's not unusual for the shipments of more than one family to be transported on a single moving van. As the driver heads to what is likely to be his ultimate destination, he might pick up and deliver several shipments along the way.

(Don't worry that your goods will be mixed up with another family's shipment, however; van lines employ sophisticated techniques to identify different customers' possessions and to keep them inside the van. And thanks to special designs, equipment, and loading techniques, moving vans can accommodate much more furniture and boxes than most people realize.)

Arriving at Your New Home, - Once the Smith's possessions arrive in Denver, a local destination agent completes all the final details, including paperwork and, if ordered, unpacking and removal of the empty cartons and packing materials.