Best way to move heavy items (moving company, Uhaul, rental, truck)

[DocPit45]

I'm going to be moving from Indiana to South Carolina. I'm a lifelong weightlifter, and I have about 1100 lbs of barbells, dumbbells, and plates. I believe interstate movers charge somewhere around $0.40 - $0.60 per lb, which comes out to around $440 - $660. Are there any other exercise nuts out there who have figured-out a cheaper way? I'm looking into the possibility of renting an elephant.

[thedwightguy]

Trucking. It's per skid, and all your plates would go on one Chep size oak pallet.
Call around to trucking companies the run between your cities, probably a regional line.
If you load the skid and tie things down right you should be ok.

[Alaskan Mutt]

Originally Posted by thedwightguy

Trucking. It's per skid, and all your plates would go on one Chep size oak pallet.
Call around to trucking companies the run between your cities, probably a regional line.
If you load the skid and tie things down right you should be ok.

Generally trucking companies charge by actual weight or dimensional weight. If the shipment is small but heavy they will use actual weight. If it is a bunch of large but light boxes they will use dimensional weight. If they are simply charging a flat rate per skid chances are there will be a max weight limit or the flat rate will be high enough to give them a profit on even heavy shipments.

However, using a trucking company versus a household moving company will probably save you a substancial amout of money. You will save even more if you have the means to deliver your stuff to the trucking company freight dock and pick it up from the freight dock at the destination.

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Mutt

Generally trucking companies charge by actual weight or dimensional weight. If the shipment is small but heavy they will use actual weight. If it is a bunch of large but light boxes they will use dimensional weight. If they are simply charging a flat rate per skid chances are there will be a max weight limit or the flat rate will be high enough to give them a profit on even heavy shipments.

However, using a trucking company versus a household moving company will probably save you a substancial amout of money. You will save even more if you have the means to deliver your stuff to the trucking company freight dock and pick it up from the freight dock at the destination.

OP, the thing to check for in quoting an LTL carrier is what their up-charge is for a residential pickup (they'll need a liftgate which usually has an add'l fee) so that is added to the quotes your are putting together. I do agree on the dock pickup in SC, as residential delivery from an LTL carrier will have the same added cost bump noted earlier, and usually the pallet would be dropped curbside. If allowed, pick it up at their terminal and just use a local rental truck if needed to carry the 1100#s of equipment from there to your new place.


That said, how are you moving the rest of your stuff down to SC? Hiring out a moving company or loading up a Uhaul/Penske and driving it down yourself? I'd still get quotes from all sides to see what's best cost-wise but also time-wise.