The overall cost is based on a variety of factors, but the main components to weigh (no pun intended) are: the size of the moving truck, how full it was loaded, how many oversized items are inside, specialized equipment like moving straps or a furniture dolly, elevator availability, number of stairs up or down, and whether or not there is a ramp available on the moving truck. All things being equal, it usually costs between $400 – $500 to unload a 26 ft truck, $300 – $400 to unload a 20 ft truck and $250 – $300 to unload a 16 ft truck. You will have gotten a good deal if the cost to unload a moving truck falls within these price ranges.

It really depends on factors such as: the size of the truck, heavy items in the truck, how organized the truck was packed, how many stairs to go up or down, whether an elevator is available, how strong and fast the movers are, and even weather conditions like extreme heat or slippery ice/snow. But in general, it usually takes 4-5 hours for 2 movers to unload a 26 foot truck, 3 hours for 2 movers to help unload a 20 foot truck and 2 hours for 2 movers to unload a 16 foot moving truck. If your job ends up taking any longer than this, you should begin to think about whether or not the movers are going slow on purpose, perhaps to “milk the clock” for more money.

It would be wise to book 4 movers for medium to large jobs, especially ones that involve heavier items. An even number of movers (like 2 or 4) is more efficient than an odd number of movers (1 or 3), since some items will require one or two persons on each side. For items that weigh 200 pounds or more, having 4 movers will allow there to be 2 movers on each side which will distribute the weight to just 50 pounds per mover. If you have a decent amount of strength and are willing to assist for the whole duration of the move, then that would be the only situation where I’d recommend hiring an odd number of movers.

If you just hire movers to help unload the truck, then you don’t need to buy them food because it shouldn’t take more than 3-4 hours to complete the labor-only moving service. However, if you hire a moving company for a full service move, then getting a meal for the movers after they load and before they begin unloading is pretty standard in the industry. That said, considerate moving companies will bring their own lunch just in case, so as not to impose upon the customers voluntary generosity. In short, food is appreciated but not expected. It doesn’t need to be a gourmet meal either. Homemade meals like sandwiches are common, assuming you have dishes and silverware unpacked and available. Otherwise, fast food delivery like pizza or subs provide a quick and easy lunch.

The two biggest players in the moving truck industry are U-Haul and Penske. U-Haul has the most locations nationwide and charges $39.95 for a 17 ft truck (or bigger), $29.95 for a 15 ft truck and $19.95 for a 10 ft truck. Each of these three truck options also charges $0.99 cents per mile driven. Penske partners with Home Depot so has trucks available at any Home Depot location. Penske charges $209 for a 16 ft truck or $249 for a 22 ft truck and offers free unlimited miles. For a long distance move (more than 100 miles) you should go with Penske. For a local move (less than 100 miles) U-Haul will be your best choice.

If you live on a high floor of a building that has an elevator available, then yes, you should reserve it for the movers unloading your items. You’ll need to call the concierge to make the reservation before you book the movers. You should be able to reserve the elevator for a 3-4 hour window of time. The apartment may even hang protective blankets in the elevator to prevent scratches or other damages. Best of all, there’s no charge associated with an elevator reservation. If you accidentally forget to reserve the elevator, then your movers will need to use the stairs. This will cause them to expend more energy and take more time, which will lead to both disgruntled movers and a higher cost for the consumer.

Yes, all things considered equal, it’s usually twice as fast to unload a moving truck as compared to loading one. Why? The main reason is because there’s no need to spend all that time packing your items in an organized way to preserve truck space (think Tetris). You won’t need to spend time tying down or wrapping up your items either. The only thing that may cause truck unloading to take longer than loading would be if there are many stairs to bring the items up or long hallways in the apartment or condo. However, if you reserve an elevator, then that will solve the stairs problem. If the movers provide a four wheel dolly, then that will solve the hallway problem.