Short vs. Long Haul Moves: What You Need To Know

Whether you are moving to Baton Rouge from in-state or out-of-state is going to make a huge impact on your moving costs. All My Sons Moving & Storage of Baton Rouge has everything you need to know when it comes to hiring short versus long haul movers and how to calculate fees. If you are moving to Baton Rouge and are looking to hire a moving company, you will need to determine what type of mover you need to hire. Below are some basic guidelines and terminology for short versus long haul moves.

Short Haul Moves

Most short distance movers will charge you by time and sometimes by volume as well. If you have a lot of things to move and large items, you will need a larger truck, resulting in a higher price. Obviously, time is usually calculated per hour. A short haul move is usually when you are moving within the same city or to a city nearby. Moreover, most moving companies determine if your move is short or long by measuring distance. By general rule of thumb: if your move is less than 450 miles then it is considered a short move. Although short moves have the benefit of not needing shipping and being completed within one day, some movers may charge you a per-mile fee called a “linehaul charge”. If you are moving to Baton Rouge, make sure to ask your mover about their fee structure.

Long Haul Moves

If you are moving to Baton Rouge long distance, you will need to know exactly what this means. “Long distance” can either mean from across the state, or from out-of-state. In- state and out-of-state moving can also be referred by moving companies as interstate (moving from one state to another) or intrastate (moving within the state), but both can be considered long haul moves if your intrastate relocation is a far distance. Long haul moves are typically a move in which the driver will have to spend more than one day moving your belongings. Mover fees in this case are determined by mileage and weight of your shipment. The weight of your shipment will be charged per pound and can typically be $.50 per pound.

In order to weigh your shipment, the moving company will weigh the truck without all of your belongings and then weigh it once it has been loaded. Because moving companies will typically choose this method for moving long distance, it is important to sort through your belongings when you are packing and being serious about getting rid of items that you do not need or that are inexpensive to buy new once you move in to your new home. When getting rid of items, calculate how much something is worth versus its weight because its weight is what you are going to end up paying for in a long haul move.

If you will be needing a long haul move, be sure to ask the moving company for the “tariff”. A tariff is a legal document that states the price of the entire service and what services the price includes. The tariff is the cost of your move: weight per pound, per mile driven. Without knowing about this document you obviously will not request it, giving moving companies the possibility of altering the oral quote that they originally gave you. All My Sons Moving & Storage of Baton Rouge does not want you to fall victim to illegal moving occurrences. Request a tariff so that it ensures that you will only be paying what you were quoted and you will have proof of it.

In a case where you are moving intrastate but long enough of a distance that your move is not considered a short move by moving companies, the mover may charge you for a short move and add the linehaul charge on top of it.

It is important to call or visit moving companies online and get moving quotes and estimates. Specify where you are moving, about how far a distance it is from your current location, and what you need the movers to do. If you are packing all of your belongings on your own, to be ready to be packed into a moving truck and you will drive it yourself and unload it, then specify that. If you are packing but need help loading, driving, and unloading, then specify that, etc.