Need help finding a moving company
 

My wife and I are going to be moving to Montana in a couple of months. We are looking for a company where we pack and load the truck and they drive. Any suggestions on a company? I've done alot of research and mostly what I found was negative comments on just about everybody; which of course people are more likely to complain than praise a company. Has anyone here had a good experience with any of these movers?

Have you investigated PODS? They will drop a container off at your house or apartment.. .you box and pack everything.. you put everything in the container... and they will come pick it up and drive it to your location...

When it comes to moving, I'm a full service kinda gal- I don't see the point in pack it yourself - my time and back are more valuable than saving a few bucks... but i have heard good things about PODS..

Better Business, contact them and research through them. Also check the State Attorney General to see if there are any pending complaints against your carrier.

Also, get estimate in writing and in a binding agreement. This will prevent them from holding your items hostage if they determine that they took X more hours to pack etc.

Find out if boxes and tape are included in the price or if you will be charged for supplies. Make sure it's a FLAT rate included in your move charges.

Even if you use a nationwide company that doesn't forbid them from subcontracting your work to local movers.

good luck!

I checked into the pods but they don't service the area I'm moving to. I should also say that I'm looking to spend the least amount possible. I know, sometimes you have to sacrifice quality for cost but there must be a happy medium somewhere.

That sounds very familiar ...you're not going to be dental floss tycoons are you? ;)

PS: I'm sort of old so I remember that song by Frank Zappa and the M.O.I.

Pay attention to what Cynthetiq said above, I remember the legit horror stories presented on more than one TV show where they added up all the extras and held your possessions hostage until you came up with a lot more than they quoted.

You might want to stop focusing on moving companies and more on shipping companies. If you're going to have everything boxed or crated up yourself, you may be able to get someone like Pakmail to come pick it up and put it on a train for you. They might even deliver it for you. I'd say get the smallest U-Haul you can, pack it full of clothes and stuff and have someone ship the rest to you at the new address. Back in the mid-90's, I went this route on my way from Altanta to LA and spent about $750 including gas for the truck, rental, shipping charges and hotel.

Good luck.

In 2001 I used ABF Freight to do the "you pack they drive" move from Minnesota to Connecticut. The only regret I had was a couple instances of my own packing, where I wished I padded more between a few heavy things that rubbed and scratched during the 1500 mile drive. I had two small kids and I was moving by myself, so the last thing I needed was to worry about the driving or the cost. I'd recommend it for long-distance moves, unless you have the means to pay for full service movers. I remember passing the trailer that I packed in St. Paul while driving my Buick through Chicago and thinking that I was a lot more comfortable in my Buick.

You pay by the linear foot in the trailer space you occupy. No ramp was provided, but I rented one for about $30 on each end no problem. The freight company uses the unused space in the trailer to move something else. When I arrived in CT, the truck was delivered in about two days, and I had another two days to empty the truck. I think I'd do it the same way again.

The only time I've done this was with the military, BUT, I did learn one piece of advice that I think is worth passing on. Make an inventory of your valuables, and take pictures of them if possible. I don't know how reputable moving companies are, but it can't hurt to be a little cautious.

A friend mailed nearly all his stuff 2500 miles across Canada. at the time it cost .20 lb. There are size and weight restrictions ( 50lbs). I think he mailed it 3rd class, but he drove to the west coast from Ottawa with a car and U-haul trailer full of the big stuff and the mail arrived before he did.