Are you sitting in your new home this very moment and wondering where all your stuff is? Did the moving company give you a delivery window miss that window? In this article, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about how long it takes for movers to deliver and why it’s taking so long.
For long-distance moves, it can take anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks for your belongings to arrive. If you’re just moving to a neighboring state, it should only take a few days. But, it all depends on your personal situation and the movers you’ve hired. Double-check your bill of lading for your delivery window. You should have a contract with your mover that gives a certain time frame of when they’re supposed to deliver your goods.
Why It Takes So Long For Movers To Deliver
While you’re waiting for your stuff, this next article will help you pass the time – 26 areas of your new home you may have forgotten to clean after moving in. After all, it’s much easier to clean your home if there’s no furniture in it yet!
What To Do If The Movers Are Late For Your Delivery?
For long-distance moves, sometimes movers will be late on the delivery window. When movers are moving customers long distance in a tractor trailer, they will be picking up and dropping off other people’s shipments along the way and there are quite a few logistical reasons why they might be late. Here are a few things to do if your movers are late:
Remain Calm: If your movers are late, the first thing you should do is to take a deep breath and remain calm. You’ve been displaced in a new town for some time now and stressing out is understandable. But, stressing out doesn’t make your items arrive any faster. If your items are just a bit late, understand that moving furniture across the country could have a lot of very unexpected road bumps along the way. What if the truck for a flat tire? or they got caught in a storm? Before totally freaking out if the mover misses the window, understand that it’s possible there was a simple hiccup along the way.
Check Your Contract / Bill Of Lading: The Bill of Lading you have with your moving company will tell you your estimated delivery window. In many cases, depending on the moving company you choose, they may reimburse you for the amount of time missed on the delivery window. So again, check your contract (all movers are different). It’s not uncommon for movers to give the customer a daily allowance of money back starting the day after the shipment is late. That allowance covers costs you may incur due to late delivery such as car rental, hotel accommodations, meals, etc.
Call Your Mover: If your delivery is late, the mover should give you a courtesy call to inform you of the progress of the move. But, if they don’t, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call. If you don’t have the phone number at hand, check your Bill of Lading, visit the moving company’s website or just Google your movers in order to find their contact information. Give them a call and do your best to get some specific answers to your questions: what is going on and when exactly you can expect the moving team to arrive.
Has Your Moving Company Completely Disappeared?: Well hopefully this isn’t the case, but it does happen. If you’ve tried every possible number you can find and they’ve seemed to completely disappear, plus you’re not completely sure you’ve hired a reputable company, head over to these resources asap:
How to Track Your Belongings?
Tracking your belongings during a long distance move as if it were a package isn’t quite possible yet. However, you can keep in contact with the moving company or driver during the move to check the progress.
You can keep track of where your things are at any given moment by asking the driver ahead of time what route the truck will take. Also, make sure that you have the phone number of at least one of the movers so that you can see if they’re running late.
Maintaining communication with your moving company during the delivery process will ensure a smooth delivery. Staying in contact with the company will allow you to keep track of the progress of your shipment, so you’re not left in the dark.
Will It Cost More Since It Is Taking Longer?
No, it will not you cost more if your items are late in a long distance move. In fact, some movers will give you money back if they have missed their delivery window. If you have hired a professional reputable moving company you should a contract that states the mover will deliver within a window. And if the window isn’t met, the mover would reimburse you. It should all be in the written contract.
What Factors Affect The Time It Takes For Your Items To Arrive?
In today’s day and age, we are all getting accustomed to getting what we want and when we want it. We are living in a time where 2-day free delivery is the norm for receiving things directly to our front door.
Moving long distances is in a whole different realm. The only instant delivery you can expect with moving is if you’re only moving a short distance from one city to the next neighboring town. With long distance moving, the amount of time it takes for your goods to arrive depends on the time of year, distance, weather, and government laws.
Although it completely depends on the moving company you choose and the delivery window they give you stated in your contract, here are a few examples of how long it may take for movers to deliver your goods.
How Far Are You Moving?
If you are moving to a neighboring state you can expect your belongings to be delivered anywhere between 1-7 days from your move date.
If you are moving long-distance you can expect your delivery to take anywhere from 2-22 days from your move date.
What Time Of Year?
Winter/Fall: If you are planning to move long distance in the Winter/Fall, This time of year is attractive to people because the rates are usually cheaper because fewer people are moving. However, it is possible that your shipment may get caught in a storm or unexpected road closure due to weather conditions along the way. During Winter, movers have less time for their work days because it gets darker sooner than the Summertime. If you have a time-sensitive move and price is not a factor, it may be safer to during the Summer.
Spring/Summer: If you are planning to move long distance in the Spring/Summer, expect a minimum of 1 week and at most 2-3 weeks for your belongings to arrive. While this time of year can be pricey to move, you may receive your belongings faster. Summer is the peak time for moving because schools are out and more families take this time to relocate.
The Driving Laws That Affect Delivery Time
There are new safety laws that don’t allow long distance movers to drive too many consecutive hours. This, in turn, will affect the amount of time that it will take a mover to deliver your belongings.
Related Questions:
When To Start Packing For A Move (Week-By-Week Guide) – You should start to prepare for your move at least 6-8 weeks prior to your anticipated move date. The actual packing process should start at least 3 weeks before your move. The earlier you start the packing process, the easier it will be when your move date approaches. Full Article: When To Start Packing For A Move (Week-By-Week Guide)
Should I Empty Dressers Before Moving? – Most movers allow you to keep your clothes in your dresser when moving. However, you shouldn’t pack your dresser so much that it becomes too heavy to move. Also, if you have an old dresser that is not stable and somewhat falling apart, it’s best to remove some or all of your clothes before moving. Full Article: Should I Empty My Dressers Before Moving?
