How to Safely Load a Moving Truck: Without Hiring Full-Service Movers

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Moving yourself can be a smart, budget-friendly choice—but loading a truck? That’s a different story. Between the heavy furniture, awkward angles, and the real-life game of Tetris happening in the back of that U-Haul, it can get overwhelming fast.

At Rent The Help, we work with people every day who want to DIY their move without DIY-ing the heavy lifting.Whether you’re loading a rental truck, filling a POD for storage, or just shifting things inside your home, here are our top tips to load like a pro—safely and efficiently.

1. Start With the Heavy Stuff First

Your biggest items—like dressers, couches, and mattresses—should go in first and be placed against the far wall of the truck. This creates a solid base and keeps your center of gravity low. If your couch is going upright, make sure it’s securely tied off.

Pro tip #1: Place mattresses on the side and strap them in with tie-downs or ropes. Don’t just wedge them, they will fall.

Pro tip #2:  If your U-Haul has a “Mother’s Attic” that is the best place to store your fragile items.

2. Think Vertically and Fill Gaps

One of the biggest mistakes we see is wasted space. Treat every nook and cranny like gold. Stack lighter furniture on top of heavy items and use soft items (pillows, blankets, bags of clothes) to pad and fill spaces.

A poorly loaded truck means extra trips—or worse, broken items.

3. Protect and Wrap—Especially Furniture Corners

Your rental truck won’t automatically come with padding, so you’ll need to bring your own blankets or wraps. Cover anything that can scratch, dent, or tear. Wrap chair legs and table corners with bubble wrap or padding, and secure with tape or stretch wrap.

Pro Tip #3: Some truck rental companies offer add ons such as, bubble wrap, mattress covers, plastic wrap, ect.

4. Use Tie-Downs Throughout

Each layer should be secured with a strap or rope to prevent shifting during the drive. Even if the truck is packed tight, one sudden stop can send furniture flying. 

Pro Tip #4:  If you are loading TVs,  Mirrors, Computer monitors, make sure to place them in boxes.  As an additional layer of protection, wrap them in blankets or bubble wrap to ensure safe transit.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Call in Some Muscle

If you’ve got big, bulky furniture—or just don’t want to hurt your back—you don’t have to do it all yourself. 

At Rent The Help, our trained team can handle the heavy lifting while you focus on the rest.

  • Loading or unloading rental trucks and storage pods
  • Moving heavy furniture within your home
  • One-hour jobs for small tasks
  • Flexible, on-demand help—no truck included, just strong backs

We specialize in:
“Let us handle the hard part so you don’t have to.”

What We Recommend

  • U-Haul for easy local moves (easier to load)

  • Penske for long-distance moves (typically newer trucks)

  • PODS or SmartBoxes if you want to avoid driving a truck or need storage

Final Thought: You Don’t Need a Full-Service Mover

You just need the right help for the job. Two hours of labor can go a long way—and save your back, your furniture, and your sanity. Whether you’re doing it all or just need help with the heavy stuff, Rent The Help is here when you need us.

Need an extra set of hands?
Book your help now or give us a call—we’ll take the weight off your shoulders (literally).