4 in 10 Australians change addresses every five years, meaning Australians are some of the most mobile people in the world. Is it time for you to prepare for your next big move?

Moving is a large task. You have to find your new home, pack your entire life up in boxes, and get everything from point A to point B in one piece. What an ordeal!

We’re here to talk about how to load a moving truck so you can make your next move a bit more painless. Read on to learn more.

If you want to effectively load your things into the moving van, you have to start by being an effective packer. Make sure that you pack your belongings well.

Remember that poor packing may require larger trucks or second trips (assuming this isn’t a long-distance move). You’re saving time and money by taking your time and making sure that you’re not wasting any space.

Start packing before you think you have to. Too many people wait until the last minute because, in their minds, they think that all of the items in their home are essential enough to be used every day.

Most of your items can be packed up weeks ahead of time. Even your kitchen items, for the most part, can go into boxes a week before you have to leave your former home behind.

Make sure that you’re using boxes wisely. Pack as much as you can into each box without making any of them too heavy to manoeuvre. We recommend using smaller boxes inside larger boxes so you can keep your items organized and avoid the problem of having small items bouncing around the truck.

Here are a few of our favourite packing tips to help you get started.

Did you know that not all moving vehicles are alike? We’re using “moving truck” as somewhat of an umbrella term here. There are actually several trucks that you can choose from depending on your size needs.

For someone who’s only moving a few items from point A to point B (for example, someone who’s moving in with a partner or a roommate and leaving their family home or another roommate) likely doesn’t need to pack up an entire home full of things.

They may have a mattress, a few pieces of furniture, and a few boxes, but they don’t need as much space as someone who’s packing up an entire home.

This person would benefit from a moving van or even a 4×2 UTE.

It’s a good idea to take measurements of your belongings before you choose your truck. You may even want to call the truck rental company to get a professional opinion on how much space you will need.

Before you start packing your large unboxed items, make sure that they’re ready and secure.

When it comes to furniture, we recommend disassembling everything that can be disassembled. The pieces have a lower chance of breaking, and while reassembling things can be annoying, it’s far better than having to replace them.

Secure drawers, doors, and even rugs with tape. This serves two purposes.

First, it allows you to maximize space. You can keep light belongings inside your larger furniture pieces or rolled-up rugs and the tape will keep them secure.

It will also stop any of your furniture from falling apart or getting jostled on its way to your destination. It only takes a few pieces of painter’s tape to make a huge difference, so don’t skip this step.

Once you’re ready to start packing things into the moving van, you’re going to start with large, long, and heavy objects. These objects are going to be in the back of the truck and lining the sides of it.

This includes things like mattresses, headboards, tables, and appliances if you’re bringing any with you.

You’re going to be arranging the rest of the moving truck around these items, so take your time and make sure that you get it right. Remember that you’ll be able to stack some items underneath or on top of certain large items (such as desks).

Once all of the large objects are in place, start packing your regular boxes into the moving van. Again, you want to go from large to small. The only exception is if one large box is incredibly light and may not be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of other, smaller boxes on top of it.

Fill any gaps between your furniture pieces. Look for ways to stack boxes securely. You want the lightest boxes to be towards the top of the stack, but if something is too fragile, set it aside for now.

When most of your boxes are in place, you can start filling in the gaps with small, unusually shaped, or fragile items. You’re looking for places where they can fit snugly. Think of this as a game of real-life Tetris.

If you can’t find snug spaces, we recommend using linens to pad boxes so they don’t get jostled around. This is also a great way to maximize storage because you won’t be wasting a box for your linens, blankets, or towels.

Before you start driving the truck, we recommend pressing on every box or item to make sure that it’s secure. It’s also a good idea to drive a short distance and then double-check on your belongings to see if anything has shifted in transit.

Packing things into a moving truck may seem straightforward, and if this isn’t your first time moving, it might be a piece of cake! If you’re new to moving, however, or even if this is your first time moving a lot of things at once, you may want some extra advice.

Here are a few helpful tips and tricks for making your move easier.

This is our #1 piece of advice for anyone who’s doing a big move. If possible, get as many people to help you as possible.

Offer a pizza or some drinks to your friends and neighbours for a few hours of help. Not only will this make the process a lot faster, but it will also be way more fun.

Divide and conquer. Some people can work on moving heavy objects while others make sure that everything is secure. At the same time, someone else will be making final rounds through the house to make sure that nothing was forgotten.

Planning can make a big difference when it comes to successfully packing up a moving truck the first time. We recommend having both a written list and an actual drawn-out plan.

Measure all of your belongings and then measure the truck. Try to figure out the most space-efficient way to put everything in the truck while making sure that fragile and light objects stay near the top.

To make this easier, we also recommend labelling your boxes. This way, it only takes a quick glance at the box and your plan to determine where something needs to go and you can save time.

Never try to pack up a moving van without tools.

First, you’re going to need a dolly. This will make it far easier and safer for you to move heavy objects, even if you don’t consider yourself a very strong person.

We love using moving straps and rope to hold things in place. Everyone thinks that they won’t need to secure their items until it’s too late. It only takes one broken vase to ruin the mood of a move.

Never try to pack up a moving van without tools.

First, you’re going to need a dolly. This will make it far easier and safer for you to move heavy objects, even if you don’t consider yourself a very strong person.

We love using moving straps and rope to hold things in place. Everyone thinks that they won’t need to secure their items until it’s too late. It only takes one broken vase to ruin the mood of a move.

Now that you know how to load a moving truck, it’s time to gather some friends, start labelling some boxes, and get to work! You can make quick work of this big move so you can get to your destination in no time.

Ready to start your move? Start with Yello Truck Rentals. We have trucks and vans suitable for any move, whether you’re moving house or just moving from your tiny studio apartment to a room in your friend’s place.

Book now!