A Guide for What Can't Be Moved
At northAmerican, we pride ourselves on getting your transferees and their belongings to where they are
going safely and on time. As experts in household goods moving, we know that not all transferees may be
well informed when it comes to
what can and cannot be loaded onto a moving truck. There are a variety of
items that professional moving companies cannot move either due to safety issues or laws that prohibit their
transport. There are also other items that transferees
are strongly encouraged to move themselves. While
reputable moving companies will always educate transferees on what items they are able to transport, it is
also true that transferees may forget when moving day rolls around. That is
why we have created this guide
on what can’t be moved to share with your transferees in advance of their relocation.
What Are Moving Providers Legally Prohibited From Moving?
1. Hazardous or Dangerous Materials
Clearly, safety is always the priority. Professional movers will not place items on the truck that can
pose a safety risk to themselves or the general public. Not to mention, avoiding potential damage to the
transferee’s items.
Some such items include:
● Car Batteries
● Lithium Batteries
● Hover Boards
● Alcoholic Beverages (Extensive wine collections
can be moved in a climate-controlled van)
● Fluid Cleaners
● Lamp Oil
● Ammonia or Acids
● Signal flares
● Poisons, Fertilizer, or Pesticides
● Nail polish remover
● Paints and paint thinners
● Propane cylinders
● Automotive repair and maintenance chemicals
● Radio-pharmaceuticals
● Matches
● Gasoline
● Fireworks
● Oxygen bottles
2. Guns and Ammo
Regardless of gun laws in a transferee’s state, moving companies will not transport handguns or
ammunition. Unloaded long arms, such as rifles or shotguns may be accepted by your moving provider
in certain circumstances. If a transferee
plans to transport their own ammunition across state lines, they
must know the laws pertaining to transporting ammo in each state they will be driving through to ensure
they are doing so legally.
Transferees who have a large number of firearms and ammunition may want to consider commissioning
a licensed firearms dealer who can legally ship these items across state lines. This ensures the weapons
are handled safely and within the
law while insulating the transferee from potential legal issues.
What Should the Transferee Move Themselves?
1. High Value or Irreplaceable Items
There are certain items that while not illegal for moving companies to transport, are strongly preferred to
be handled by the transferee. Transferees are encouraged to transport high-value items that are worth
more than $100 per pound and
irreplaceable items that have significant sentimental value.
Examples of High-Value or Irreplaceable Items:
Moving providers will move high-value items such as antique furniture but they should be notified prior
to the move that these items will require transport. Transferees should take special care to include
high-value items on their completed
and signed “high-value inventory form” to ensure that any claim
involving these items will not be subject to minimum liability. Depending on the circumstance, the
transferee may need to complete an “Extraordinary Value
Article Declaration” as well.
2. Highly Personal Documents
As with high-value and irreplaceable items, documents and records that contain confidential or highly
personal information should be kept with the transferee. These are items that contain things like social
security numbers, confidential
financial information, and other things that should be protected by the
transferee during the relocation.
Examples of Highly Personal Documents:
● Personal Electronic Devices
● Heirloom, sentimental or expensive (highly appraised) Jewelry
● Photo Albums
● Prescription medication needed for immediate use
● Collections (i.e.
collector cards, coins, stamps, etc.)
● Keys (i.e. safe deposit box, house, car, etc.)
● Travel Tickets (i.e. bus, train, airline, etc.)
● Stocks and Bonds
● Debit and Credit Cards
● Cash
● Deeds
● Medical Records
● Tax Records
● Financial Statements
● Social Security Cards
● Birth Certificates
● Insurance Documents
● Wills
● Passports
● Marriage Licenses
● Moving Documents
3. Animals
We love our pets like our family members which is why a moving truck is no place for them. Moving can
be very stressful on pets and the greatest care should be taken when getting them to their new home.
Transferees should transport their
pets with them on their flight or drive if possible. If for some reason a
transferee cannot bring their pet, they should hire a professional pet mover who specializes in moving
live animals.
4. Plants
Moving providers do not like to move houseplants for several reasons. One is that the plant may not
survive the move as the truck is not a conducive environment for a plant which needs sunlight, water, and
ideal temperatures to survive.
Second, in some states, there are laws that actually prohibit the transport
of houseplants over 150 miles. In Florida, Arizona, and California, for example, there are very strict laws
about what plants can be brought across state lines.
Finally, in a sealed moving truck, a plant may
become a source for pest infestation. Professional movers know that moving a plant is not worth the
risk of a transferee’s belongings becoming riddled with pests. If transferees cannot
move the plant
themselves, they should consider donating it to family, friends, or the person moving into their old home.
5. Food
In general, food is not something that should be moved on the moving truck. While some sealed, non-
perishables are transportable, fresh food and items requiring freezing or refrigeration are not.
Transferees should plan to consume
most of their fresh or frozen items prior to their move day. If there
are items remaining, transferees should give them away or donate them to a charitable organization.
In fact, some movers are affiliated with hunger relief organizations
and will drop off any unwanted,
non-perishable food items at the local food bank for the transferee free of charge.
By providing your transferees with valuable information ahead of time, they will be better able to make
arrangements and plan for transporting items that their moving company can’t or shouldn’t move. As always,
encourage your
transferees to check with their moving provider about what can or cannot be packed on the
moving truck as laws may vary depending on the states they are moving to and from. The better-informed
transferee is the better-prepared transferee.
Make sure you share this guide with your employees so they can
be ready when their move day arrives.
Click Download Now to download the guide.