| ‘So what size trucks do you have?' It's probably | | | | weight-bearing ability of the truck but rather its box |
| the second most common question from a customer | | | | size and it's volumetric capacity. A five ton truck set |
| behind ‘How much do you charge per hour'. But | | | | up for hauling small heavy weights (think car batteries) |
| unlike the dollar figure per hour question, truck size as it | | | | may have a high G.V.W., but the box would be |
| relates to furniture moving, is a largely misunderstood | | | | relatively small. Conversely, a truck used to haul bags |
| question. When you look at a truck with a box on | | | | of potato chips could have a large box with |
| the back, there are a couple of important things to | | | | less weight-bearing ability. And what does this have |
| understand. | | | | to do with your move? Both of these trucks may |
| A common reference to a 1,3 or 5 ton truck is | | | | have trickled down to the local furniture moving |
| misleading in a number of ways. Let me explain; the | | | | trade. On first glance the 5 ton seems to be the |
| weight of an empty truck on a scale is called the Tare | | | | better option, but the key issue is volumetric capacity, |
| weight. If you were to load it full of furniture and drive | | | | therefor the lighter truck may be more appropriate |
| over the same scale, the new weight is called Gross | | | | for your local move. There is an additional issue for |
| Vehicle Weight or G.V.W. If you subtract the G.V.W. | | | | you to consider when making inquiries about truck |
| from the Tare weight you get the Aggregate. This | | | | sizes. How well can your mover pack the truck? If |
| aggregate is the amount of weight you are actually | | | | there are 30 cubic meters of volumetric space, can he |
| carrying in the truck. And there in lies the confusion: if | | | | fill it completely? Some movers have excellent |
| you are asking your mover ‘what size truck do | | | | spatial recognition while others have none. |
| you have?', it could be a 5 ton Tare, Aggregate, or | | | | The key for a consumer to understand is that a |
| G.V.W.! There is however an even more | | | | professional mover will bring the appropriate truck and |
| significant issue when it comes to truck size, as it | | | | crew for your job. Your job is to figure out who |
| relates to your inner city move. | | | | the true professionals are! |
| The key issue for a local move is not the | | | | |
