The Layer Method: Heavy, Square, Soft, Empty
How a truck is loaded decides whether your furniture arrives in one piece. Professional loaders use a four-layer system that takes 20 minutes to learn and saves thousands in damage.
Layer 1: Heavy and Square Along the Walls
Load dressers, bookcases, and appliances against the walls of the truck, heaviest at the front (cab end). Strap them to the E-track if the truck has it. This creates a solid outer wall everything else leans against.
Layer 2: Mattresses and Soft Items Next
Mattresses, box springs, and rugs go against the heavy furniture, forming a cushioned second layer. They protect the wood from the next layer of boxes.
Layer 3: Boxes, Heaviest on the Bottom
Stack boxes from heaviest to lightest, floor to ceiling. Each box should touch the one next to it — gaps are how things shift. Fill gaps with soft items (pillows, lamp shades).
Layer 4: Empty Space Gets Filled
The number-one rule: no empty space. Any gap gets a bag of clothes, a lamp, or a rolled rug. A fully packed truck doesn't shift; a half-packed one does.
Tie It Off Every Three Feet
Use ratchet straps across the load every three vertical feet. If anything settles, the strap catches it — not your dining table.
Book NYC moving labor to load your truck — packed tight, driven safe.
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