ABF U-Pack Moving Trailer Review

If you're trying to arrange for moving help, one option to look into is ABF U-Pack. This moving company is unique in that they'll drop off a freight trailer for you or your movers to load and then they'll drive the moving trailer to your new home. This way, you don't have to drive a moving truck out of state or across the country on your long-distance move. If you're trying to decide between ABF U-Pack and other moving companies, here's what you need to know before you decide.

ABF U-Pack Overview

ABF Freight is a national freight carrier that offers short and long-haul transportation across the country. In 1997, ABF Freight added U-Pack to the company as the residential moving branch of the business. As a result, you can hire ABF U-Pack for moving help via a freight trailer that the company's drivers will transport to your new home during your long-distance move.

So if you don't need a full-service company with movers and you'd rather load a freight trailer by yourself or with the help of hourly movers you hire on your own, ABF U-Pack may be right for you. With over 250 locations throughout the US and Canada, you should have no trouble renting a freight trailer that a professional driver will transport to your new home within days.

U-Pack Reviews

The U-Pack moving company reviews vary depending on location, but they're mostly positive. Most customers who have used a U-Pack freight trailer for moving help have said the company dropped off and picked up the trailer on time and that the prices were reasonable.

One of the only common complaints with U-Pack moving help is that some items arrived damaged. This suggests that you should pack and wrap your items carefully and perhaps include extra padding around anything fragile. If you need assistance with this, you can hire local movers to pack, load and unload the moving trailer and provide help moving heavy furniture.

You can also check out our blog post for hints on carefully packing your fragile items: Tips for Packing and Moving Delicate Furniture

U-Pack Pros and Cons

Before you decide if getting a U-Pack moving truck would be a good idea for you, look at the pros and cons of going with this company for moving help.

Pros:

• You won't have to drive a moving truck to your new home.
• You can opt to load the freight trailer yourself or hire moving helpers.
• ABF U-Pack is usually cheaper than hiring a full-service moving company.

Cons:

• This company only helps with long-distance moves, not local moves.
• There may be hidden fees to watch out for.
• You'll need to carefully pack, wrap and secure your belongings to make sure they don't shift in the moving trailer and get damaged.

U-Pack Container Sizes

When you choose to get moving help from freight moving companies like U-Pack, you get the option of two containers. One is a large freight trailer and the other is a ReloCube moving container. So, which container is right for your move?

The freight trailer is 28 feet long and best for when you're moving out of a large house with several rooms. You might not need to use all the space inside it, but that's fine, as you'll only be charged for the space you use.

If you're moving out of a dorm or small apartment—or simply don't have much furniture to move—the ReloCube moving container should be fine for your move. This metal, weatherproof cube measures 6 feet by 7 feet by 8 feet, with 308 cubic feet of space inside of it. Just as with the freight trailer, it will be dropped off on your driveway for you to load before it's transported to its destination.

Do you need help loading your belongings into a moving trailer? Get some tips here: How to Pack and Load a Moving Truck

How Does U-Pack Work?

If you want U-Pack moving help, you can start the process by getting a quote on the website. Simply fill in where you're moving from, where you're moving to, when you're moving and how large your current home is. You'll get a price quote for the moving container you need. If you're satisfied with the price and moving date, you can reserve the container.

Whether you get a large freight trailer or ReloCube container, it will be dropped off outside your front door at the agreed-upon date. You'll have three days to load it, so be sure to arrange for loading help from hourly movers ahead of time. On pick-up day, an ABF driver will arrive at your house to pick up the trailer and drive it to your new home.

Once the driver arrives at the destination, you'll get three days to unload the moving trailer. If you need movers to lift heavy furniture and boxes while unloading the trailer, you should schedule them ahead of time. This way, the freight trailer will be unloaded and ready to go for the driver to pick up.

How Does U-Pack Work With Local Moves?

U-Pack doesn't offer local moves, so if you're staying in the same city or state, you should choose a different company for moving help. But if you're moving from one state to another—or across the country—this company can likely accommodate your long-distance move.

How Does U-Pack Work With Long-Distance Moves?

Long-distance moves are simple when you choose U-Pack for moving help. Once you get a quote and make your reservation on the website, you'll need to start packing your belongings. This way, you'll have it ready to load onto the moving trailer when U-Pack drops it off on your driveway.

After three days, a driver will pick up the loaded freight trailer and drive it to your new property. The amount of time the trip takes will vary depending on how far away you're moving. In general, it could be a few days or a couple of weeks. Once it arrives at your new house, you'll have three days to unload it before a driver gets there to pick up the empty trailer.

This keeps the moving process simple when you get U-Pack moving help. If you plan to get moving labor help to go along with the truck, you can hire hourly movers to load, unload, help moving heavy furniture, etc.

You can learn more about the process of hiring moving labor help by reading our post on this: Can I Hire Movers to Load and Unload My Truck?

How Much Does U-Pack Cost?

The price you'll pay for U-Pack moving help varies depending on the size of the freight trailer you need and how far you're moving. For example, if you need a freight trailer big enough to pack your belongings from a three-bedroom house for a cross-country move from Arizona to Florida, your quote would be about $6,500.

On the other hand, if you're moving from California to Arizona and need to load a ReloCube with items from your one-bedroom apartment, the price would be around $1,400. Note that the price is typically all-inclusive, meaning it includes the cost of the trailer, driver, gas, taxes, ramp and insurance. You can also find discounts, such as if you're in the military or are a student.

Although U-Pack may not be the cheapest option, they provide good value for your money. Be sure to compare prices with other freight trailer companies to find the best deal.

Downsides of Using U-Pack

As with any moving company, you might encounter some downsides when get moving help from U-Pack. For instance, even though all expenses are supposed to be built into the quote, you might face some hidden fees—such as being charged more for every extra foot of space you use in the moving trailer. You'll also be charged fees if you cancel within a week of the scheduled moving day.

You have three days to load and three days to unload.

One important thing to consider when using U-Pack is the limited time provided for loading and unloading the freight trailer. You have three days to load and three days to unload. If you need more time beyond the three days allotted, you will be charged an extra fee of around $50 per day. Additionally, if the trailer has to be redelivered, you will be charged a fee of $150 per attempt.

You'll have to pay extra for a guaranteed delivery date.

If you want your delivery to align perfectly with your travel plans, you will need to pay extra for the U-Pack Guaranteed service. This is the only way to schedule an exact delivery date. The cost of this service varies, but you can expect to pay an additional $200-$400.

You are responsible for parking permits and fees.

In some cities, you may need a special parking permit for moving trailers like U-Pack. If your loading and unloading municipalities require a permit, you will be responsible for the cost. Also, you can't park the trailer in some cities, such as Manhattan and Chicago, so you will need to arrange for a live load/unload, where the driver waits while you load or unload everything and then leaves immediately. In these cases, the customer has four hours to get the truck ready to go. If it takes you longer, U-Pack will apply additional fees.

Should You Choose U-Pack Over Other Moving Options?

U-Pack is an affordable choice for long-distance moving, especially when compared to a full-service moving company. If you don't want to drive a U-Haul truck across the country and are comfortable with either loading your belongings yourself or hiring loading help, U-Pack could be your best option. However, if you're looking for the cheapest way to move or if your situation is better suited for a moving container, then U-Pack may not be the right choice for you.

As soon as you schedule a pick-up day with U-Pack you'll want to book your moving helpers to load, unload and move heavy furniture for you. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of U-Pack's affordability and simplicity without having to do the heavy lifting yourself.