What is the main difference between Freight and Moving services?

When preparing to transport their items, people are often confused with the type of service they are supposed to hire. While moving services are often the go-to choice, freight companies offer similar options. So what is the difference between freight and moving services, and when you should hire which? Well, that is what we will answer in this article.

The difference between freight and moving services

The first thing we need to note is that moving and freight services include more than simple transport. With moving, you have the packing, loading, unloading, organizing, storing, and, of course, transport. With freight, you have warehousing, logistics, and, again, transportation. Keep in mind that you also have different modes of transport, including air, road, rail, and ocean. Unfortunately, while the two services may be similar, you need to know when to hire which. Hiring a freight company for a relocation project can be quite expensive and arduous, as they have completely different tools and methods. On the other hand, hiring a moving company for a freight relocation project can be fruitless, as few if any moving companies can tackle a full freight project.

How to separate the two?

The most notable difference between freight and moving services is packing. A moving company will usually offer to pack your belongings for you, but a freight company won't, and you’ll have to do it yourself. While this difference may seem small, it is an indicator of how different freight and moving companies are.

Moving companies are more geared towards single projects where they will help a person relocate from point A to point B. While there are commercial moving services, most companies are focused on residential relocation as it is far more common. Unfortunately, when it comes to large items, moving companies can struggle. After all, most moving projects only require a single moving truck, two if there are any cumbersome items like pianos or pool tables. Therefore, hiring a moving company for a freight project is like using a bike to transport two tons of bricks. You can do it, but is it really the best way?

Freight companies, on the other hand, are almost entirely dedicated to commercial use. In fact, without them, most businesses couldn't function. Their main concern is shipping large items, or large quantities of smaller items, efficiently and cost-effectively. Therefore, freight companies will leave the packing procedure to their clients. Freight companies are usually hired for continual commercial projects where a company needs to ship items to a different area (be it local or international). In essence, hiring a freight company for a residential move is a bit like using a truck to transport a single bottle of water. They can do it, but it is obviously a huge misuse of resources.

How to utilize moving services

With what we've outlined so far, let go over how to utilize moving services properly. If you are moving your home or your office to a new area, your best bet is to call a moving company, especially if you have no prior relocation experience.

Collegues from Zippy Shell Louisiana pointed out that a full services moving company should take care of everything for you - from packing to unpacking, and ensure that your items are as safe as possible. This is usually considered the safest way to move, as movers have full freedom to use their experience to your benefit. Furthermore, by doing so, you will get a cheaper relocation insurance contract, as your movers (or the insurance company providing you with said insurance) will feel much more confident that there will be no issues in the process.

Proper preparation

The critical point here is to find a reputable moving company. Too many people opt for cheap movers simply because they think that relocation is an easy-to-manage project. It is not, and to make things worse, you may even end up working with a fraudulent company. Instead, opt for movers that have good reviews and a reasonable cost.

How to utilize freight services

When it comes to using freight services, your main goal is surprisingly similar to using moving services. That is, finding a reliable company that will serve you well. The difference is that freight companies can differ from one another much more than moving companies.

Since freight companies usually work with commercial goods, their services are more tailored towards continual, complicated, and heavy shipments. Therefore, depending on their shipments, freight companies can have vastly different experiences and skills. Some freight companies are excellent at air shipping to various countries since that's what they've mostly dealt with. Some offer logistics services, while others rely on third party companies. Your job, therefore, is to find a company that has the experience that closely resembles your shipping needs.

Proper preparation

As we mentioned before, the main difference between freight and moving services is packing, so if you plan on using freight services, you will need to look into proper packing procedures. Our advice is to do ample online research, as well as talk with your freight company. Know that proper packing is the most important aspect of freight shipping when it comes to safety, so tackle it with due care and attentiveness. Remember to use modern packing materials, proper packing procedures, and correct labeling.