It has to be said that moving is probably the least enjoyable part about expanding a business, buying a home, or simply moving to a more ideal location even for renting. Months in advance, consumers and business owners are apt to regret their decision to move, feeling as if they just don’t have it in them to move the biggest pieces of industrial equipment, the biggest bookcases in their living room, or the most expensive pieces of furniture used for entertaining. Luckily for those people, moving companies exist to make their transition from old to new just a bit easier to handle.
Of course, even the movers employed by most moving companies would probably confess that moving heavy furniture isn’t their favorite thing in the world. It’s a task that’s made considerably easier through the use of heavy-duty moving equipment, including things like dollies and hand trucks that turn even the most unwieldy appliances into relatively light and carefree cargo. The best moving companies are those that stock up on this type of equipment, giving their teams plenty of ways to move appliances, heavy furniture, and industrial equipment that is both fragile and rather awkward during complex moves.
Before getting started with purchasing moving equipment, buyers should familiarize themselves with the benefits of buying in bulk. With a number of great dealers, like Douglas Equipment, moving companies can find the equipment, casters, and other parts they need to turn even the most challenging moves into an easy, hassle-free process.
Getting Started: What to Buy Before the Big Move
Before any moving company becomes serious about helping industrial businesses and enterprising homeowners with a move to a new location, they need to make sure that their team of movers is equipped with the right tools of the trade. Having the right moving equipment on hand can ensure far better safety throughout the move, eliminating the need for awkward and compromising postures that can cause back problems, muscle sprains, and joint injuries. Furthermore, the right equipment will protect equipment while make it dramatically easier to move. Here’s what the average moving team should have on their list when buying in bulk.
1. Hand Trucks of Various Sizes and Capacities
If there is a single piece of equipment associated with quick, effective moving, it has to be the hand truck. That’s largely because hand trucks can be purchased in so many varieties that they’re useful across the board, whether it’s a small bookcase or a piece of heavy manufacturing equipment that needs to be moved from place to place.
Start out with smaller, upright hand trucks. These are easily the most in-demand products for a major move and they’ll be perfect for moving smaller appliances, smaller furniture items, office machines, and some types of industrial equipment. From there, bulk buyers can add more flexible models to their arsenal, including adjustable trucks that can be either upright or flatbed, as well as appliance trucks that are designed specifically for moving large, unwieldy items like stoves and refrigerators to a new location.
2. Platform Trucks
While a good hand truck is always an asset during any kind of move, it’s not the only way to move items between a home or business, a moving truck, and back again. In fact, it’s sometimes not even the best way to get this type of work done. When the time comes to haul heavy boxes, smaller and more mobile appliances, or particularly heavy furniture items that won’t fit within a hand truck’s confines, only a platform truck will do. Furthermore, these trucks are perfectly designed to handle commercial equipment and furniture that most hand trucks would simply not be able to manage.
Platform trucks come in quite a few varieties, with larger and smaller platforms based on their desired uses for the typical moving company. Most hand trucks are made with high-quality aluminum or steel materials, allowing them to withstand the weight and stress of seriously heavy loads over a longer distance. Of course, moving companies should always check into the maximum rated weight capacity, the dimensions of the truck, and the cases for best use, before they commit to buying any particular option in bulk. Even so, this is a powerful way to make fewer trips, with less energy, than would be possible without several of these trucks on-site.
3. Machine or Furniture Dollies
Sometimes, there’s just no way to get a big piece of equipment or furniture onto either a hand truck or a platform truck. Instead, movers will have to resort to using one or more dollies with the right size, casters, and weight capacity, to get the job done. The best way to go about this is by checking into a bulk order of dollies made from materials like stainless steel and aluminum, with highly durable casters that are designed to withstand the excessive weight of most commercial equipment.
These dollies can also be used for typical home furniture, though there are often specific dollies designed from other materials that can handle furniture moving without the added expense of aluminum, steel, and high-capacity casters. By ordering these dollies in bulk, moving companies will be perfectly outfitted to help truly large commercial businesses move heavy-duty equipment, all without risking damage to the equipment or injury to the moving team in charge of getting it from point A to point B.
4. Industrial Moving Equipment
While industrial equipment won’t appeal to all moving companies or businesses, those that are enlisted to move things like barrels and drums will need the right mechanism to get the job done. Due to the sheer size and weight of these items, even lifting them with a team of professionals might be a challenge. That’s where industrial moving equipment comes into play.
With options for material handling, including drum, dock, forklift equipment, moving companies and their clients will have an easier time handling these awkward objects and they’ll protect themselves from a rather high risk of injury were anything to go wrong during this process.
5. Boxes, Furniture Pads, Covers, and Other Accessories
Finally, moving furniture and heavy equipment absolutely must go beyond merely increasing its mobility. Indeed, the best moving companies are those that manage to move heavy items without exposing them to damage and adding wear and tear to their existing wooden or metal surfaces. In order to accomplish such a thing, moving companies should make sure to place a bulk order for furniture pads, equipment covers, corner buffers, and the full range of protective gear for this type of move. With pads and covers in place, even the typical on-road turbulence of a moving truck will not dent, ding, or otherwise damage pricey items. In addition to simply being good service, this also spares movers from costly rebates, warranty claims, and even court cases.
Beyond protective gear for common industrial equipment, it never hurts to have boxes, tape, and other packing supplies available if customers request them. Purchasing these items in bulk allows the company to not only get a good deal on these items, but also to sell them to customers for a small profit and add real value to their business. Because it means the company is better prepared for the move and better able to turn a profit with their moving services, having boxes, packing paper, tape, and even markers on hand should be a no-brainer.
Choose the Right Company for Bulk Moving Equipment Purchases
Most moving companies have very little time to waste when securing the right equipment necessary for moving homeowners or commercial enterprises. Quick turnaround is almost always a requirement, and that’s something Douglas Equipment has been focusing on for the entirety of our time helping this key industry. Thanks in no small part to our extensive amount of industry experience and our large number of local customers, we’re able to fulfill bulk moving equipment orders quicker than our competitors in the area.
We have virtually all of the most common items on hand, including a full range of hand trucks, platform trucks, and accessory items that will make it easier to move and protect appliances, manufacturing equipment, and heavier items in any setting. We back that inventory with a first-rate approach to attentive customer service, a strong website with a full inventory of our products, and the kind of experience that can make it easier for new companies to decide which items they need to buy and which ones might not necessarily be relevant to their particular business.
Get in Touch Today to Start Filling Equipment Orders
If the time has come to either outfit a new moving company or overhaul the existing equipment used by an established moving operation, then it’s time to get in touch with our experienced team of sales professionals. Customers local to South Florida can reach us at (304) 888-3700, while those outside the area can call 1-800-451-0030 to speak with one of our representatives. We can also be reached through the “Contact Us” section of our website. We look forward to making your moving equipment purchase an easy and rewarding one!
