If you already have a rental truck, PODS container, or freight service, we provide the labor you need. Our professional movers handle the heavy lifting, loading, and unloading while you provide the vehicle. We bring the equipment and expertise to make your move safe and efficient.
Our labor crews work with every major rental truck and portable container service on the market. PODS containers are ground-level, which makes loading easier than a truck with a high deck — the challenge is space optimization. A 16-foot PODS container holds roughly the contents of a two-to-three-bedroom home, but only if loaded correctly. Our crew stacks and secures items using the full height and depth of the container so you do not end up needing a second unit. U-Haul trucks range from 10-foot vans to 26-foot box trucks, and our crew loads heavy items first against the front wall of the cargo area, working backward to the door. Penske and Budget trucks are similar in configuration. ABF U-Pack trailers are shared-space, and efficient loading is critical because you pay by the linear foot of trailer space used — our crew loads tight and square to minimize the footage billed. SmartBox and 1-800-PACK-RAT portable container services are also standard jobs for our crew. For a complete look at all our services, visit our moving services page.
The scope of a labor-only job covers the physical handling of your belongings. Loading means we carry items from inside your home to the truck or container, including disassembly of bed frames, tables, and shelving units that do not fit through doorways assembled. All furniture is wrapped in moving blankets before loading and stacked strategically to use space efficiently and prevent shifting during transit. Unloading means we carry items from the truck or container into your home and place them in the rooms you designate — furniture is reassembled and boxes are stacked where you want them. Appliances, safes, pianos, and gym equipment are handled with the appropriate equipment including stair-climbing dollies and forearm straps. There is one clear boundary: we do not drive your vehicle. Our insurance covers our employees handling your belongings, not driving a rental truck that belongs to a third-party company. We also do not pack boxes as part of labor-only service — if you need professional packing, that is a separate service we can schedule the day before.
Labor-only service is not limited to home moves. We regularly load and unload storage units, warehouse shipments, and freight deliveries. If you have a storage unit full of furniture that needs to go into a rental truck, or a freight delivery arriving at a warehouse dock that needs to be sorted and shelved, our crew handles it. For businesses receiving large deliveries — furniture for a new office, inventory for a retail location, equipment for a gym or studio — labor-only loading and unloading is an efficient way to get items off the truck and into position without pulling your own staff away from their regular work. For a full office or commercial relocation that requires a truck and crew, see our commercial moving services.
Labor-only service is billed hourly with a two-hour minimum. The rate depends on crew size — most loading and unloading jobs require two to three people. Larger loads, heavy items, or buildings with stairs may call for a four-person crew. There is no travel time charge for labor-only jobs because we are not providing a truck. The clock starts when the crew begins working at your location and stops when the last item is placed. The hourly rate covers labor, equipment (dollies, blankets, straps, tools), and standard liability coverage. For combined load-and-unload jobs, each session is billed separately with its own two-hour minimum. We also handle in-home furniture rearranging under the same structure — if you need a 300-pound armoire moved from the first floor to the third floor, that is a job for trained movers with the right equipment. Most in-home jobs complete within the two-hour minimum window. If you need a full-service move with our own truck, see our local movers page or our apartment movers page.
Your belongings are protected every step of the way. As a $2 million licensed and insured moving company, we ensure professional service with added peace of mind during your move.
Our team knows Boston streets and building rules, ensuring efficient planning, safe transport, and fewer delays. We make local moves smoother with trusted experience.
We offer clear, itemized pricing with zero hidden fees – so you always know exactly what you’re paying for. Our charges are fully transparent and usually limited to travel, hourly labor, and supplies.
We carefully take apart and reassemble furniture such as beds, desks, wardrobes, and shelving to ensure safe moving, proper fit through tight spaces, and secure setup – saving you time and preventing damage.
We offer weekend, evening, and last-minute moving slots to fit your schedule. Our team works around your availability to ensure convenience without sacrificing quality.
Our movers are courteous, respectful, and trained to handle all types of items. From delicate glassware to heavy furniture, we treat your move with care and professionalism.
Packing a truck looks straightforward until you are halfway through and realize the couch does not fit because the dresser is blocking the path. Professional movers load trucks in a specific sequence: heavy, dense items first — appliances, file cabinets, dressers — then medium items such as mattresses stood on edge and box stacks, then light and fragile items last on top and toward the door. This sequence keeps the weight low and centered, which improves vehicle stability during driving. It protects fragile items from being crushed. And it uses the available space efficiently, which can mean the difference between fitting everything in one load versus needing a second trip. For portable containers like PODS and ABF trailers, efficient loading is especially important because you are paying for the space. A crew that loads a PODS container in 12 linear feet instead of 16 saves you real money on the shipping cost. If your move is part of a long distance relocation out of Massachusetts, efficient loading of your container or trailer matters even more since space directly translates to shipping cost.
Labor-only service works just as well for small moves as for large ones. If you rented a cargo van to move a few pieces of furniture, or you need one heavy item carried down three flights of stairs and loaded into your SUV, the same hourly structure applies with the two-hour minimum. For jobs where you do not have your own vehicle and just need a small crew for local lifting, our small move service includes the truck. If the job involves office furniture and you need a crew that understands cubicle disassembly and IT staging, see our office movers page for full-service office relocation.
Below are the most common questions we receive about our labor-only service.
Book both sessions when you call. Give us the loading date, address, and approximate volume, plus the unloading date and address. Each session is a separate appointment with its own two-hour minimum. We confirm both dates at the time of booking.
We load standard moving trucks, portable containers, trailers, and cargo vans. Rooftop carriers and specialized vehicle trailers are outside our scope because the securing mechanisms vary by manufacturer and we cannot guarantee safe attachment.
Some PODS and portable containers are delivered on a chassis that sits higher than ground level. Our crew uses ramps and step-up platforms to access elevated containers. This is standard and does not change the pricing.
Someone needs to be present to direct the crew on what goes into the container and where items are placed at the destination. This can be you, a family member, or anyone authorized to make decisions about your belongings.
Yes. We assess what is already loaded, determine if anything needs to be restacked for stability or space efficiency, and continue loading from where you left off. If the existing load is unstable or poorly arranged, we may recommend reorganizing it before adding more weight, which takes additional time.
Call Continental Moving at 508-904-2029 to schedule loading, unloading, or both. Tell us the type of vehicle, the approximate volume, the building type (stairs, elevator, ground floor), and your preferred date. We will match you with the right crew size and give you an honest time estimate. Labor-only jobs can often be scheduled on shorter notice than full-service moves because they do not require truck allocation on our end. If you need a crew this week, call and ask. For full-service moves that include our truck and driver, see our local movers page. For packing before your load day, our packing services team is available the day before.
