How To Load a 6x12 Trailer

The year was 2008 and our moving company was still in its infancy. The summer moving season was in full swing and we were busier than ever. It was then that we got a call to complete our first long distance move. A guy wanted us to move a one bedroom apartment from Cleveland, Ohio to Houston, Texas; over 1300 miles and 21 hours of driving time. This was a pretty big job for such a small moving company at the time but we were up to the task. Based on our past moving experience or lack thereof, we assumed that a one bedroom apartment would be able to fit comfortably in a 6x12 U Haul trailer and any excess could fit in the truck. 

We were gravely mistaken.

Sure it was just a one bedroom apartment but, It was a large one bedroom apartment. It also didn't help that the guy owned all of the oddly shaped modern pop culture furniture that makes loading a moving vehicle as compact as possible very difficult. To make matters worse, we didn't realize that we needed a bigger vehicle until we arrived to move the guy and it was to late to acquire a larger vehicle. 

The pressure was on.

This was an important moving job for us and didn't want to see this opportunity fall through the cracks. So we proceeded to load the U haul trailer by putting all of our combined years of Tetris playing to good use. We flipped and fitted furniture in every geometric combination until we finally made it fit; six hours later. Because the load took so long, we had to hit the road immediately if we were to make it to the destination on time.

It didn't take long after our departure for us t o notice the way the U Haul trailer kept swaying and rocking at normal speed. This rocking motion frightened us lot because it felt as if the entire truck would flip over. We did not want to lose our live or ruin our clients belongings. Our only solution at the time was to drive slower. Driving slower did reduce the rocking motions although it postponed our arrival time.  

Eventually we stopped outside of Memphis and reorganized everything the correct way. 

1. First, we made sure that the heaviest items were located in the front of the trailer. 
2. Secondly, we ensured that the weight of the furniture was even distributed throughout the entire trailer.
3. Finally, we never allowed our speed to go too far above 60 mph. 

Once these changes were made it was smooth sailing for the rest of the way. 

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