As if moving isn’t anxiety-filled enough, did you recognize that there are a few items your movers cannot move?
When you choose your moving company, they should supply you a list of the things that they cannot transport to your new house in El Paso. They are not aiming to make your life difficult, they're adhering to the U.S. Department of Transportation statute (49 CFR 100-185) which designates hazardous materials that are not acceptable to put on a commercial vehicle. There are several items on the list of non-transportables that are not hazardous, but that won't tolerate being in a moving truck and the moving company will not transport.
Because you're a wise law-abiding citizen, it's possibly never crossed your mind that you're actually housing dangerous explosives wherever you keep your cleaning supplies. You have probably peered around the garage and wondered about your lawn machinery going on the truck, but there are several other items that are regarded to be dangerous and you will need to be accountable for removing from the property.
Anything with chemicals is a sure bet to be a moving no-no. This is because chemicals have a nasty custom of blowing up if they're combined with other chemicals, which can quickly happen in a moving van. A good rule of thumb is that if you can't throw the thing in question in your regular trash for pick up, it shouldn’t be packed up and placed on the moving van. So not only should you empty the gas tanks on any lawn equipment (mowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers, etc), either use any fertilizers and grass seed or gift it to your neighbors—a little Miracle-gro and a little leaking gasoline might have a dreadful result. And what’s worse—anything that is damaged are your responsibility since you were advised what not to put on the moving truck. It is not the moving company's responsibility to double check all your boxes for dangerous items, so make sure that any hazardous materials-including old paint, batteries, aerosol cans, charcoal, and paint thinner—are NOT packed for the moving truck. The ideal thing to do is take them to your local hazardous waste drop-off facility or give them away to someone who can use them.
What about your houseplants? The pantry? Your cat? If you can believe it, a couple people have asked that their pets be put on the moving truck—the answer is absolutely not. That the moving company can't move your plants might be a bit more unanticipated. Long-distance moves create a concern in that states keep a watchful eye on foreign vegetation crossing the state’s borders, and you do not want to inadvertently bring pests to either the truck or your new home. If plants are going more than 150 miles you could need to get a special permit to transport them—so if you are the one who transported in canker worms or aphids, your new state of residence can find you. As for food items in your pantry, only box up new, non-perishable stuff with a long shelf life. Better, donate your unopened canned goods, cereals, and cookies to a local food bank, and begin anew at your new home. Throw out anything perishable or open, unless you are going to ice down coolers and move them in your own car.
Although your valuables are not dangerous goods or likely to start an ash borer invasion, most moving companies are unwilling to move jewelry, cash, stock certificates and other valuable belongings. The risks of being misplaced are too big, bring them along with you in a carry on, or place them with other valuable documents.
Other things you may not recognize is hazardous—nail polish, cleaning supplies, liquid bleach, fire extinguishers—are also not approved to be moved commercially. Again, anything chemical or flammable is not approved on a commercial truck, so be ahead of the game and dispose of or pack those items by themselves. The simpliest option is to properly dispose of these things and get everything new once you have moved, so you'll have brand new fertilizer and batteries to go with your brand-new house.
