Federal regulations and common-sense safety rules prohibit long-distance movers from transporting certain categories of items. Knowing what can't go on the truck helps you plan alternative arrangements and avoid moving-day surprises.
Hazardous Materials
The Department of Transportation prohibits the transport of hazardous materials on moving trucks. This includes: propane tanks and compressed gas cylinders, gasoline and other fuels, paint thinner and solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, fireworks and ammunition, car batteries, and any pressurized aerosol cans. These items must be properly disposed of before your move or transported in your personal vehicle with appropriate precautions.
Perishable Items
Food items that can spoil during transit cannot be loaded onto a long-distance moving truck. This includes anything refrigerated or frozen, opened food packages, and produce. Sealed, non-perishable items like canned goods and sealed dry goods are generally acceptable, but check with your mover. Plan to consume or donate perishable food in the weeks before your move.
Plants
Live plants present multiple issues for long-distance moves. They can harbor pests that spread to other customers' belongings, they require specific temperature and light conditions that a sealed truck can't provide, and some states have agricultural restrictions on bringing plants across state lines. Plan to give plants to friends or neighbors, or transport them in your personal vehicle.
High-Value Items That Should Travel With You
While movers can technically transport these items, we strongly recommend keeping them with you personally: jewelry, cash, important documents (passports, birth certificates, financial records), medications, irreplaceable photos and family heirlooms, laptop computers, and any item with extreme sentimental value. Moving insurance covers replacement value, but some things simply can't be replaced.
Pets
This should go without saying, but pets cannot travel on a moving truck. Plan your pet's transportation separately — either in your personal vehicle or through a professional pet transport service for long distances. Research your destination's requirements for pet registration and any breed-specific regulations.
What About Firearms?
Firearms can generally be transported by long-distance movers, but they must be unloaded, declared on the inventory, and comply with both origin and destination state laws. Research your destination state's firearms regulations carefully — what's legal in Illinois may not be legal in your new state. When in doubt, transport firearms personally and ensure compliance with every state you pass through.
Planning Ahead
Create a list of prohibited items at least a month before your move. Arrange disposal, donation, or alternative transport for each item. Your move coordinator can help identify anything questionable during the inventory process — another reason why a detailed pre-move consultation is valuable.
