Are Chinese Tire Chalks A Safety Hazard to the Moving Industry

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Bob McGregor

Recently in the moving industry, a parked moving truck got away and rolled down the hill into a house. Fortunately no one was hurt, but it was close!

The newspaper article said the moving workers said the truck was chalked, but the tire chalk “broke.” This sounds suspicious except that I’ve seen tire chalks that are supposed to be rated for a box-style moving truck, but seem to bend under the weight of the truck.

The picture above is the type most commonly used on 20′ to 26′ moving trucks (trucks having a “gross vehicle weight” of under 26,000 lbs) I’ve used this type of chalk for 19 years without incident, but 19 years ago they were usually American-made. And now they are all Chinese-made. A few months ago, we were trying to park the truck on a relatively sharp street in the the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, GA. The worker placed the chalk in front of the back tire, and the truck SMASHED THE CHALK FLAT, and rolled over it. I was in the driver’s seat at the time, so I just stepped on the brakes. The worker had to scramble to find a big enough rock nearby to do the job the chalk was supposed to do.

On Sunday we were unloading at a house in Alpharetta, GA. The driveway had an incline, but less than the street in Oakhurst. The picture below is of the the chalk on the tire in that driveway. It held, but it seemed to “bend” the chalk (we also used a big rock on the other back tire) With previous chalks of this type, the black rubber triangle would keep its shape and hold solid.

Are the Chinese practicing “Value Engineering” in the manufacture of these tire chalks? That is, are they “engineering out” value, or this case the density in the rubber–Less dense rubber chalk equals less cost.

The owner of the Moving Supply warehouse where we buy these chalks is checking into it. I wonder if we will have to go to using the heavy metal tire chalks like the Fire Departments use below?

Grandfather Clock Uncovered

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Grandfather Clock Covered with Quilted Pads and then Flat Picture Cartons, and then Strapped Against the Wall of the Truck

Guest Post by Shreya of Aussie Removals London, Titled “How Can Residential Moving Be Made Easy”

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Bob McGregor

This Guest Post includes a topic I have not yet covered in this Blog, “Moving Pets.” Notice the idea of making sure your pet’s microchip (in their collar?) is up-to-date with their contact and medical details, especially during an international move. Concerning the picture below, Do not put your dog in a box!

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How Can Residential Moving Be Made Easy

Many people feel that relocation is a difficult task and requires extra effort and time. Moving to a new place with all household items is not something that can be done within a day. That is why, it can get you really bored and exhausted. But it is not always like that. Residential relocation can be simplified with the right guidance and organizing skills. Therefore, most people hire professional movers and packers who would carry out the entire process in a less complicated way. Trust me, this process can be made fun only if you know want it.

Professional assistance will take that load of your shoulders!

Expert movers and packers have hands-on experience in the relocation process. They are aware of all the do’s and don’ts of home or office relocation. They provide comprehensive solutions to all relocation hassles. I mean, who does not want to make packing a smooth and enjoyable affair? Professional movers and packers offer you a range of solutions, keeping in mind your monetary constraints. Moving companies offer various services like, packing, loading, unpacking, insurance and legal documentation.

Residential relocation with pets:

Relocation can be made challenging when it comes to transporting pets. There is a lot of noise, chaos and confusion in the house which often leaves the pet bewildered. If you are travelling in your personal vehicle , then pets can be taken along. But, if its overseas relocation, pets have to be shipped by air or water. Do not transport pets in removal lorries or goods trucks. Pets often face health problems on long journeys. It is best to make them as comfortable as human beings while relocating. Keep the belongings of your pet in a bag and carry it instead of leaving it in the removal lorry.

Keep the medical records of your pet just in case……….

When it comes to relocation, your pet can get lost if there is no proper care taken. Make sure that you keep the medical records and microchip details of your pet in case it gets lost. All the veterinary reports should be kept and quarantine arrangements ensured as it may be a requirement in the new country.

Residential relocation can be fun!!

If you have a busy life and fail to devote time to family ,then this is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family. You can get kids engaged in the task as well. They just need to be encouraged and sometimes you can bribe them with a movie or dinner! Both children and adults have can help each other in cleaning up and arranging duties. With pets, kids or other things residential relocation is always trouble-free with <a href=”http://www.aussieremovals.com/” Title = “Removals London”><b>Removals London</b></a>.

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Author Bio:

Shreya loves traveling to different countries and unexplored parts of the world. She loves writing articles on a wide range of topics like traveling, relocation, shipping, technology, and trekking. She loves blogging as it helps her in voicing her opinions about the things that she is interested in.

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Company Info:

Aussie Removals Company London ! We provide a comprehensive house and office removal services in London area designed to ensure your move takes place smoothly and quickly. Call for Removals in London: 020 3405 2000. For more information visit us at: http://www.aussieremovals.com/

Door Threshold Protection While Moving

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Bob McGregor

For some reason, customers are more concerned about Door Threshold protection than they used to be. I went 19 years in the moving business before a customer asked me about it, and the moving equipment supply house person says he has just started getting asked for door threshold protection products. He didn’t have any yet for Movers, so I improvised by using the masonite sheets below which happened to be already cut to fit in a doorway. This was fortunate for us since our other masonite sheets are either 4 feet by 4 feet, or 4 feet by 8 feet–too wide for a doorway.

A handyman friend, Jay Glenn, of “House Handy” househandyonline.com, said you can trim standard 4 foot wide masonite sheets to fit a doorway by cutting it down to size with a circular saw. Before sawing, tape the edge to be be sawed in order to minimize fraying.

In the picture below, there are two masonite sheets lying on top of one another. This is the preferred method, because:

1) The two sheets together stand up better to the weight of walking and rolling handtrucks over them, and

2) You can probably get away without having to tape the the edges to the floor.

The first go-around with this method, we wanted to protect two different door thresholds and only had two correctly sized masonite sheets, so we only used one per doorway and had to tape them to the floor. Using tape on hardwood floors is generally a no-no, so we tried blue “Painter’s Tape.” Too late, I learned–also from Jay Glenn-that there are three levels of adhesiveness to blue painter’s tape. You want to use the least adhesive type of painter’s tape, or else it will take some finish off of the hardwood–not a good thing! But better yet, have two sheets of masonite on top of one another, and dispense with the need for taping them down altogether!

The Amazing “Panel Cart”

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Bob McGregor

I don’t want to tell you how many years I did moves without the benefit of a Panel Cart! I became a True Believer after a High-Rise to High-Rise move where we moved pieces from a German “Shrunk” (a German-made Wardrobe) It had these heavy six-foot tall doors, and we had no good way to move them down the hallways and elevator and long walk through the parking lot to the truck. A worker tried to put them on a Magliner Gemini box handtruck that folds down to a cart. The delicate finish on the Shrunk doors got scratched up on the metal handtruck. Major Disaster!! If we had a standard panel cart, we could have laid the doors down in the carpet-floored Panel Cart.

Most Movers and Customers first become acquainted with the Panel Cart while moving office cubicle partitions. But anything flat and long fits a Panel Cart nicely:

1) Mattresses and Box Springs (see picture below)

2) Tables

3) Pictures and Paintings

4) Flattened Out Boxes

When going on a Moving Job in a High-Rise, we will also roll moving equipment in the cart to the Origin unit. This includes pads, tape, shrink wrap, boxes, and other packing material.

Because the Panel Cart has big, heavy-duty, soft wheels, it is idea for rolling other items that are not so flat–closed-up boxes, end tables, chairs (see picture below)

CLAIM WARNING: If you push the cart through doors into residences or into office rooms, you have to be very careful that you don’t bang the unprotected metal handles against the door. The handles can easily leave scratches if they are unprotected. The one picture below shows the metal handles padded, and you can also buy at the Equipment Supply Store –special slip-on pads that fit the handles.

Parking While Moving

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Bob McGregor

If the moving truck has to park on a major street in a downtown area, you better check the parking signs and laws.

In the picture below, in Atlanta, on Juniper Street outside of the Tuscany Condo complex, the parking sign says there is no parking Mon to Fri from 6:30a to 9:30a and from 3:30p to 6:30p. That gives you a 6 hour window between 9:30a and 3:30p. Since most professional movers prefer to start between 8 & 9:00am, they are not going to be able to park then at this convenient place on the curb. If it is an afternoon job, then they might start at 1:00pm and be looking to unload around 4pm. Also “Not a Go” if the unloading will be done at this curb.

And I don’t recommend “Risking It.” Cities are hard-up for cash, and they are looking hard for opportunities to fine you $250 — the going rate for a parking ticket at this location in Atlanta.

There are only a few ways around this problem:

1) Park somewhere else. At this “Tuscany” complex a moving truck can actually go inside the security gate to park. Often it is not as convenient access, but it is not bad.

2) Plan it so the truck is only parked within that six hour window. If loading there, you will have to start after 9:30. If unloading, the movers will have to be finished before 3:30p, or they may have to come back the next day.

3) Do the move Saturday or Sunday.

Moving A Customer Into Decatur, Georgia’s “Ice House Lofts”

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Bob McGregor

CLICK TO GO TO SLIDE SHOW

Pack “Too Small” Boxes Within Larger Boxes

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Bob McGregor

These Boxes Should Be Packed Inside a Larger Box

"Same Here"

These small, light boxes should have been placed inside a larger box–like a “3.0 cube” box. The movers can much easier and faster handle one “3.0 cube” box than three or four tiny boxes. But list on the larger box the labels of the smaller boxes contained within.

About Tipping Moving Workers

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Bob McGregor

Tipping moving workers is not mandatory like tipping restaurant workers. Restaurants workers make a special minimum wage close to $2 per hour, and the bulk of their income is from tips. Moving workers makes several times that, but still not that much. Tips are a very significant part of their income.

Most professional people have experience tipping wait staff, hairstylists, and bellhops, and beyond that their experience may be limited. Customers with a good amount of experience using professional movers—usually tip, but many customers are using professional movers for the first or second time and have not had to address this topic before.

The Cultural Norm in Atlanta in 2009 is that experienced customers will usually tip if they are pleased with the move. You don’t use percentages like with restaurants, but think in term of dollar amounts per member of the moving crew. For a several-hour or all-day move, $20 to $40 per man is a good tip. Not infrequently the tip is above that, but then that is a GREAT TIP! If it is only a half-day move, you would adjust the tip proportionately.

When I as the owner am a member of the moving crew, I don’t expect to get a tip, but when the Driver/Crew Chief is not the owner—don’t forget him! Customers will sometimes think the Driver/Crew Chief is not working, because he is not carrying in the heaviest furniture. He is on the truck, wrapping and putting items into tiers, and unloading items. He also drives the truck and supervises the whole operation, so if anything he should get a larger tip, but an equal tip is fine too (and the Driver/Crew Chief does not make that much more per hour than the workers)

Residential Moving is a personal service. The workers may not be bringing your food to the table or cutting your hair, but they are handling your personal household goods, which includes your furniture, boxes, and all other household items being moved. During an office move there is not that the same “personal feel”—a file cabinet is not as “personal” as say a vanity table. Accordingly, office moving workers get tipped much less frequently.

The reality is that moving workers try to “size up” a customer in the beginning of the move to determine whether or not they will tip and how well. Guess what? The workers work harder when they predict they will get a good tip.

Please give me your comments on what you think about this. There are definitely no “hard and fast rules”

Moving an American 1850 Antebellum Sofa

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Bob McGregor

Antebellum Sofa

We moved this sofa last week. The customer wouldn’t guess a dollar figure on how much it is worth–A LOT!! I’ve seen something like these in museums, and she said that actually 1850 American sofas are worth much more on the antique market than 1850 European sofas. Probably because there are fewer American sofas of this age.

This sofa is actually came from her ancestor four-or-so generations back, who lived on a Southern antebellum plantation. This customer had other expensive armoires and wardrobes from Europe, but she said this sofa was by far her most valuable piece.

She told me the details on this sofa almost in a whisper. She related later that she didn’t want to go into too much detail about the origins of the sofa in front of the African-American moving workers, whose ancestors theoretically COULD HAVE BEEN SLAVES ON HER ANCESTOR’S PLANTATION!

To protect the sofa for the move, we first taped clean quilted pads around it, and then shrink-wrapped it. With newer, more common sofas, you can stand them up on-end in the truck. But WE WOULDN’T DREAM OF DOING THAT WITH THIS SOFA! Besides the eagle-talon style feet had been cracked and repaired before. So the sofa had to stay right-side-up at all times and we put it right-side-up on its feet at the end of the load in the truck. We had to make sure we had extra space, since the sofa was on its feet taking up a lot of room, and nothing could be stacked on top of it!

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