Fuel Charges: What You Should Know when Hiring a Mover

If you are moving to Jacksonville, your local moving company wants you to be aware of what it means when a mover implements a fuel charge.

If you are going to be moving, you may want to see whether it is more beneficial for you to drive yourself or hire a mover to drive a moving truck. This is especially true if you are moving long distance. If you are moving long distance the moving company that you hire may charge you a fuel charge.

When hiring a mover, you will want to specifically ask what their fuel charge is, since most moving companies will not include the fuel charge in the moving estimate that they give you. Ask them if they charge fuel fees, a fee per mile or kilometer, a flat rate surcharge, or other charges on top of your moving estimate.

If you decide to rent a truck, this means that you will be paying for the fuel yourself, and most moving companies will require that you return the moving truck with a full tank. If you will be moving long distance, you will want to work out the numbers to see what it will cost in total if you rent a truck, versus if you hire a full-service moving company. If you are moving long distance, you may find that rental costs, plus gas, plus the time it takes to pack and unpack, is not worth the costs that you will pay if you rent a truck and move yourself; it may be cheaper and much easier to hire a moving company that can help you pack and move altogether.

Typically, you should only be charged a fuel charge if you are moving long distance. If you are moving within city, or from a city nearby, the fuel charge should be included in the hourly fee that you pay. Again, you will want to discuss these things with your mover. Keep in mind that when fuel costs fluctuate, moving company costs will too.

If the mover charges fuel costs in addition to the other moving charges, ask how it will be determined.

If you will be renting a truck, most rental truck agencies can provide you with a gas consumption rate for each size truck that they have. For example, if you are moving a three-bedroom house, you will most likely need a 20 foot truck. A 20 foot truck will average 8 miles per gallon. So if you are moving 3,000 miles in a 20 foot truck that gets 8 miles per gallon, you can calculate fuel costs by using the following formula:

3,000 (total miles) / 8 (MOG) x $3.20 (cost per gallon) = $378.20.

Regardless if you choose to rent a truck or hire a full-service mover, you will need to add fuel costs to your budget. All My Sons professional movers of Jacksonville, want to make sure that you have the best moving experience...period! Make sure that you know what moving terms a mover might use and what they mean, so that unnecessary charges do not go unnoticed.