requesting a driver a Truck for an Intercity Move: What to Settle Before You Accept

It is nine at night, the driver has just said "see you in the morning", and you realise you have not told him that the pickup is on the third floor or that you want to drop a bed frame at your sister's place in Ore on the way. Long-distance moves go wrong in the conversation before the trip, not on the road.

An intercity move is simply a bigger version of a local one, with more hours, more fuel and less room to fix mistakes. Settle these points before you accept an offer.

1. Describe the load honestly

Give the driver the real list: big furniture, appliances, number of boxes, anything fragile and anything heavy. "Household things" is not a description. A driver choosing between a pickup van and a truck needs to know whether the load is one room or a three-bedroom flat.

Sphere shows truck capacity up to 27,000kg and pickup van capacity up to 2,400kg in the app, so check your load against the vehicle. If you are unsure, ask the driver in the chat.

2. Agree the route and any stops

Tell the driver if the trip is direct or if there is a drop-off on the way. Each extra stop adds time, so agree it before you accept an offer and do not spring it on him on the road. If the destination is in an estate, give the full address and the nearest landmark.

3. Decide who loads and who offloads

Loading help is not automatic. Settle it in the chat: who loads at the pickup, who offloads at the drop-off, and how many people are needed for the wardrobe and the fridge. Do the same for the other end, because the people helping you at pickup will not be there at the new house.

4. Fix the timing in plain words

Intercity trips are usually best started early, so the vehicle is not arriving at night with the offloading still to do. Tell the driver when the load will be ready and when you need to be at the destination. Do not expect a guaranteed arrival time, because road conditions often change things. Ask the driver what he thinks is realistic.

5. Prepare the load before he arrives

• Disassemble beds and wardrobes the night before.
• Box small items and label rooms.
• Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer.
• Take valuables, documents and cash in your own bag, not in the truck.
• Unplug appliances and keep the cables together.

A driver who finds everything ready can load quicker and is more likely to accept your price without a fight.

6. Check the driver and the vehicle

Sphere drivers submit their licence, ID and vehicle details for approval before they can take jobs. Still, look at the vehicle when it arrives. Check that the body is clean and dry, that there are straps or ropes, and that it matches what you were told in the chat.

7. Keep your phone reachable

You will be at one end and the driver on the road. Keep your phone charged, and make sure the person at the destination has your number and the driver's number.

What about the price?

You propose it, and drivers accept or counter. Distance, vehicle, load, access and timing all play a part. A clear description and a fair offer usually get a faster reply than a vague request with a very low number.

For specific routes, read about moving office equipment from Lagos to Abuja and the Lagos to Ibadan same-day trip. The Lagos truck hire page has more.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Open the Sphere app and choose a truck or a pickup van.
2. Add pickup and drop-off, including any stop on the way.
3. Describe the load and access in detail.
4. Propose your price and wait for offers and counter-offers.
5. Talk through loading, timing and stops in the chat, then choose the offer you trust.