The truck from Ibadan pulls up at ten at night. Your cousin is holding a torch, the driver is tired, and the helpers want to start throwing things off so they can go home. Twenty minutes later the truck leaves, and the next morning you find that one carton of cutlery is missing and the dressing table has a cracked corner. Nobody can say where it happened.
The offload is the last chance to find out. Whoever receives an intercity load should treat it as a small job of its own, with a list and a plan.
Before the truck arrives
Prepare the place and the person.
- Choose the receiver. One person holds the list and has the final say. Everyone else carries.
- Bring the packing list or stock list from the sender. If the sender numbered boxes, bring that sheet too.
- Light the offload area. If it will be dark, charge torches and phones.
- Clear the path from the truck to the door and open the gate fully.
If the sender and the receiver are different people, speak before the trip. Agree who the driver will call on the road and who has authority to sign. Our guide on preparing the drop-off before an intercity truck arrives covers keys, access and who receives in detail.
Look before anything comes off
Walk once round the truck. Check that the tarpaulin and straps look as the sender described. If the load has shifted or the cover is torn, take a photo before you touch it, and mention it calmly to the driver.
This is not an accusation. A long road does things to a load, and the driver would rather you note it now than argue later. If the trip was delayed, you might also read when an intercity truck runs late.
Count as it comes off
The receiver stands by the tailgate with the list and ticks each item as it passes.
- Count large pieces by name: sofa, bed frame, wardrobe, fridge.
- Count boxes by number, or by label if the sender labelled them.
- For shop stock, count cartons or sacks by product.
- Put each item where it belongs on arrival, in one room or one corner, not scattered around the compound.
If things come off faster than you can count, ask the helpers to slow down. A missed item is far harder to trace once it is mixed in a pile.
Check for damage on the spot
Look at each piece in the light, not under a torch beam only. Check corners, glass, screens, legs and doors. Open any box marked fragile only if it is rattling or leaking, and otherwise note it and open it soon.
When you see damage, show the driver straight away and photograph it with the piece in view. Do not wait for the next day. Stay calm and specific: "this corner has a crack, and it was not on the photo from pickup". Photos taken at the pickup help here, as explained in photographing the load at pickup and drop-off.
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Sign off with a note, not a rush
Once everything is counted, tell the driver what you found: "All 42 items counted. The dressing table has a cracked corner. One carton of kitchen items is missing." Write the same on your list and read it back.
If the driver is also writing a note, compare. If something is missing or damaged, do not argue at midnight. Agree what you will each do next, such as the sender checking whether the carton was loaded at all. If you cannot agree, message through Sphere and keep your photos. The playbook on when a move goes wrong shows how to settle these things calmly.
Do not tell the driver the job is complete in the app until you have counted. Finish the check first.
Things to look at the next morning
Some problems show later. In daylight, check:
- electricals: plug in and test what you can
- liquids and bottles for leaks
- furniture legs, hinges and drawers
- anything that was stacked under something heavy
Report anything you find quickly, with a photo.
How to do this on Sphere
On Sphere, you describe the load in the request and the driver can see it before they accept. Add the sender's contact and the receiver's name in the notes, and put the gate and landmark details in clearly. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept. When the truck arrives, count first and finish the job after.
Useful pages: Lagos truck hire, Abuja and Ibadan.
Frequently asked questions
Who should count the load at the drop-off?
One receiver with the list, standing at the tailgate. Others carry and do not count.
What if I find damage after the driver has left?
Photograph it at once and report it through Sphere. It helps a lot if you also have photos from pickup.
Should I sign before I count everything?
No. Count and check first, then sign off with a note of any missing or damaged items.
Can I open every box at the drop-off?
Usually not. Open boxes that rattle, leak or look damaged, and open the rest soon after in daylight.
What if the sender and receiver are different people?
Agree before the trip who will give directions, who signs and who the driver should call. Share the list with both.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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