A driver gets a notification on a phone. The request says "furniture, Lekki to Ikeja." That is all. The driver does not know whether it is a sofa or a full house, whether there are stairs, or whether the gate will take a truck. So the driver guesses, and guesses are either too high or too low.
The load description is the part of a Sphere request you control most. This guide explains what to put there and why.
Why the description matters
When you request a vehicle on Sphere, you add the pickup, the drop-off, your vehicle choice and a description of the load, and you propose a price. Nearby verified drivers then accept your price or send a counter-offer.
Drivers read your description to judge the work: the number of trips, the weight, the time on site and the effort. A clear description means offers that match the job, fewer surprises on the day, and fewer arguments about extra work.
What to include
Think of the questions a driver would ask on a phone call, and answer them in advance.
- What is being moved: "three-bedroom flat, two wardrobes, a fridge, a freezer, a washing machine, about 50 cartons".
- How much: a rough count of large items and cartons.
- The heavy or awkward items: generator, safe, piano, glass table, gym equipment.
- Access at pickup: floor number, lift or stairs, the width of the gate, estate rules.
- Access at drop-off: the same questions again.
- Timing: the day, and any time window set by the estate, landlord or shop.
- Help: who will load and offload, and whether you want the driver to bring helpers.
You do not need to write an essay. A short paragraph with the right facts beats a long one without them.
Be honest about weight
A pickup van in the app is listed up to 2,400kg, and a truck up to 27,000kg. Those are limits, not targets. If your load is books, cement, tiles, drums of liquid or machinery, say so, because those loads weigh far more than they appear. Our guide on moving building materials without overloading the truck explains why.
Choosing the wrong vehicle for your load causes delays, extra trips or a driver turning the job down. If you are unsure, read how to choose the right truck size.
Mention the things that slow a move
The details people leave out are the ones that change the day:
- A long carry from the gate to the door.
- A narrow road where a truck cannot park close.
- A lift with limited hours.
- A gateman who must approve entry in advance.
- Items that need dismantling before they leave.
If you are not sure about access, say that too. "Gate may be too narrow for a truck, will confirm" is useful information.
Ready to 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.
Agree help before you accept
Loading and offloading help is not assumed. Agree it with the driver before you accept an offer, and write the arrangement in your message so both sides remember it. If you need two or three extra pairs of hands, say so in your description.
Our note on working with a loading crew shows how drivers think about this.
Use the offers to check your description
When offers come in, notice how they differ. If one counter-offer is far higher than the rest, the driver may have read something into your description that you did not mean. A quick message can clear it up. If every offer is higher than your price, ask yourself whether the load, the distance or the access is bigger than you described, and see how Sphere pricing works.
Example descriptions
A weak description: "Moving house, need truck."
A better one: "Three-bedroom flat on the second floor, stairs only, no lift. Two wardrobes, one fridge, one freezer, a sofa set, two beds, about 40 cartons. Gate wide enough for a small truck. Need loading help at both ends. Move on Saturday morning."
The second takes one minute longer to write and saves a lot of back and forth.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the app, choose a truck or a pickup van, add pickup and drop-off, and write the description using the checklist above. Propose a price and wait for nearby verified drivers to accept or counter. Choose the offer that fits.
You can also look at house moving in Lagos and truck hire in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a load description be?
Long enough to cover what is moving, the heavy items, the access at both ends and the timing. A short paragraph is usually plenty.
Do I need to list every item?
No. List the large and heavy items and give a count for the rest, such as "about 40 cartons".
What if I am not sure about the weight?
Say what the items are, such as books, tiles or machinery, and let the driver judge. Do not guess low.
Can I change the description after drivers respond?
If something important changes, tell the drivers you are talking to before you accept an offer, so the agreement matches the real job.
Why did a driver counter-offer higher than my price?
Distance, vehicle, load, access and timing all affect the price. Ask the driver what drove the offer, then decide whether to accept.
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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