Preparing a Household Load for a Long Highway Trip

A load that sits quietly in a truck across Lagos can arrive wrecked after a few hours on the highway. Long roads bring vibration, sudden braking, potholes and weather. Furniture that looked well packed at the front gate shifts, rubs and slides.

If your household is going a long way, such as Lagos to Abuja or Ibadan to Lagos, spend the extra hour on preparation. It is cheap protection for everything you own.

Pack for vibration, not just for lifting

City trips jolt a load. Highways shake it continuously. Over hours, anything that can rub will rub, and anything that can slide will slide.

• Wrap wooden furniture in blankets or foam, and tape the wrap so it cannot unroll.
• Put cardboard on polished surfaces and on corners.
• Take legs off tables and remove drawers, or tape them shut.
• Pack boxes full, since half-empty boxes collapse when stacked.
• Fill gaps between items with pillows, bedding and soft clothes.

Our guide on padding and protecting furniture on the truck is written for drivers but shows exactly what good padding looks like.

Weight and balance

A badly balanced load is dangerous on the road. Ask your driver to follow these rules, and watch the loading yourself:

1. Heavy items such as the fridge, freezer and washing machine go low and near the cab.
2. Medium items go on top of them, in tight rows.
3. Light boxes and bedding go at the top and in gaps.
4. Nothing should lean against the back door or tailgate.

If you have a very heavy item, tell the driver before you accept the offer so the right vehicle is chosen. For a smaller household, our post on intercity moves with a pickup van explains when one van is enough.

Tie it down properly

Everything must be secured so it cannot move forward when the driver brakes. A good driver will use straps and ropes across the load and fasten it to the anchor points on the vehicle. Ask whether the driver has enough straps, a tarpaulin and ropes. Follow the manufacturer's guidance on any strap rating.

Check the load again after the first few kilometres, because settling often loosens ties. A sensible driver will stop and re-tighten early in the trip.

Cover for weather

Dust, sun and rain all reach a load on a highway. Cover the whole load with a tarpaulin, tied down at every side so it does not flap. Put mattresses and soft furnishings in plastic sheeting under the tarpaulin. Electronics should be wrapped and kept off the floor of the truck.

Plan the stops

Long trips need stops. Agree a plan with the driver:

• where and roughly when the first stop will be
• whether the driver will stay with the vehicle at every stop
• where the driver intends to rest on a very long run

Avoid leaving a loaded truck unattended in a quiet place. If an overnight stop is needed, agree it before you accept the offer. Do not push a driver to skip rest to save time.

Keep your essentials with you

Do not put these on the truck: documents, jewellery, cash, medicines, laptops, chargers and a change of clothes. Travel ahead in your own car or by bus and carry them yourself. Read our post on what to carry in your own car when the truck goes ahead for a full list.

At the other end

Make sure someone will be at the destination before the truck arrives. Agree offloading help in advance, and check items off a list as they come off the truck. Photograph anything damaged right away, before you sign off.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Choose a truck or pickup van and enter the pickup and drop-off cities.
2. Describe the load, including heavy items, and note the date and any stops you expect.
3. Propose your price and wait for offers from nearby verified drivers.
4. Compare offers. Ask each driver about straps, cover and the plan for stops.
5. Agree loading and offloading help before you accept, then confirm details in the chat.

Sphere operates in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan. See the Abuja or Ibadan pages for city details.