The truck has left for the other city, and you are standing in an empty flat with a bag that holds half of what you need. Did the keys go in it? The documents? The charger? The phone you are about to call the driver with?
On a long-distance move, the truck and you do not always arrive together. The driver may leave first, or you may travel later by car or bus. What you carry yourself matters more than what goes on the truck.
What never goes on the truck
Some things stay with you from the first minute to the last.
- Money, bank cards, phones and chargers.
- Passports, IDs, tenancy papers and anything you could not replace.
- Laptops, hard drives and work tools you need on Monday.
- Prescription medicine and anything for a child or an older person.
- Keys for both properties and the gate, with a spare set in a second bag.
- Jewellery and small valuables.
Our guide on relocating to Abuja for work shows how people decide what goes and what is left behind.
The first-night bag
Pack as if you will arrive at the new place after dark, with the truck still on the road or offloaded into a pile of cartons.
- Clothes for two days, a towel and your toiletries.
- Bedsheets and a pillow, even if the bed arrives with the truck.
- A torch or a lantern, in case the power is off.
- A power strip and phone chargers.
- A kettle or a pot, a plate, a cup, a spoon and a knife.
- Water, snacks and tea, sugar and bread for the morning.
- A few bin bags, a roll of tape, a marker and scissors.
- A basic tool kit: screwdriver, spanner, pliers.
That one bag is what lets you sleep well on the first night. Keep it in the car, not on the truck.
The bag for the road
If you are driving, keep a small bag within reach of the seat: water, snacks, tissue, a charger and a first aid kit. Check the car before you leave: tyres, fuel, oil and spare wheel. Our guide to a same-day truck trip from Lagos to Ibadan shows how the truck and the car day often fit together.
Do not stuff the car so full that you cannot see through the mirrors. If the car is full, you are probably sending too much by car and too little by truck.
Tell the driver what is on the truck, and what is not
Before the truck leaves, take a photo of the load and share a short list with the driver, so you both know what is on board. Say which cartons are fragile and which must go off first.
Agree when you will arrive, and what happens if you are delayed. A driver who knows you will be an hour late can plan the offload. A driver who does not will wait outside, and someone has to pay for that time. Our article on requesting a truck for an intercity move has the questions to settle before you accept an offer.
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.
Who receives the truck at the other end?
If you will arrive later than the truck, send someone you trust to receive it. They need the keys, the list of items and your phone number for the driver. Put that person's name and number in the chat with the driver.
If nobody can be there, do not send the truck ahead. A truck that arrives to a locked gate costs time for everyone. Consider moving the same day, or send the goods when you can be there. For items you cannot travel with, our post on sending goods between cities when you cannot travel with them explains how that works.
A short check before the car leaves
- Is the first-night bag in the car?
- Are the documents and the spare keys in your own bag?
- Does the driver have your number, and do you have theirs?
- Does the person at the other end know the time and the address?
- Is the house locked, the gas off and the meter noted?
How to do this on Sphere
- Choose a truck or a pickup van for your load.
- Add the pickup and the drop-off in the other city, and say when you expect to arrive.
- Describe the load, and add what will travel with you.
- Propose your price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send a counter-offer, and you choose.
- Agree loading, offloading and who will receive the goods with the driver before you accept an offer.
Sphere runs in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan. See truck hire in Lagos for the options.
Frequently asked questions
Should I send my mattress on the truck or carry it myself?
Send it on the truck unless it is small and you have space in the car. Keep bedsheets and a pillow in your first-night bag.
Can I put valuables in a locked box on the truck?
It is safer to carry valuables yourself. Do not rely on a lock to protect what you cannot replace.
What if I arrive later than the truck?
Tell the driver in advance and send someone you trust to receive the goods, with a list and your number.
Do I need to travel with the driver?
Not always. Many people travel separately, but agree the arrival time and the receiver with the driver first.
Does Sphere set the price for my move?
No. You propose a price and nearby verified drivers accept or send a counter-offer. Distance, vehicle, load, access and timing affect the offers.
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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