You’ve heard the expression “don’t sweat the small stuff.” In life, that’s great advice. Yet when you’re shipping something of irreplaceable personal value like a
grandfather clock, heirloom violin or artwork out of state or out of the country, you sweat. Just like you sweat if when sending a dozen
pc’s and flat-screen monitors from your Boston office to your West Coast office.
These kinds of shipments, under 1,000 pounds, present a dilemma. It’s too small of an order and not cost-effective for a traditional moving company and either too valuable and delicate or too heavy to transport to the UPS Store (after all, 900 pounds is still quite heavy). Shipments like these require small load specialists.
As the name implies, small load specialists specialize in shipments under 1,000 pounds. Instead of you dropping off your shipment, the small load specialist comes to your home or office and brings your item(s) back to their shop for packing and shipping.
Part of what makes a small load specialist a more desirable option is the capability of customizing crates and packages for delivery. This is critical to the safe delivery of your items, particularly for awkward-sized items—like a full-length mirror with wooden frame for example or a piece of artwork—as well as delicate family heirlooms or other items of irreplaceable personal value.
One of the technologies many small load specialists use to ensure the safe transport of electronic items like computers, monitors, and other devices is something called
foam-in-place technology. A high-strength film protects the item you’re shipping, which is then “locked” in place with a foam spray. It essentially creates a customized encasing that prevents movement of any kind and makes those annoying Styrofoam packing peanuts a thing of the past.
So, who uses small load specialists? While there are number of markets out there that regularly employ small load specialists, here are some frequent users of small-load services:
- Companies moving equipment out-of-state from one office to another
- Large movers for those occasions when something gets left behind during a big move or is damaged during a big move and needs to be repaired before being shipped.
- International students who wish to send items home during school breaks
- Downsizing seniors and their children
Seniors are the largest growing market for small load specialists. Seniors moving into assisted living or over-55 communities cannot take all their possessions with them to their new homes. Often times, that means giving those treasured items, furniture, and heirlooms to children, grandchildren or other loved ones—many times in other states, even countries. A small load specialist can ensure the safe transport of those cherished items without incurring the major expense of the large moving company or the hassle of lugging the stuff to be shipped at Fed Ex, UPS Store or some other delivery store.
Many times, the task of moving Mom or Dad into their new home falls on the child who lives closest. It’s a rather stressful process, particularly if the other siblings live out of state. Working with a small load specialist can help make this transition a smoother one by giving the senior parent the peace of mind that their cherished belongings have been taken care of.
So while you probably shouldn’t sweat the small stuff in life, it’s perfectly understandable when you’re shipping fragile items or
expensive electronic equipment. Working with a small load specialist, you’ve got an expert on your side to do the sweating for you.
