Some things do not fit in a box and do not survive loose in a truck. A mirror taller than a door, a stone tabletop and a lab instrument are all examples. The answer is a crate built to the object.
How crating differs from packing
Packing puts items in cartons with paper and padding. Crating builds a rigid frame around the item itself, with blocking and cushioning inside it. Military OneSource draws the same line when it explains that crating means smaller internal crates for specialty items that need extra protection, as opposed to the large external crates used for containerized shipments.
Wood is the usual material, built after the crew measures the item, so it fits close.
What gets crated
- Large framed art, mirrors and glass tops
- Marble, granite and stone pieces
- Antiques and heirloom furniture with fragile finishes
- Machinery and instruments, including lab equipment
- Sculpture and other one-of-a-kind objects
How it appears on your paperwork
Federal rules treat packing and similar work as accessorial services. The FMCSA booklet describes accessorial services as extras you request or that special circumstances make necessary, and section 375.505(b)(14) says the bill of lading must completely describe the special or accessorial services ordered. A crate you want therefore shows up as a named line in the estimate and again on the bill of lading.
O'Brien's builds custom crates for art, glass, antiques and machinery. The details are on custom crating, and the fine art and antiques page shows how the pieces travel.
Planning for a crated item
Mention the item at the in-home estimate rather than on moving day, because a crate needs measuring and time to build. Take photographs, note any existing chips or repairs, and tell the estimator if the piece is high in value, since high-value items carry extra paperwork on a long-distance move.
Crating and the delivery end
A crate is only half the job. At destination the crew sets the crate where the item will live, opens it carefully and removes the cushioning, so the piece is placed once instead of handled twice. Tell the estimator which room each crated item belongs in, and mention any doorway, stair or elevator that limits the size of what can pass through.