FAQ Sheet about ABF and Broadway Express (with photos)

[Diane]

From your figures posted elsewhere, it looks as if the ReloCube would cost you about $400 more than the trailer for terminal to terminal and $600 more for door to door. That's why I suggested the trailer. However, you could load the ReloCube in Queens and therefore save money on transporting your goods to the ABF terminal in NYC, wherever it is. So the trailer and the cube might end up more equal in cost than it seems. Also, it is much easier to load and unload the ReloCube at ground level than a trailer 4 feet up off the ground, where you have to use a ramp, which would save you money on any workers you might hire. You could also load the ReloCube at the terminal and have it delivered to your door in San Diego - in other words, mix it up.

I think personally if you can find a place to load the ReloCube in Queens (there is a time limit of four hours, I believe) I would go with the ReloCube. It is small - more or less like a tool shed - and less daunting to load and unload than a trailer.

[nomad68]

I highly advise NOT using Labor Ready.

I contracted loading services with Labor Ready based on this FAQ, which started a long chain of very painful events, and converted my recent move into the single worst move ever (and I have moved a lot). The net of which is below (ripple effects excluded).

I hired Broadway Express to move me (which was EXCELLENT, by the way) and Labor Ready to load the truck.

Labor Ready never showed up. I had spoken with them on the Tuesday prior to arrange the time, signed the contract and payment/credit card info on the Wednesday prior, faxed detailed driving directions and confirmed on the Friday prior, and no one showed up. The request for service was clear.

On moving day when the didn't show up, I called the branch, I called the national number, I called the answering service repeatedly. The poor lady on the answering service tried her best to help (outsourced, not Labor Ready) but even though she repeatedly called all the numbers and left messages, NOT ONE person called back.

I loaded the truck with the help of the BE driver by myself until 1 AM with three little boys age 3 and under left inside, and knowing I had to drive myself for 14 hours the next day to get to new home.

If that weren't bad enough, after bringing this abhorrent matter to the attention of the branch (Asia in Newburg, NY), the district manager (Matt), and corporate customer care, they STILL charged me for the service. When I called the branch to have the charge removed, Asia informed me that if I contracted the service, I owed for it whether I received it or not.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

This company should NOT be in business.

[daddyo]

I've checked out both ABF and BE, in hopes of saving money on my move from CA to WA with little (<2000 lbs.) No quote came in under $2000, which is much higher than quotes from full-service moving companies. Is there a certain way these freight companies work? Do they not want to deal with smaller shipments, just the big stuff? Just curious.

[Diane]

If any quote from a full-service mover comes in lower than a freight company's quote, it's virtually certain that the full-service mover is a scam or dubious company.

[daddyo]

Seriously? I've had several full-service moves come in about a grand less than ABF.

So let me ask you then: what's the average I can expect to pay for ~2000 pound shipment going ~1100 miles?

[farrah7031]

You can go to www.navl.com or www.allied.com and they have a ballpark estimator online.

[MusicMom]

Given two of the companies you mentioned on the other thread, I'm not surprised their quotes are lower.

Think about it. One company rents you a trailer and a driver and you do the work to get your stuff on and off said trailer. Second company rents you a trailer and a driver, plus provides big burly trained men to get your stuff on and off the trailer (among other amenities). Which should cost more?

Full service movers ALWAYS cost more (comparing final bills) than freight service.

[HSmom0f4]

I appreciate all the information. I have a few more questions and I am looking for insight.

I know some major differences between the companies are the air-ride vs spring-ride trailers...and also, the loading ramp, dolly, and pads are all included in one companies service but not the other. The cost difference is in my quotes are pretty high (roughly 1200 for ABF and 2600 for BE).

I am wondering if the air-ride trailer, the pads, ramp, dolly, and helpful driver are worth the extra grand? Roughly how much would I have to spend if I had to rent/find/purchase pads, etc. on my own?

[MusicMom]

What kind of stuff do you own, and what do you think of your packing skills? The chief complaint on freight companies is damage, which is really the problem of the person who packed the trailer. When I moved last year, I found BE's cost and smoother ride more worth it, because with move after move, we just couldn't afford to replace any of the college-student furniture we still live off of. My own personal opinion.

[Diane]

HSmomOf4,

If you got your quote from BE more than three days ago, go back to them for a requote because I think they dropped their price for 10-15 linear feet seasonally over the weekend. There is often some flexibility with their quotes.

You can rent pads from U-Haul for something like $100 per dozen, or you can pad your things with old bedding and cardboard. If you use ReloCubes you won't need a ramp. I think if money is tight it would be more cost-effective to use ABF U-Pack.

[MrPointy]

Does ABF still charge $50 for the ramps ?
From http://www.upack.com/ramp/
"Moving in an ABF trailer? Enjoy complimentary loading and unloading ramps on us!"

[Diane]

I don't think they charge $50 any more, but call them and ask. I know that originally the ramps were provided free only if people reserved more than a certain number of feet, but that policy may have been relaxed.

[Massive]

We are planning a move from Alabama to Oregon in the next couple of months and have found this site and forum invaluable. Thank you MovingScam.com! After researching options, I am interested in either going with ABF "U-Pack" or Broadway Express for our move this fall 2012. From their initial quotes, both seem to be competitively priced with each other. In an effort to help me weigh the pros & cons of each company's service, I've tried to contrast the advantages/disadvantages with each using mostly information from the author of this thread. Could you guys check and correct/add/edit my list below?

ABF U-Pack
- The parent company of ABF has been in business since 1923
- Has an A+ BBB report
- Has more than 17,000 trailers [don't know if this is current]
- Has has spring-ride trailers
- Provides no equipment [moving blankets, dolly, straps] to help w/loading
- Uses 28-foot trailers that it leaves for up to 3 days for you to load/unload [the driver doesn't participate]
- If a weekend is involved, ABF will leave the trailer over the weekend as well
- Finding parking for the trailer can sometimes be a problem
- With ABF, you will have at least three drivers: one to deliver the trailer to the origin location, one to pick up the trailer and one to deliver the trailer at destination. If the driver doesn’t wait at the destination location, a fourth driver may pick up the trailer when you’re finished unloading.
- Provides "ReloCube" containers as moving options
- ABF currently has a 91% positive feedback on MovingScam.com

Broadway Express
- The parent company of BE has been in business since 1971
- Has an A+ BBB report
- Has about 100 trailers [don't know if this is current]
- Has has air-ride trailers
- Provides equipment to help w/loading: moving blankets, tie-down straps, a dolly and decking material
- Uses 70-foot tractor-trailers and the driver waits while you and your helpers load
- The driver will help you load for an hourly fee [~ $30-$50/hour]
- Parking is usually less of a problem because the BE driver can move the trailer if necessary
- With BE, the driver who picks up your shipment will normally be the driver who delivers it
- Provides no option for moving containers such as the "ReloCube"
- BE currently has a 95% positive feedback on MovingScam.com

[MusicMom]

I'm surprised they're priced similarly. BE should be more expensive because of the trailer ride and the other extras listed above. Do you have the same number of linear feet requested?

[Massive]

I'm surprised they're priced similarly. BE should be more expensive because of the trailer ride and the other extras listed above. Do you have the same number of linear feet requested?

- Broadway Express actually estimated 16' for $4020 ($3620 if I book by 9/1/12)

- U-Pack estimated 17' for $4,257 door-to-door (+/- $195 per foot)
3 ReloCubes, door-to-door for $4,498
4 ReloCube door-to-door for $5,668