This is called labor-only moving. You can ask for loading only, unloading only, or both, and you do not have to hire a full-service moving company to get strong help with the heavy part.

Loading and unloading is one of the main services we offer at Moving for Jesus. Customers rent a U-Haul, Penske or Budget truck, and we show up to carry things out, build the load and, if you want, carry it all back in at the new place.

What "labor only" means

Labor-only help means you pay for people and their time. You don't need to pay a moving company for a truck and driver. (If you would rather we bring a truck, ask; we quote it for your job.) You keep control of the parts that are easy to do yourself, like picking up the keys, choosing the truck size and driving.

Moving Help, the labor marketplace run by U-Haul, describes it the same way: with Moving Help, you pack your belongings and drive your moving truck, while hired helpers load and unload. We are listed on that marketplace too, so you can book us there or directly through this site.

What the crew does and what you still do

The crew handles:

  • Carrying furniture and boxes from the house or apartment to the truck.
  • Building the load so heavy pieces sit low and nothing shifts on the road.
  • Using the truck's ramp if it has one, plus any dollies and moving pads you have.
  • Unloading and placing things in the rooms you point to, if you book that end too.
A mover sliding a storage tote into place beside clear plastic bins inside a rental truck.
A mover sliding a storage tote into place beside clear plastic bins inside a rental truck. Harnett County, September 2026.

You still handle:

  • Renting the truck and picking it up. Reserve a size that fits your load; the guide on what size rental truck you need can help.
  • Having the truck at the door when the crew arrives.
  • Packing boxes and sorting what goes and what stays.
  • Driving the truck and returning it to the rental location. Check your rental agreement for the return rules.

Loading only, unloading only, or both

You pick what fits your move.

  • Loading only. Good if you have family or friends at the other end, or if the first address is the hard one: stairs, a packed garage, a tight driveway.
  • Unloading only. Good if you loaded the truck yourself and are arriving tired. We cover that case in a separate guide on unloading a rental truck when you move to the Triangle.
  • Both. A move with two addresses is one job for us. The crew loads at the first address, follows the truck to the second and unloads. Send both addresses and we quote it as one price, with the drive between them included.

Containers work the same way. If you book a PODS, U-Box, U-Pack or 1-800-PACK-RAT container, we can load or unload it. There is more on that in our loading and unloading service page.

Who this suits

Hiring labor only tends to make sense when:

  • You have heavy things: a washer, a dresser, a sectional, a big bookcase.
  • You have a hard start time because of a lease, a closing or a rental return.
  • Someone in the family should not be lifting.
  • Friends said yes, but the day is close and you are not sure they will all show up.

It may not be needed if you are moving a handful of boxes and have two strong helpers already lined up.

What it costs

Our rates are for moving labor. Two movers are $90 per daytime hour for hours 1 to 3, then $81 per hour from hour 4. Every job has a two-hour minimum, so the smallest daytime job is $180. Three movers are $130 per hour. Work between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. costs 25% more, only for those hours.

Our moving cost page shows worked examples. Any charge for travel, supplies or equipment is included in your quote, so you see the full price before you say yes.

What to tell us

A short note on the quote form is enough to start. Send:

  1. Loading only, unloading only, or both.
  2. The town or ZIP for each stop. Exact addresses can wait until Joey texts you back.
  3. The date, or "flexible", and the start time you would like.
  4. The truck size you have reserved, or the container size and company.
  5. Stairs, long carries, elevators and where the truck will park.
  6. Anything heavy or awkward. If it is unusual, say so; we will tell you honestly whether it is a job for us.
  7. What gear you already have, such as moving blankets, straps or a dolly.

The more of this we know, the better we can match the crew size to the job.

A few things that slow a job down

These slow a job down, and most are easy to fix ahead of time:

  • The truck is not there yet. The crew is ready and the truck is across town. If your pickup could slip, tell us before the day.
  • Boxes are half packed. Open boxes and loose items take longer than sealed, labeled ones.
  • No parking spot near the door. A long carry from the street adds time at every trip.
  • Disassembly left for the day. If a bed or table needs taking apart, tell us which pieces so we plan for it.

If you are curious how a crew orders the load once it starts, we explain it in how to load a moving truck.

How to book

You have two options, and neither one costs anything to ask:

  • Send the quote request. Joey texts you back, you agree on the plan and the price, and then your date is booked. A request on its own does not hold a date.
  • Find us on the U-Haul Moving Help marketplace. Our daytime crew rates there match this site. We are an independent local company, not part of U-Haul, Penske or Budget.

If you are not sure which truck size or how many hours you need, say so in your notes. We would rather help you work it out before the day than guess on the driveway.

One of our customers in Garner put it this way:

“They were prompt, prepared, respectful and efficient. It made moving much easier, I would definitely use them again!”

Courtney P., Garner, NC · Review on Moving Help, September 28, 2026