You have just completed the road trip to your new house. The house is empty and you’ll be living from your travel bags until the moving truck arrives. That’s alright, you timed this carefully and the truck should be unloading in just a day or two. Maybe you’re solo and alone in a new city. Maybe your tired family is grabbing their bags from the car.
But what happens when the moving truck doesn’t arrive? Delays are, unfortunately, a common part of long-distance moves, so it’s important to know what to do if the moving company is late. This is your guide in how to handle the situation of a late moving truck and an empty house.
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
The most important step is to stay calm. A large and heavily-laden truck can face a number of delays on the road, and rarely is this an emergency situation. Take a deep breath and assess the situation.
First, check your messages. Driving to a new house can put you out of touch and out of cell range. Maybe there are calls or emails waiting for you, telling you the exact duration of the delay and the new arrival date. If so, you can rearrange your plans. If there are no messages, find the numbers and email addresses for the moving company so you can make inqueries.
Next, decide whether you will be “camping” in the house or if you’d rather book a few days at a hotel while you wait for the truck to catch up. Having a plan and pursuing it with confidence can help you navigate this situation more easily.
Contact the Moving Company
Reach out to the moving company. Send them an email and call the company’s customer service number. This way, you can ask about your moving truck’s location, progress, and when it is likely to arrive at your new house.
Have some information ready to speed up the inquery process:
- Your moving contract details
- Your original estimated time of arrival
- Your new home address
You may get answers right away or you may get a follow-up call or email within the next day with the information you need.
Review Your Contract
While you wait for the truck, review your moving contract. Check for clauses that relate to delays.
There may be rights and penalties built in if your delivery is late. It’s not unusual for moving companies to offer a discount on your service or provide avenues to remedy the problem if a moving truck is late or significantly later than the stimated time of arrival.
Document Everything
It’s important to carefully document the situation in case you need to facilitate a solution or seek compensation in the future. You will particularly want to keep a record of all communications.
- Document phonecalls by recording the time, date, and number you have called. You can a use call recording or transcript app to keep exact records of your conversations.
- Save emails with the moving company to a dedicated folder so they are easy to keep track of.
- Save text messages and be sure to give the moving company a name in your contacts so the messages are easier to find.
- You can also safe screenshots of emails and messages to your phone’s local files.
Consider Temporary Solutions
How will you manage until the moving truck arrives? Part of knowing what to do if the moving company is late is your ability to make alternate plans. These delays are rarely more than a few days, and often it is possible to treat those days like a camping trip or vacation.
You can choose to camp out in the house with your road trip supplies. This could be a fun experience, if it’s your cup of tea. Alternatively, you can book a hotel for the duration of the delay and enjoy a “staycation” in your new city until the truck arrives.
Managing without your belongings may be difficult, but you can pick up a few essential supplies and extra clothes at a nearby super store or make a quick overnight eCommerce order for any essentials you’ll need in the next few days.
Communicate with Your New Destination
If necessary, you may need to convey a change in your moving schedule with other parties. Landlords may need to know that your truck parking day will be different, and you may need to book the elevator for a different day in a high-rise apartment or condo.
If the delay will affect your ability to report in for work, let your employer know about the situation. If others are relying you you or the arrival of certain belongings in the truck, make all the necessary calls. This is your chance to adapt your arrival plans, managing expectations and making necessary arrangements so this delay causes as little disruption as possible.
Evaluate Compensation Options
Explore options for how you might be compensated for the inconvenience and expense of the delay. Your moving contract may include a clause for discounts, refunds, or possibly reimbursement for affordable hotel stays. You may need to negotiate with the moving company to recieve your rightful compensation, however.
Remain polite yet firm and stick to the terms of your contract. Clearly documenting your communications and recording exactly how late the truck arrives will be key to full compensation for the delay.
Plan for Next Steps
It’s always best to have a plan. In the current situation, consider your options for contingency plans if the delay is extended further than a few days. How will you set up your house and start working in the new location?
You may also want to consider the risk of a late truck in future moving plans to avoid a similar issue. While sometimes delays on the road are unavoidable, working with highly rated movers and having a late truck plan already in place can ensure your next move is as smooth as possible.
To plan a seamless move to your next location and inquire about how delays might be handled, contact Freedom Moving & Storage today.
