Whether you’re a first-time mover or experienced in relocating across state lines, our comprehensive moving services aim to make your relocation stress-free. Skip the last-minute stress of discovering that your most prized possessions can’t go on the moving truck with this list of what items cannot be moved by movers on a moving truck and why.
What Items Cannot Be Moved by Movers?
Federal law prohibits transporting poisonous and hazardous items for safety reasons, which includes garden chemicals, flammables, scuba tanks, firearms, and ammunition. You can only transport personal items, like photo albums, jewelry, documents, official IDs, medications, files, checkbooks, and cash. A moving company usually won’t transport perishables, indoor plants, explosives, live animals, or any remaining household cleaning supplies.
When you’re using professional moving services, certain items are not allowed on the truck. To prevent delays caused by unexpected prohibited items, we strongly recommend you create a detailed moving checklist before you begin packing. Consult our professional movers in Texas to confirm what we can move and receive the best advice for your relocation.
| Category | Sample Items |
| Flammable materials | Gasoline, diesel, lighter fluid, paints, paint thinner, matches, kerosene, alcohol, acetone, motor oil |
| Explosives and combustibles | Fireworks, hair sprays, antifreeze, batteries, engine fluids, fire extinguishers, alcoholic beverages |
| Firearms and ammunition | Handguns, rifles, ammunition, black powder, propellant charges/primers |
| Tanks and scuba gear | Oxygen tanks, propane tanks, full/partially full scuba tanks, clean gasoline cans, compressed gas cylinders |
| Household cleaning supplies | Aerosols, bleach, detergents, liquid cleaners, air fresheners, ammonia, furniture/wood polish |
| Poisonous materials | Insecticides, weed killers, disinfectants, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, mercury-containing items |
| Hazardous materials | Corrosives, carcinogens, radioactive items, automotive cleaners/fluids, acids |
| Perishable items | Fresh produce, dairy items, frozen treats, refrigerated baked goods/dough, open condiments/sauces |
| Plants and live animals | Household pets, small caged animals, reptiles, aquatic life, indoor/outdoor potted plants |
| High value and irreplaceable items | Jewelry, professional files, checkbooks, cash, family photos/heirlooms, sentimental items, sensitive documents, medications, house/car keys |
1. Flammable Materials
Any items that could possibly ignite are strictly prohibited by moving companies due to the danger they pose. Should a fire start in the back of the truck, these items pose a threat to the people driving and may destroy everything inside the truck.
During the packing phase, make sure any flammables are separate from your other belongings. Common flammables include:
- Gasoline
- Diesel
- Lighter fluid
- Paints and stains
- Paint thinner
- Matches
- Acetone
- Motor oil
- Oils
- Kerosene
- Adhesives
- Nail polish
- Varnish
- Alcohol
2. Explosives and Combustibles
Anything that’s combustible is off limits for the same reasons as flammables. These types of materials are extremely dangerous and should be handled with care.
It could only take an increase or a drop in the temperature for these restricted items to become a safety hazard. Examples of explosives and combustibles that moving companies won’t transport include:
- Fireworks
- Hair sprays
- Alcoholic beverages
- Antifreeze
- Batteries
- Engine fluids
- Fire extinguishers
3. Firearms and Ammunition
Some movers will not transport any type of firearms or ammunition due to extreme safety risks and high legal liability concerns. Loaded guns and ammunition are often classified as flammable/hazardous materials. Moving firearms and ammunition may depend on local laws, and some movers may require prior written notice.
The federal Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) allows legal interstate transport of firearms by vehicle. You can also carry in states that share reciprocity with your permit’s issuing state. However, the firearms must be unloaded and inaccessible.
- Handguns and rifles (especially if not dismantled or securely cased)
- Ammunition (any caliber, including reloading components)
- Black powder or gunpowder
- Propellant charges or primers
4. Tanks and Scuba Gear
For safety reasons, movers generally refuse to transport tanks and scuba gear because they contain highly pressurized oxygen or specialized gas mixtures. When these containers get bumped around on the back of a truck or involved in a vehicle accident, the pressurized air can explode during the collision.
Compressed gas cylinders are categorized as hazardous and cannot be included in a household goods shipment. For a hassle-free trip, we recommend not putting any of this equipment inside a mover’s trucks.
- Oxygen tanks (medical or welding)
- Propane tanks (used for grills, torches, or heaters)
- Clean gasoline cans and other fuel storage
- Full or partially full scuba tanks (dive tanks)
- Aerosol cans (hair spray, spray paint, or cleaning products)
- Fire extinguishers
- Any other compressed gas cylinders (helium, acetylene)
5. Household Cleaning Supplies
Regular household cleaning products can be toxic, flammable, or hazardous. These products often contain components that may trigger dangerous chemical reactions, posing risks from temperature or pressure changes inside a truck. Because these sit under a kitchen sink or in the garage, it can be easy to forget that, in certain situations, cleaners can be dangerous.
Even though you may think you’ve prepared properly during packing, moving companies will prioritize the safety of the crew and your belongings. Household cleaning products you can’t load on a moving truck include:
- Aerosols
- Bleach
- Detergents
- Liquid cleaners
- Air fresheners
- Ammonia
- Furniture / Wood polish
6. Poisonous Materials
Many moving companies won’t transport anything that can be considered poisonous because of the threat that it poses to the movers. Transporting these items yourself is at your own risk. Follow proper disposal methods for any materials you choose not to move.
In addition to the cleaning materials mentioned above, the following items fall into this category:
- Insecticides
- Weed killers
- Disinfectants
- Pesticides and fungicides
- Fertilizers (especially concentrated types)
- Pool cleaning chemicals
- Bleach and ammonia-based cleaners
- Mercury-containing items (like old thermometers)
- Toxic solvents and wood preservatives
7. Hazardous Materials
While these are a little off the wall, we’ve seen a lot of things in our years of moving since 2007. Hazardous materials are anything that can harm people, animals, or the environment. These can be physical, chemical, or biological.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies have regulations for safely transporting hazardous materials. To comply with federal, state, and local laws, our movers won’t transport hazardous items such as:
- Corrosives
- Carcinogens
- Radioactive items
- Automotive cleaners and fluids
- Acids
- Flammables and explosives also fit in this category
8. Perishable Items
Perishable items that are still in the fridge or open containers from the pantry aren’t dangerous. However, because they perish, most movers don’t load them up on their trucks, especially for a long-distance move.
Instead, you’ll need to plan with some coolers if you want to bring perishables along to your new home. These are among the perishable items that moving companies typically won’t move:
- Fresh produce
- Dairy items
- Frozen treats
- Refrigerated baked goods and dough
- Open or previously frozen food items
- Open condiments or sauces (unless properly resealed and packed)
9. Plants and Live Animals
Living things, whether they’re plants or animals, don’t belong on a moving truck. Any moves across state lines are usually out of the question due to regulations. States are concerned with diseases and destructive pests that plants could harbor, which is why special precautions have to be taken.
Not to mention, outdoor and indoor plants need sunlight and water for survival. Even a day without either can be detrimental. For a hassle-free travel, most moving companies won’t move:
- Household pets (dogs, cats)
- Small caged animals (birds, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs)
- Reptiles and amphibians (snakes, lizards, turtles)
- Aquatic life (fish in tanks)
- Exotic or farm animals
- Indoor and outdoor potted plants
10. High Value Items and Family Heirlooms
Expensive items aren’t off limits due to federal safety regulations, although you may want to reconsider cramming them in with everything else. Moving high-priced and priceless items is best left to owners if they fit in a personal vehicle, because movers are only required to insure items up to a certain amount.
When you can’t move an item yourself, it’s best to discuss options for transporting it separately or using a crating service. Using a few boxes, it’s best to keep the following in your possession during the move:
- Sentimental items
- Jewelry and other precious metals
- Family photos and photo albums
- Cash and checkbooks
- House and car keys
- Sensitive documents
- Medical records
- Prescription drugs
- Collections/collectibles
- Contracts and important documents
Why You Need to Follow the List of Things Movers Won’t Move
It’s extremely important to adhere to the rules about what professional moving companies won’t move. Otherwise, you could get in trouble with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) during interstate relocations and other regulators during in-state moves.
The administration enforces the federal regulations, and state entities can dole out fines or penalties if a carrier is caught transporting banned household goods. For example, the FMCSA fine for violating hazardous material regulations is $238,809, which may increase in the future depending on inflation.
A good moving company will let you know well in advance if any of your items won’t be permitted on the truck. Our moving team can help you figure out another way of getting them to your new home or office. In some cases, you can seek a prior written notice from your move coordinator if there’s a particular item you’re requesting to be moved.
However, claims for damage or loss caused by shipped prohibited items, even when prepared properly, are typically denied. Give Square Cow Movers a call to see how many things we’re capable of moving!
What to Do With the Restricted Items Movers Won’t Move
Knowing your alternative options for transporting restricted items ensures a smooth, legal moving day. By planning ahead, you can safely dispose of or personally transport each item, avoiding delays or fines.
- Dispose of perishable items, including frozen and refrigerated food, by donating to a local food bank or discarding them in trash bags before moving day.
- Transport hazardous items like nail polish remover, paint, cleaning products, and chemicals at your own risk, or properly dispose of them before the movers arrive at your new house.
- Handle restricted items such as fire extinguishers, explosives, or fuel for power tools and grills by arranging for a separate cargo truck.
- Keep your official IDs, medications, professional files, and checkbooks with you.
- Put guns in hard cases, remove ammunition from the firearm, and keep gun registration documents close to you for safe transport.
During your packing phase, make an inventory of the things you’ll be moving by yourself. Use the right packing supplies — like study boxes, bubble wrap, and tape — to protect your belongings. Stack a few boxes in your own vehicle, so you can transport them yourself safely until you arrive at your new house.
Related Questions
What Do Packers Not Pack?
Many moving companies will not pack prohibited items such as explosives, garden chemicals, flammables, and other cleaning supplies due to safety and legal concerns. During the packing process, items like scuba tanks, firearms, prescriptions, and house and car keys are categorized as either important or dangerous. They’re usually disposed of or handled by the homeowner, not the movers.
What Items Are Not Worth Moving Long Distances?
Items like outgrown clothes, broken furniture, and outdated electronics are often not worth the cost of long-distance transport. For safety and compliance, don’t attempt to move hazardous materials, loaded guns, perishable food items, or clean gasoline cans and other fuel storage.
Will Movers Take Loose Items?
Movers won’t move loose items like pantry ingredients or anything stored in trash bags because they offer no protection or efficiency for safe stacking and inventorying. Instead, we can help you pack them properly in boxes. It’s best to put small, valuable belongings, including jewelry, precious metals, family heirlooms, prescriptions, and house keys, in a few small boxes within reach during the trip.
Will Movers Move Liquids?
Movers will not move any hazardous items or many common liquid goods, and this often includes most household cleaning products. Due to the high risk of damage, leakage, and cross-contamination, even seemingly safe liquids are often on the list of non-transportable items.
Can Movers Move Outdoor Equipment?
While some movers can move most outdoor equipment, they may prohibit transporting anything containing flammable liquids, such as gas or oil. You must confirm your moving company’s specific policies regarding motorized tools, such as lawn equipment. For items like garden tools to be moved, keep them properly secured, and drain fluids from gas-powered equipment.
Which Boxes Should I Not Put in the Moving Truck?
We recommend putting together a few boxes of basic, personal items that should travel with you. This personal collection should include irreplaceable items, like photo albums, jewelry, and other sentimental items. This saves you the trouble of digging through boxes to find items you will want immediately.
Conclusion
Knowing which restricted items can’t go on the moving truck makes way for a safe packing process and a stress-free arrival at your new house. We can provide you with a moving checklist and more tips before you begin packing for your big move. Contact Square Cow Movers today to discuss your upcoming move and get expert guidance on handling your belongings safely and legally.