Sometimes you do not need a moving truck and full-service mover — you have a U-Haul, a moving container (PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-Pack-Rat), or your own truck, and you just need professional crew to load it or unload it. Cal’s Moving & Storage offers labor-only loading and unloading service in Florence and the surrounding coast. Here is how it works.

Florence is roughly a 75-mile drive from Cal’s Corvallis headquarters via OR-99W and OR-126 through Mapleton, so we book Florence moves with a little more lead time than our in-valley jobs to make sure crews and trucks are positioned for the coast. The drive is part of the job and we handle it — you do not pay for our drive time the way you might with movers who tack on hourly travel charges from inland origins.

The other Florence-specific factor: the coastal climate. Salt air, persistent moisture, and (in the dunes neighborhoods) wind-driven sand all affect how we wrap and load. Upholstered furniture, electronics, mattresses, and wood pieces get extra protective wrapping for any move that involves coastal exposure on either end. We also bring floor protection for homes near the dunes that tend to track sand — small detail, but it matters when we are walking back and forth all day.

What Our Florence Loading & Unloading Service Includes

Labor-only service includes a properly sized crew (usually 2–3 movers), all the tools and equipment crew brings standard (dollies, straps, blankets — though you provide the truck or container), professional loading or unloading with proper weight distribution and securing, disassembly or reassembly of furniture as needed, and basic crew-injury liability coverage. Cargo coverage on the items themselves is your responsibility (or your container company’s), since we are not transporting them.

Labor-Only Loading and Unloading in Florence

Most Florence labor-only jobs we handle: a customer doing a DIY interstate move with a U-Haul or PODS container who needs help loading at origin, an arriving customer with a moving container at their new Florence home who needs help unloading, or a customer doing a long-distance move with a U-Pack who needs help on both ends. We can handle any combination — load only, unload only, or both ends with separate crews.

Moving Container and U-Haul Loading in Florence

If you are using a moving container (PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-Pack-Rat, U-Box), we have experience with all major container companies and know how to load each type for stable transit. PODS containers in particular need specific weight distribution to ride well on the truck. For U-Haul rentals, we work with the standard cargo van, 10-foot, 15-foot, 20-foot, and 26-foot truck sizes. Tell us the truck or container type when you book and we will bring the right crew sizing and equipment.

Florence Areas We Serve

We move customers throughout the Florence area, including:

  • Old Town Florence — the historic district along the Siuslaw River, including the Bay Street commercial corridor and the older single-family streets nearby
  • Heceta Beach — the coastal residential area north of town, including the mobile home parks and beachfront properties
  • North Florence — the newer single-family developments north of the Siuslaw River bridge along Highway 101
  • South Florence — properties along Highway 101 south of town toward the Oregon Dunes
  • Glenada and Westlake — smaller communities just outside Florence proper
  • Surrounding Lane County coast — including Yachats, Mapleton, and the Highway 101 corridor

What to Expect on Move Day in Florence

Labor-only days are usually shorter than full-service moves. Crew arrives at the scheduled window, walks through with you to confirm what is going and the loading order, applies floor protection, and starts loading. The crew is responsible for the loading technique — you confirm what items go and where they go in the truck or container. Most labor-only Florence loads take 2–5 hours depending on home size. Unloading at the destination follows the same pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Florence

How much does loading or unloading cost in Florence?

Labor-only service is billed hourly with a 2-hour minimum. A 2-mover crew runs $130–$170 per hour; a 3-mover crew runs $175–$220. Most Florence labor-only loads or unloads come in around $300–$700 depending on home size and crew.

Do you bring a truck for labor-only jobs?

No — that is the whole point of labor-only. You provide the truck or container; we provide the crew, dollies, straps, and blankets. If you need a truck, we offer full-service moving with our truck included — just call and we will discuss which option fits your situation.

Will you load my own truck or U-Haul?

Yes. We work with U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and customer-owned trucks regularly. Tell us the truck size when you book so we can plan crew accordingly.

Can you load or unload a PODS, U-Pack, or other container?

Yes. We have experience with all major moving container companies. Containers have specific weight-distribution requirements for safe transit and we know how to load each type properly.

Are you insured for labor-only work?

We carry full workers’ compensation and liability insurance on our crews. Cargo coverage on the items being loaded is your responsibility (or your container company’s) since we are not transporting them — we recommend confirming your container company’s coverage before move day.

Ready to Schedule Your Florence Move?

Cal’s Moving & Storage operates under USDOT #3311673 as a registered interstate carrier with the FMCSA, and under Oregon ODOT Certificate #239715 for in-state household goods moves. We carry comprehensive cargo, liability, and workers’ compensation coverage, provide written estimates on every job, and can hand over our certificate of insurance to any property manager or building owner who requests one. As of January 1, 2026, Oregon tripled the penalty for unlicensed moving to $3,000 per violation — you can read more about Oregon’s 2026 moving laws and how to verify any Florence mover before you book.

Call (503) 746-7319 for a free estimate, or request a quote online. We respond quickly and we can usually quote a Florence move the same day you reach out.

Looking for related services in Florence? We also handle local moves, residential moves, long-distance moves, senior moves, packing services, and storage for Florence-area customers. For other Oregon coast and Willamette Valley locations, see our Salem, Corvallis, and long distance service pages.

Cal’s Moving & Storage is a locally owned Oregon moving company founded in 2018 at Oregon State University. We serve Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Florence, and the surrounding Willamette Valley and Oregon coast.