Sometimes you do not need a full-service mover with a truck — you have a U-Haul, a moving container (PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-Pack-Rat, U-Box), or your own truck, and you just need experienced crew to load it or unload it. Cal’s Moving & Storage offers labor-only loading and unloading service throughout Tigard, the Washington County metro, and the broader Portland area. Here is how it works.

Tigard sits about 9 miles southwest of downtown Portland in Washington County, with US-99W (Pacific Highway), I-5, and OR-217 all running through or alongside it. Cal’s Moving & Storage dispatches crews into Tigard regularly — the drive from our Corvallis headquarters runs about 70 miles, roughly 90 minutes outside of rush hour. The drive is part of the job; you do not pay separately for our travel time.

The Tigard-specific factors we plan around: weekday rush-hour congestion on OR-217 and Pacific Highway (we sequence loads to avoid the worst of it), retail and commercial property managers around Washington Square and Bridgeport Village that require certificates of insurance for any move-in (we provide them as a standard part of every move), and the apartment-and-condo turnover in the Tigard Triangle and Bull Mountain corridors that often runs to tighter elevator-reservation windows than single-family moves.

What Our Tigard Labor-Only 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, shoulder pads — 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 and 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 Tigard

Most Tigard labor-only jobs we handle: a Tigard Triangle apartment dweller moving with a rental truck who needs muscle for the heavy items, an arriving Washington County tech transferee with a moving container at their new Tigard home who needs help unloading, a Bull Mountain homeowner doing a DIY interstate move with a U-Haul who needs help loading at the Tigard end, and customers using PODS or U-Pack who need professional crew on either end.

Moving Container and U-Haul Loading in Tigard

If you are using a moving container, we have experience with all major companies. PODS: 7-, 12-, and 16-foot containers, weight distribution matters for stable transit. U-Pack: ReloCubes and 28-foot trailers, you pay for the linear feet you use so efficient packing matters. 1-800-Pack-Rat: similar to PODS, multiple sizes. U-Box: smaller cube-style, often need multiple boxes for a full-home move. U-Haul rentals: cargo van, 10/15/20/26-foot trucks. Tell us which you have when you book and we will bring the right crew sizing and equipment.

Tigard Areas We Serve

We move customers throughout Tigard and the surrounding Washington County area, including:

  • Downtown Tigard — the Main Street commercial district and the Tigard Civic Center area
  • Tigard Triangle — the commercial and apartment-heavy corridor between OR-217, I-5, and Pacific Highway
  • Bull Mountain — the residential hillside neighborhood west of downtown with single-family homes and views
  • Metzger — the established residential area between Tigard and Beaverton near Washington Square
  • Washington Square / Greenway — the retail-adjacent residential zones around the mall
  • Bridgeport Village area — mixed retail and residential along the southeast Tigard / Tualatin border
  • Tigard-Tualatin border, King City, Durham, and the wider Washington County metro

What to Expect on Move Day in Tigard

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 and stairwell protection, and starts loading. The crew handles the loading technique — you confirm what items go and roughly where they go in the truck or container. Most Tigard labor-only loads or unloads run 2–5 hours depending on home size.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Tigard

How much does loading or unloading cost in Tigard?

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 per hour. Most Tigard labor-only loads or unloads come in around $300–$700 depending on home size and crew.

Do you bring a truck for labor-only Tigard jobs?

No — labor-only means you provide the truck or container; we provide the crew, dollies, straps, blankets, and expertise. If you need a truck included, we offer full-service moving with our truck — just call (503) 746-7319 and we will discuss which option fits your situation best.

Will you load my U-Haul or rental truck in Tigard?

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. For 26-foot trucks loaded for cross-country moves, we typically recommend a 3-mover crew.

Can you load or unload PODS, U-Pack, or other moving containers in Tigard?

Yes. We have experience with all major moving container companies (PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-Pack-Rat, U-Box). Containers have specific weight-distribution requirements for safe transit and we know how to load each type properly. Tell us which container company you are using when you book.

Are you insured for labor-only work?

Yes. We carry full workers’ compensation and liability insurance on our crews. Cargo coverage on 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 Tigard 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 Tigard 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 Tigard move the same day you reach out.

Looking for related Tigard or Portland-metro moving services? See our Tigard storage, labor-only loading/unloading, office moving, and commercial moving pages, plus our broader Beaverton, Portland apartment movers, local movers, and long-distance movers hubs.

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