How to order freight transport on a good deal: mini truck, van, lorry
How a good-value move starts
The price of freight transport is rarely a pure “per kilometre” rate. The carrier counts the vehicle, waiting time, the loaders’ work and whether the vehicle returns empty. So two routes that look the same can cost differently, and calling a dozen dispatchers takes long and is tedious.
On BlaBlaPrice you write once what to carry, from where and to where, and carriers reply with offers in the chat. Each sees where their price ranks among the others, so they compete for your request. It is free for the customer, and your phone stays hidden until you choose a provider.
Which vehicle you need
The most common mistake is to order the wrong vehicle. For a few boxes and small furniture, a mini truck or a small van is enough. For pallets, building materials and large wardrobes, a covered body or an open flatbed is better, and for goods that are sensitive to temperature, such as food or electronics, you need a refrigerated vehicle. Long items, such as planks or pipes, need a body of the right length.
If you are not sure, just describe the load: weight, volume, number of pieces. The carrier will tell you whether it all fits in one vehicle. It is better to find this out before the trip than to pay for a second one.
What to put in your request
- From where to where — city and area or the address, so the carrier can count the distance.
- What to carry — things from a flat, furniture, pallets, building materials.
- Volume — weight in kg or tonnes, volume in m³ or number of pallets.
- Type of vehicle — a covered mini truck, a van, a lorry, if you already know.
- Date and time — the day and the hour you want it to arrive.
- Loaders — needed or not, and how many.
- Floor — at each address, and whether there is a lift.
- Packing and dismantling — whether a wardrobe must be taken apart or things packed.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a covered mini truck on Saturday at 9:00: move things from a 2-bedroom flat in Dubai to a nearby town, about 10 m³. I need 2 loaders, 4th floor, a lift is available; a wardrobe must be dismantled. Budget up to AED 200.”
How to compare offers
BlaBlaPrice shows the offer that is best on substance first, and every offer has reviews of the carrier. But also look at the terms yourself:
- price per hour or per trip, and the minimum number of hours;
- whether loading and unloading time is included in the price;
- whether the loaders and their work are counted separately;
- whether the vehicle’s arrival is charged, and whether you pay for the empty run back;
- whether a contract or a consignment note is made for valuable goods.
Common mistakes
Understating the volume, so the vehicle cannot take everything. Not mentioning a narrow lane or no access for the vehicle. Forgetting about a floor with no lift, when loaders charge a different rate. And agreeing to a “price over the phone” without confirming what exactly is in it.
If you need only hands without a vehicle, see loaders and movers. For a full move with packing, there is a separate category, house and office removals. Other options are collected in the “Transport and delivery” section, and you can read how it all works on the “How it works” page.
