How loading crews work in Columbus
You rent a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck. We send a two- or three-person crew to your origin — Short North apartment, German Village rowhouse, Clintonville bungalow, Dublin two-story, Westerville ranch, Hilliard subdivision, wherever in greater Columbus. They load under your direction. Most Columbus jobs run two to three hours.
We don’t drive the truck and we don’t broker storage. Labor — done by people who know how to load around the OSU August surge without breaking your stuff — is the whole product.
When to use a crew vs. moving yourself
Columbus patterns where a crew earns its keep:
- OSU move-in weekend. Late August every year, Ohio State’s move-in plus the surrounding apartment turnover means trucks book out, parking around campus is impossible, and crew calendars fill three weeks ahead. Book early or accept Tuesday-Wednesday windows instead of the weekend.
- Short North / Italian Village walk-ups. Narrow stairs, third-floor units, scarce truck parking. Per-hour math turns against DIY fast in this stock.
- Two-story houses in Dublin, Powell, New Albany, Lewis Center. Suburban stock with family-sized furniture; three movers, not two.
- Winter moves. December through February brings ice, salt, and snow on shoes. The crew brings floor runners; DIY usually doesn’t, and the security-deposit math goes poorly.
If you’re moving a studio in Clintonville with friends and a pickup, DIY is fine.
What it costs
Loading Crews quotes every job individually. We don’t publish flat rates — the right number for your move depends on crew size, hours, stairs, specialty items, and the day of week.
After you submit the booking form, our dispatch team texts or calls within five minutes with your specific quote. Flat-rate quotes, no upcharges on arrival, no charge from us if no crew claims your job. The quote you get is the price you pay.
Pickup locations in and around Columbus
Columbus has dozens of indexed rental locations. A few of the higher-volume pickups:
- 17th Quick Mart — 445 E 17th Ave, 43201. Near OSU campus, off Indianola.
- Appliance and Mattress Center — 1942 Parsons Ave, 43207. South Side.
- Beer Zone — 4658 Kenny Rd, 43220. Northwest Columbus / Upper Arlington adjacent.
- Buckeye Supermarket — 3201 Sullivant Ave, 43204. West Side.
The full ranked list (by distance from the Columbus city centroid) is on this page below the booking form.
Frequently asked questions
Service area beyond Franklin County?
Most of greater Columbus: Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Worthington, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Whitehall, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Grove City, Powell, New Albany, Pickerington, Lewis Center, Pataskala. Further out (Marysville, Mansfield, Lancaster, Newark) are covered by our national dispatch — same booking flow.
OSU campus move — any special prep?
The first weekend of move-in, designated streets around campus close to non-resident traffic; permits are required for parked trucks. Mid-week moves (Tuesday–Thursday) skip most of the chaos. Tell us at booking if your origin is inside the campus loop and the crew will plan accordingly.
Winter — what changes?
The crew brings floor runners and asks you to shovel/salt the path before arrival. Weather-sensitive items load last so they’re in the cold truck for the shortest time.
Two-story Dublin / Powell house?
Three movers, not two. King mattresses on staircases need three people; family-sized sectionals need three people for the turn at the landing.
Can a crew unload at the new place same day?
Yes — most jobs we run in Columbus include the unload as a second window on the same day, if the destination’s within an hour’s drive. Book both windows at the same time so the crew can plan their day.
Same-day booking?
Weekdays usually yes. End-of-month, OSU move-in, and OSU football weekends fill several days out — book ahead.