This content has been reviewed by the National Van Lines Team

The Delivery Window

When relocating with a moving company, you’ll be provided with a range of pick-up and delivery dates. We understand the desire for precise scheduling in your moving plans. However, due to transportation laws and unforeseeable circumstances, it’s impossible to guarantee the exact arrival time of a National Van Lines driver.

This flexibility allows our drivers to navigate various factors, such as weather and traffic, ensuring the safest and most efficient delivery of your belongings. Rest assured, our team is committed to keeping you informed every step of the way and will work diligently to accommodate your schedule as closely as possible. Knowledgeable about the delivery spread?

Understanding the delivery spread

While some moving companies may promise an exact delivery date to secure your business, it’s important to note that they are bound by the same laws and face the same unforeseen circumstances as others in the industry. This means that even if a company provides a specific date, there’s no guarantee they can meet it.

Professional moving companies are more likely to offer a delivery range rather than a specific date due to these factors. They must comply with transportation laws that regulate driver hours and rest periods, as well as other regulations affecting delivery timing. Additionally, unforeseen circumstances like weather, traffic, and other delays can impact the delivery schedule.

Choosing a moving company with a wider delivery spread may save you money. Companies with narrower delivery windows may charge higher prices to cover potential costs of delays or other issues during the move.

When planning your move, it’s crucial to work with a reputable moving company transparent about their delivery estimates and policies. This ensures a smoother move and helps you avoid unexpected delays.

Legal Driving Limits

All drivers and van lines must comply with the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations, or FMCSA. These regulations limit the number of consecutive hours a driver can be on the road and how many total hours they can work each week.

While that may not seem like much of a scheduling hurdle, there are a lot of unpredictable elements on the road. All it takes is one minor accident during rush hour to slow traffic down. There is no way to predict such an event and no way to measure how long a driver may be stuck in traffic. A driver may drive five or 500 miles in a day, but the only thing that matters is how many hours he or she spent behind the wheel.

Additional Deliveries

The capacity of a moving van varies based on the size of the home and the weight of the shipment. On average, a moving van can accommodate approximately four households. However, unless you have a particularly large home or opt for exclusive use of a van, your driver will likely have more than just your items to deliver.

Similar to driving limits, scheduling the delivery may seem straightforward, but unexpected events can arise. For example, a poorly parked car could block access to the van, or an agent or driver may experience a sudden emergency, disrupting the unloading schedule for the day. Acknowledging these uncertainties, we believe it would be misleading to promise an exact delivery date that we cannot ultimately guarantee. Instead, we offer a delivery range for when we anticipate your shipment will arrive.

Weather Hazards

Nothing is quite as unpredictable and malicious as the wrath of Mother Nature, especially when driving across the country. Putting traffic aside,  Our drivers are experts at their craft and know how to navigate these conditions, but that often means driving slower, taking different routes or waiting for the weather to pass.

These three elements of a driver’s job are only some of the things we must consider when scheduling a move. We do all we can to fit your needs and timeline, but we also have to be sure we give you a delivery spread we can realistically achieve.

Understanding HomeGoods Delivery and Delivery Windows

When booking a HomeGoods delivery, it’s important to understand that most moving companies provide a delivery window rather than a specific date or time. A delivery window is a range of time during which your items are expected to arrive, allowing for flexibility in case of unforeseen circumstances. While it may technically be possible to drive across the country in a few days’ time, being on the road for 40 – 60 straight hours isn’t safe for the driver, other motorists on the road or your household goods. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

Delivery Windows Instead of Specific Times

Rather than providing a precise delivery time, moving companies typically offer a delivery window. This allows for the various factors that can influence delivery schedules to be accounted for.

Factors Influencing Delivery Windows

• Distance of the Move: Federal regulations limit drivers to a maximum of 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty period, followed by at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty. This typically translates to about 500 to 650 miles per day, depending on road conditions. For example, a move covering 500 miles or less may only require one travel day, while a shipment traveling 1,000 miles could require two days of travel. ecfr.gov
• Size and Weight of Shipment: Larger or heavier shipments may take additional time to handle and deliver, affecting the delivery window.
• Regulatory Compliance: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates drivers’ hours of service to ensure safety, which affects the duration of the delivery window. FMCSA
• Potential Delays: Weather, traffic, or mechanical issues can sometimes cause delays, which is why delivery windows are often flexible. Weather can make driving dangerous.

On-Demand and Same-Day Delivery Options

For faster delivery, services like Dolly and Lugg offer on-demand and same-day delivery options. These services are ideal for customers who need their items quickly, sometimes within a few hours of scheduling.

Scheduling Ahead

You can also schedule your delivery in advance to better fit your needs. This option provides flexibility to plan for the delivery at a time that’s most convenient for you.

Negotiating the Delivery Window

While it’s not always possible to guarantee a specific delivery time, many moving companies allow customers to negotiate for a shorter delivery window. If time is a critical factor, you can discuss your preferences with the moving company. While there are additional costs, scheduling in advance, opting for on-demand service, or negotiating your delivery window can make delivery times more reliable and convenient. You are more likely to save money with movers with a wider deliver spread.

Potential Delays

It’s important to be aware that unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather or traffic, may lead to delays. Being flexible with your delivery window can help ensure a smoother experience.

Conclusion

Understanding how delivery windows work can help you plan better for your delivery. Here are some additional tips on what to expect with your long distance move. Do you still have questions about moving pickup and delivery dates? Call us today at 877-590-2810 to talk about the services we can provide! Want to learn more  about our long distance moving services.