Common Types of Commercial Moving

Commercial moving is quite often associated with office relocation, but it is not the only case when a commercial entity moves to a different location. Any store, warehouse, medical clinic or manufacturing facility has to look for commercial movers when they need to move equipment to a new place, whether because of downsizing, expanding or simply relocating.

As a rule, professional movers understand the complexities of loading equipment, furniture and electronics, so it’s worth budgeting for their services – insurance for valuable items and a guaranteed safe move are worth it. Let’s take a closer look at the types of commercial moving Vancouver:

Office moves

Office moves typically involve the transportation of furniture, computers, servers, and other essential equipment. Moves of corporate offices, legal firms, and technology companies often require precision and care to prevent disruption to business operations.

Retail Store Relocations

This type of move may involve transporting shelves, displays, inventory, and point-of-sale equipment. Retail moves often require tight deadlines to minimize downtime and keep business operations seamless.

Warehouse and Industrial Facility Moves

These moves involve the relocation of heavy machinery, production lines, and large inventory. The logistics for warehouse and industrial moves can be highly complex, requiring detailed planning, specialized transportation, and adherence to strict safety protocols.

Medical Facility Relocations

This type of move often involves the transportation of sensitive medical equipment, records, and devices, all of which must be handled with extra care due to their importance and fragility.

As a rule, the type of transportation used in commercial moving depends on the scale and nature of the business being relocated:

1. Box Trucks – can range in size, but they are usually ideal for urban settings where the spaces may be tight, and accessibility is limited. Box trucks are efficient for smaller-scale commercial moves, such as office relocations or small retail moves, moving office furniture, electronics, and boxed files or inventory.
2. Semi-Trailers – have big capacity and can handle heavy loads, including machinery, inventory pallets, and office equipment, so they are typically used when there is a long distance to cover or a significant amount of material to move. Semi-trailers are used for larger commercial moves, especially for warehouses, industrial facilities, or large-scale office relocations
3. Specialized Transport Vehicles – help protect sensitive items from damage caused by vibrations or sudden temperature changes during transport. It is a much needed transport for sensitive medical equipment or industrial machinery, specialized transport vehicles with features like air-ride suspension, climate control, and reinforced floors.
4. Flatbed Trucks – allow for easier loading and unloading of large, irregularly shaped objects. They are common in industrial or warehouse relocations, where forklifts or cranes might be used to load oversized equipment or machinery.
5. Cargo Vans – ideal for transporting a limited number of items, such as a few pieces of office equipment or inventory, in situations where a full moving truck isn’t necessary. Usually they are used for very small commercial moves or local deliveries, cargo vans may be used.