In recent years, moving pods have challenged the traditional truck or trailer as an option for Americans who need to relocate. Pod companies deliver a large box that the customer can load up with furniture and boxes on his or her own time. The pod may be parked on the client’s property or placed in a warehouse or other secure facility owned by the company.

 

For moves across the U.S. or from city to city, the pod company can pick up and transport to wherever the client requires. Then the customer unloads the belongings on his or her own time. Thus, a pod resembles a commercial shipping container, but it’s smaller and more personal.

 

Americans have increasingly chosen pods as a moving option during the past 15 years. U.S. market leader PODS, which is an acronym for “portable on-demand storage,” started offering moving pods in 1998. Among the many competitors to come on the scene since then are MyWay Mobile Storage, Units Portable Storage, Go Mini’s, Door to Door Storage, Mobile Mini, and Pack Rat Portable Storage.

 

Long-time moving giant U-Haul International, which dates back to 1945, has also gotten into the industry by marketing its version of the moving pod, which it has branded as U-Box.

 

Pod containers sit flat on the ground, which makes loading faster and easier than with a truck or trailer. Many clients prefer not to have to drive a large truck or trailer themselves. Most pod companies operate trucks that have specially designed mechanical arms to heft the loaded container onto the truck bed while maintaining it in an upright position so the contents don’t slide and topple.

 

Clients may choose pods constructed of metal, fiberglass with a wood floor, or metal and wood (plywood of marine grade covered by aluminum, for example). The client’s driveway needs to be wider than just the pod, however: it should accommodate the truck and its mechanical arms, too. Homes that lack a driveway will have to load at the curb; in that case, the customer needs to obtain street permits in advance.

 

Standard moving pods measure 8 feet in height by 8 feet in width. Options for pod length include 20, 16, and 12 feet. Owners of especially large homes and commercial businesses will want to inquire about the possibility of greater lengths. Moving pods have become a popular option for students at the university level. They’re fast and convenient, without calling for the extra driving hassles of trailers and vans. Students also make use of the storage option for summer breaks and sabbaticals.

 

Clients appreciate the flexibility that storing a pod offers them. If they encounter a delay in closing on a house, customers might need to store their belongings for a period of time, depositing their pod(s) in a warehouse while making permanent arrangements. The storage option can protect clothing and furniture from extreme heat and cold, as well as exposure to moisture, for long periods of time.

 

To learn more about storage pods, visit Door to Door.