ABF Moving Truck Services Explained: How ReloCube and Freight Trailer Moving Works

ABF moving truck services, provided primarily through U-Pack—the consumer moving division of ArcBest (ABF Freight)—offer a hybrid long-distance relocation service where professional commercial drivers transport your belongings while you handle packing and loading. Customers choose between metal ReloCube containers or space inside a 28-foot commercial freight trailer, paying exclusively for the equipment or linear feet utilized.

Understanding the ABF Moving Model: Freight Logistics Meets DIY Relocation

Relocating across state lines often forces home and business owners to choose between expensive full-service traditional moving companies and the labor-intensive effort of driving a rental truck nationwide. ABF moving truck services bridge this gap by applying commercial less-than-truckload (LTL) freight logistics to residential relocations.

ArcBest, the parent company of ABF Freight, leverages its national network of freight terminals, semi-trucks, and professional transport drivers to offer consumer relocation services, marketed widely under the U-Pack brand. Instead of paying a full-service van line to handle every stage of packing, carrying, driving, and unloading, customers take charge of loading and unloading while ABF handles over-the-road transportation.

This freight-based model differs fundamentally from renting a truck or hiring full-service movers:

• No Long-Distance Driving: You bypass the stress of navigating a 26-foot commercial vehicle across mountain passes, high-wind corridors, and tight city streets, as well as the high cost of fuel and highway tolls.
• Flexible Space Allocations: Unlike standard truck rentals where you pay for the entire vehicle regardless of how full it is, ABF allows you to reserve space in a large freight trailer and pay based on the exact linear footage your belongings occupy.
• Commercial Infrastructure: Transport occurs using heavy-duty commercial freight equipment, standard freight lanes, and professional drivers holding Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL).

By eliminating white-glove loading services while providing commercial-grade transport, ABF truck services generally cost significantly less than traditional moving companies while offering far more security and convenience than self-driving truck rentals.

ABF Service Container Options: 28-Foot Moving Trailers vs. ReloCubes

When booking moving truck services through ABF, you select between two distinct equipment formats: full-sized moving trailers or modular ReloCube storage containers. The ideal option depends on household size, driveway access, local street parking regulations, and storage needs.

28-Foot Moving Trailers (Linear Foot Pricing)

The standard ABF moving trailer is a 28-foot pup trailer commonly used in LTL commercial freight shipping. Its internal measurements are approximately 27 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 9 feet high, offering total internal volume up to approximately 1,900 cubic feet and a maximum weight capacity exceeding 20,000 pounds.

Key mechanics of renting an ABF moving trailer include:

1. Adjustable Space (Linear Footage): You are allocated the entire trailer upon delivery, with a minimum billing requirement of 5 linear feet. As you load your belongings from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, you fill the space down the length of the trailer.
2. The Bulkhead Partition: Once your loading is complete, you install a temporary wooden or composite wall known as a bulkhead (supplied with the trailer). You lock this partition into the trailer’s recessed track system directly against your items.
3. Commercial Freight Co-Loading: If you do not use the entire 28-foot trailer, ABF uses the remaining space behind your sealed bulkhead partition to ship commercial goods or other commercial LTL freight bound for the same destination region. Your belongings remain locked behind the bulkhead partition throughout transit, preventing cross-contamination or mixing of goods.

ReloCube Containers

ReloCubes are metal, weatherproof, ground-level storage containers designed for smaller moves, tight parking environments, or situations requiring temporary storage.

Each ReloCube features the following technical dimensions and operational parameters:

• External Dimensions: Approximately 6 feet 3 inches wide, 7 feet deep, and 8 feet 4 inches high.
• Internal Dimensions: Approximately 5 feet 10 inches wide, 6 feet 10 inches deep, and 7 feet 9 inches high.
• Internal Volume: Approximately 308 cubic feet.
• Weight Capacity: Maximum payload capacity of 2,500 pounds.
• Door Opening: Double doors opening to roughly 5 feet wide by 6 feet 10 inches high.

ReloCubes fit inside a standard single parking space. ABF flatbed delivery trucks unload the containers directly onto asphalt, concrete, or packed gravel using hydraulic lift mechanisms. If you reserve multiple ReloCubes but end up filling fewer than expected, ABF picks up the empty cubes without charging for their transit, providing a flexible safety net for uncertain household volumes.

Step-by-Step ABF Moving Process

Understanding the operational workflow of an ABF relocation ensures a smooth process from initial equipment delivery to final drop-off.

1. Reservation
2. Delivery
3. Loading (Up to 3 Days)
4. Bulkhead / Lock Installation
5. Transit
6. Unloading

1. Reservation and Space Planning

During booking, you specify your starting address, destination address, preferred delivery dates, and chosen equipment type. For trailer rentals, you receive a quote detailing a base price (minimum 5 feet) alongside a fixed price per additional linear foot used. For ReloCubes, your quote details a per-cube price structure.

2. Equipment Delivery

An ABF driver delivers the moving trailer or ReloCube to your origin residence.

• Trailers: Backed onto driveways or parked along street curbs. Drivers place wooden pads beneath trailer landing gear to protect driveway surfaces.
• ReloCubes: Placed precisely using a specialized flatbed trailer with a tilt-bed or hydraulic crane delivery mechanism.

3. Loading (Standard 3-Day Window)

You typically receive up to three business days to pack and load your belongings. The standard equipment package includes a loading ramp for 28-foot trailers, while ReloCubes sit virtually flush with the ground, eliminating the need for steep ramps.

4. Bulkhead Setup and System Sealing

If using a moving trailer, you install the bulkhead partition system once loading is complete:

• Position the heavy-duty vertical supports and tracks into the trailer wall slots.
• Secure the horizontal bulkhead panels firmly against your cargo.
• Record the exact linear footage marker line printed along the upper inside walls of the trailer to verify your final billable distance.
• If using ReloCubes, close and latch the double doors and install your own padlock on each container door standard latch.

5. Over-the-Road Transit

ABF picks up the loaded equipment. The driver verifies bulkhead placement and records the footage marker on the official bill of lading. Your shipment travels via ABF’s primary freight network. Typical transit times range from 2 to 6 business days for cross-country routes, depending on distance and intermediate transfer points. Online tracking provides location updates as your load moves through regional terminals.

6. Destination Delivery and Unloading

Upon arrival at the destination terminal, ABF contacts you to schedule final delivery. You receive up to three business days to unload your items. Once empty, ABF retrieves the trailer or ReloCube, ending your contract term.

ABF Moving Costs, Pricing Structure, and Savings Strategies

ABF moving costs rely on dynamic freight pricing models. Unlike traditional van lines that determine final costs via certified weight scales after loading, ABF bases your final bill strictly on the volume of space you use (linear feet or total cubes used).

Factors Influencing Your Rate

1. Distance and Fuel Costs: Long-distance moves benefit from ABF's established commercial freight network, offering lower per-mile rates than local moves.
2. Seasonality: Peak moving months (May through September) experience high demand, resulting in higher baseline quotes compared to mid-winter relocations.
3. Linear Footage / ReloCube Quantity: Using fewer linear feet in a trailer or fewer ReloCubes directly lowers your total bill.
4. Terminal-to-Terminal Operations: Choosing to load or unload equipment at a local ABF Freight service center—rather than having equipment delivered to your front door—can save hundreds of dollars.

Additional Costs and Potential Fees

While ABF's pricing model is generally transparent, unexpected fees can arise if site parameters or timelines fall outside contract rules:

• Detention / Extended Equipment Storage Fees: Exceeding the allotted 3-day loading or unloading window results in daily storage charges.
• Redelivery Fees: If access is blocked, street parking is unavailable, or low tree branches prevent drop-off on your scheduled day, ABF charges a redelivery fee to attempt placement again.
• Parking Permit Costs: Cities often require municipal permits to park semi-trailers or portable containers on public streets. Unpermitted equipment risks municipal fines or immediate towing at your expense.
• Monthly Storage Charges: If your new home is not ready, ABF offers monthly storage for ReloCubes at their secure service centers, or trailer storage for an additional fee.

Comparing ABF with Alternative Moving Options

Evaluating how ABF compares to full-service movers, self-drive truck rentals, and container companies helps clarify which logistics model fits your budget and physical capabilities.

Urban Parking, Access Requirements, and Permits

The size of ABF freight equipment requires careful site planning before delivery day. The primary cause of service delays or unexpected fees is inadequate clearance or unpermitted parking.

28-Foot Moving Trailer Parking Requirements

• Length Clearance: The 28-foot trailer combined with the tractor cab requires at least 40 linear feet of flat, straight space for maneuvering during drop-off. Once unhooked, the trailer itself occupies 28 feet.

• Overhead Clearance: Trailers require at least 13 feet 6 inches of vertical clearance, clear of low-hanging tree branches, power lines, and building overhangs.

• Surface Weight Capacity: Fully loaded trailers exert substantial ground force. Soft dirt, uncompacted gravel, or weak asphalt can sink or crack under landing gear legs. ABF provides wooden placement pads, but hard asphalt or concrete surfaces are strongly recommended.

• Trailer Site Clearance Needs

  • 40 Feet Total Clearance
    • Delivery Tractor Cab
    • 28-Foot Pup Trailer
  • Minimum Overhead Clearance Required: 13' 6"

ReloCube Parking Requirements

• Footprint: ReloCubes need an area roughly 6 feet wide by 7 feet long, plus clearance for the delivery truck's flatbed system during placement.
• Overhead Clearance: The delivery vehicle requires a minimum of 14 feet overhead clearance to tilt and unload the cube safely.
• Surface Guidelines: ReloCubes sit directly on flat concrete or asphalt surfaces. Avoid placing them on steep inclines, as steep slopes can cause items inside to shift violently when doors open.

Permits and Municipal Regulations

Before equipment arrives, check local parking ordinances and homeowner association (HOA) covenants. Many cities prohibit parking semi-trailers or drop-containers on public streets without a street-use permit.

If your driveway cannot accommodate the equipment and street parking is restricted, you can choose terminal-to-terminal loading. In this arrangement, you hire a local rental truck or cargo van to transfer your packed goods directly to the nearest ABF Freight service center, where you load the trailer or ReloCube on site.

Packing, Loading, and Security Best Practices

Because freight trailers travel long distances through commercial sorting yards and over uneven highway surfaces, proper packing techniques are critical to prevent structural damage or cargo shifting.

Rule: Keep heavy mass on the trailer floor; pack wall-to-wall to eliminate air gaps. Secure every tier with tie-down straps.

1. Optimize Weight Distribution

• Load Floor-to-Ceiling: Pack heavier items like appliances, book boxes, and solid wood furniture on the floor. Stack lighter boxes and linens on top.
• Distribute Mass Evenly: Distribute heavy items across the width of the trailer floor rather than stacking weight on one side. This prevents trailer tilting during high-speed highway cornering.
• Eliminate Empty Gaps: Air space allows items to move and fall during transit. Fill small gaps between furniture legs and boxes with moving blankets, rolled rugs, or pillows.

2. Tie-Down Anchor Points and Securing Equipment

Both ABF trailers and ReloCubes include integrated wall-mounted vertical and horizontal logistics tracks (E-track or tie-down rings). Use heavy-duty ratchet straps and rope to secure your cargo every three to four feet down the length of the space.

Do not rely solely on the final bulkhead partition or ReloCube doors to hold your load in place. If cargo leans heavy against a door or partition panel, opening the unit at your destination can create severe safety hazards.

3. Bulkhead Partition Installation Instructions

When filling a portion of an ABF trailer, installing the bulkhead correctly protects your items from commercial freight loaded behind it:

• Build a straight, vertical face with your last row of boxes or mattresses.
• Insert the vertical steel track poles into the wall slots immediately behind your packed cargo.
• Attach the wood or composite bulkhead sheets to the framework using the provided hardware fasteners.
• Verify that no items project past the frame into the open commercial section of the trailer.

Protection, Insurance, and Liability Coverage Explained

Understanding the distinction between standard carrier liability and comprehensive third-party insurance ensures your household property is adequately protected throughout transport.

• ABF Coverage Structure
  • Catastrophic Liability (Included Standard)
    • Up to $60,000 per trailer / $7,500 per ReloCube
    • Protects ONLY against total loss from fire, overturn, collision.
  • Carrier Negligence Liability (Included Standard)
    • $0.10 per pound per item
    • Applies ONLY if carrier negligence directly damages an item.
  • Optional Primary Freight / Relocation Insurance (Recommended)
    • Covers individual item breakage, transit damage, and handling loss.

Standard Liability Coverage Provided by ABF

ABF includes two basic levels of financial coverage in its standard contracts:

1. Catastrophic Liability: This covers total loss resulting directly from severe vehicle accidents, complete fire, trailer overturn, or structural disaster during transit. Coverage limits generally extend up to $60,000 per trailer load or $7,500 per ReloCube container.
2. Carrier Negligence Liability: If an item is damaged due to proven carrier fault or handling negligence, coverage is calculated at a minimal default rate (typically $0.10 per pound per item).

Limitations of Liability in Self-Loaded Moving

Standard carrier liability does not cover damage resulting from improper packing, improper weight distribution, load shifting inside the container, or inadequate padding. If a table leg breaks inside a ReloCube because it was not strapped down or wrapped properly, ABF is not financially responsible.

Supplemental Coverage Options

For high-value moves, consider purchasing supplemental third-party relocation insurance (such as full-value protection policies offered by third-party moving insurance underwriters). This supplemental coverage can protect against broad transit damage, individual breakage, and loss during loading and unloading phases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I use more or less trailer space than I originally quoted?

Your final price automatically adjusts based on the actual linear footage recorded on the bill of lading when ABF retrieves the trailer. If you reserved 15 linear feet but packed your belongings tightly into 12 feet, your price drops according to the per-foot rate on your contract (provided you meet the 5-foot minimum requirement). If you use more space, your cost increases proportionally per foot used.

Does ABF drive the truck to my destination, or do I need to drive?

ABF provides professional, licensed commercial truck drivers to handle all road transportation. You do not drive the freight trailer or the delivery flatbed truck. You are responsible only for packing, loading your goods into the equipment, securing the bulkhead or locking the container, and unloading at your destination.

Can I store a ReloCube or trailer if my new home is not ready?

Yes. ABF offers secure temporary and long-term storage options. ReloCubes can be stored inside climate-controlled or covered ABF service center facilities for a monthly storage fee. Trailer storage is also available at regional freight terminals for an added charge until you are ready to schedule final delivery.

How do I hire labor to help load an ABF trailer or ReloCube?

While ABF does not provide loading labor directly, you can hire local third-party moving labor through platforms like HireAHelper or Moving Staffers. Independent professional movers can pack, carry, and strap down your belongings inside the ABF equipment, giving you full-service loading convenience while retaining ABF's lower freight transport rates.

What items are prohibited from being loaded into ABF equipment?

You cannot load hazardous materials, flammable liquids, pressurized tanks (such as propane tanks), explosives, paints, gasoline, batteries, or perishable food items. Additionally, high-value personal property such as cash, valuable jewelry, important legal documents, family heirlooms, and live plants should be moved in your personal vehicle rather than loaded into freight equipment.

Practical Actionable Plan for Moving with ABF

To maximize efficiency and minimize costs when using ABF moving services, follow this action checklist:

1. Measure and Inventory Household Volume: Calculate total cubic feet of your furniture to decide between ReloCubes (308 cu. ft. each) or linear trailer footage.
2. Inspect Parking Constraints: Measure your driveway length and check overhead clearances (13' 6" for trailers; 14' for ReloCubes). Secure any necessary municipal street parking permits at least two weeks before delivery day.
3. Gather Commercial Loading Equipment: Buy high-grade ratchet straps, heavy-duty cardboard boxes, shrink wrap, and moving blankets. Rent a sturdy appliance dolly.
4. Load Wall-to-Wall and Floor-to-Ceiling: Minimize air gaps, balance heavy weights across the floor, and anchor items to built-in wall tracks every few feet.
5. Verify Line Markings and Lock Equipment: Confirm your actual linear footage marker line inside the trailer before setting the bulkhead, or secure your ReloCube doors with heavy-duty padlocks before calling ABF for pickup.