What is a shuttle truck and when is it needed?
A shuttle is a second, smaller truck that carries your things between our big truck and your door when the big one physically cannot get there. Think of a narrow private road, a gated lane with a sharp turn, or a low overhang the 26-foot box will not clear. It is the exception, not part of a normal move.
The longer answer
How a shuttle move unfolds
- The main truck parks at the closest spot it can safely reach.
- A smaller rented truck is loaded from it, or from the house, in batches.
- The shuttle runs back and forth until everything has been transferred.
- The crew unloads and places furniture just as they would on any delivery.
Local versus interstate
| Move type | How a shuttle is handled |
|---|---|
| Local, hourly | David checks access before move day. If one is needed, the cost is the truck rental plus the extra labor time. |
| Interstate, by weight | A shuttle at the destination is an accessorial charge listed separately. |
| Within California or flat-fee | Shuttle, stairs and similar delivery accessorials do not apply. |
Avoiding surprises
The best protection is telling us about access early. Send both addresses and any details you know: gate codes, a long shared driveway, a hairpin turn, a weight limit sign on a bridge. David looks the route over on Google Maps and will say up front whether a shuttle should be planned. On cross-country moves, ask your new landlord or HOA where a large truck can stop, because the destination is where shuttles most often come up. More on those moves is on our long-distance page.
For moves around the Bay, our local moving page explains hourly pricing, and the SF parking permit guide covers city curb space, which solves many access problems without any shuttle at all.
More questions people ask
Does every hillside home need a shuttle?
No. Most hillside homes are reached directly; a shuttle is only for places the big truck cannot physically get to.
Who decides if a shuttle is needed?
On local moves David decides after looking at the address. On interstate deliveries the destination access determines it.
Is a shuttle the same as a second truck for overflow?
No. A shuttle exists only because of access, not because the load is too big.