Multi-Stop Moves: Coordinating Logistics Between Storage, Old Home, and New Home
- Rick Lopez Jr.
- Dec 26, 2025
- 8 min read
Moving rarely follows a straight line. Modern life involves complexity. You might have furniture in a storage unit in San Jose, boxes in your current garage in Morgan Hill, and a move-in date for a new house in Gilroy. This is not a standard relocation. This is a multi-stop move, also known in the industry as a split shipment or consolidated logistics move.
Most people underestimate the planning required for these routes. According to recent data from Neighbor.com, nearly 1 in 5 Americans currently utilizes self-storage. This high usage rate means that stopping at a storage facility is now a standard requirement for many residential moves, not an exception.
Coordinating a truck to hit multiple targets requires precise timing, specific loading orders, and knowledge of local traffic patterns. If you load the truck incorrectly at the first stop, you might have to unload the entire shipment on the sidewalk at the second stop just to reach the items you need.
My Dad’s Moving Inc. specializes in solving these logistical puzzles. We serve the entire South County and the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, handling the heavy lifting so you do not have to manage the chaos. This guide explains exactly how multi-stop moving services in the Bay Area work and how to prepare for them.
The Logistics of Split Shipments: How It Works
A split shipment occurs when a mover picks up items from two or more origins or delivers to two or more destinations under a single contract. While this sounds simple on paper, the physical reality is unforgiving.
A standard move goes from Point A to Point B. A multi-stop move might go from Point A (Old House) to Point B (Storage) to Point C (New House). The truck becomes a mobile warehouse. The crew must treat every stop as a separate event while maintaining the integrity of the whole load.
You need a plan that accounts for the "Last-In, First-Out" rule. Without this, you risk paying for hours of unnecessary labor while movers shuffle boxes to find the right items.
The "Last-In, First-Out" (LIFO) Load Method
Physics dictates how we load a moving truck. The items loaded last are the first ones available to come off. In a multi-stop scenario, the load order is critical.
Imagine you are moving from a house in Morgan Hill to a new home in San Jose, but you also need to drop off antique furniture at a storage unit in Gilroy along the way.
The Nose (Front): The items going to the final destination (San Jose) must be loaded first. They go into the "nose" of the truck, deep behind the cab.
The Rear (Back): The items for the first drop-off (Gilroy Storage) must be loaded last. They stay near the roll-up door.
If you mix this up, the crew cannot access the storage items without removing the house items. This mistake can double the duration of your move. When you hire Moving Companies San Jose residents trust, you are paying for the foresight to prevent this mess.
Route Planning in the Bay Area
A 26-foot moving truck does not drive like a sedan. It requires wide turns, higher clearance, and specific routes. Navigating South County traffic adds another layer of complexity.
We consider the route carefully. Taking Highway 17 with a fully loaded truck requires different handling than driving Highway 101 or 87. If your move involves a stop at a storage facility on a narrow street in downtown San Jose, we need to know beforehand. We cannot simply park in a compact space or block a lane of traffic during rush hour.
Coordinating the Storage Unit Stop
Stopping at a storage facility is the most common form of multi-stop moving. However, storage facilities operate with strict rules that can derail a moving timeline if ignored.
Facilities often have gate codes, limited access hours, and specific loading zones. A residential driveway offers flexibility; a corporate storage facility does not.
Access Hours and Gate Codes
You must verify the access hours for your specific unit. Many facilities lock their gates at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM, even if you have a code. If the moving truck arrives at 6:15 PM, you will be locked out, and the truck will have to return the next day. This incurs overnight holdover fees.
Ask the facility manager these questions before moving day:
Do you have a freight elevator? If so, does it require a reservation?
Can a 26-foot box truck or an 18-wheeler enter the gate?
Is there a clearance height restriction on the drive-up units?
Many older facilities in the Bay Area have low overhangs that prevent modern moving trucks from driving directly up to the unit door. In these cases, our services include "long carry" logistics, where we shuttle items from the truck to the unit by hand or dolly.
Inventory Separation for Storage
Items going into storage require different preparation than items going to your new living room. Furniture destined for long-term storage needs heavy-duty padding and shrink wrap to protect against dust and moisture over months or years.
Items going to your new home only need standard transit protection. If you mix these inventories, you might end up paying for expensive packing materials on items you plan to unwrap tomorrow.
The Two-Color Inventory System
The most effective way to manage a split shipment is a visual system. Do not rely on verbal instructions. On moving day, the ramp is loud, and the crew is moving fast. They cannot stop to ask you about every box.
We recommend the Two-Color Sticker System.
Color A (e.g., Red): Place a red sticker on every box and furniture piece going to Storage.
Color B (e.g., Green): Place a green sticker on everything going to the New Home.
Make these stickers visible. Place them on the side of the box, not the top, so they remain visible when stacked.
Labeling for the Crew
This system creates accountability. The crew knows that "Red goes last" (loaded at the rear) and "Green goes first" (loaded at the nose). It eliminates confusion.
The FMCSA advises that for split shipments, consumers should maintain a separate descriptive inventory for each destination. This protects you. If a box is missing, you know exactly which leg of the trip it belongs to.
Accountability and Inventory Lists
When the truck arrives at the first stop (Storage), you stand at the ramp. Your job is to watch for Green stickers. If you see a Green sticker coming down the ramp at the storage unit, stop the mover immediately.
This simple audit prevents the nightmare scenario: arriving at your new house, unpacking, and realizing your coffee maker is locked in a storage unit ten miles away.
Cost Factors: Understanding Extra Stop Fees
Budgeting for a multi-stop move requires transparency. You are asking for more than a simple transport service. You are asking for complex logistics.
The 2024 State of the Moving Industry Report indicates that operational costs for moving companies have risen, leading to stricter pricing models across the board. Understanding how these fees work helps you avoid surprises.
Hourly Rates vs. Flat Fees
Most local moves in the Bay Area are billed hourly. An extra stop adds time. You pay for the drive time to the second location and the labor time to open and close the truck doors an extra time.
Some companies charge a flat "drop-off fee" (ranging from $75 to $150) in addition to the hourly rate to cover the administrative cost of routing.
Long-distance moves are different. If you are moving out of state, the carrier typically charges a flat fee based on weight and mileage. An extra stop usually triggers a specific "Split Pickup" or "Extra Stop" charge, often ranging from $150 to $500 depending on the distance deviation.
Commercial and Office Considerations
It is not just homeowners who need multi-stop services. Commercial Movers San Jose businesses rely on often involve moving old office furniture to a liquidation center (Stop 1) and active files to the new headquarters (Stop 2).
The same logic applies. Office Movers San Jose companies hire must follow strict inventory separation to ensure confidential files do not end up at the recycling center.
Long-Distance Logistics: Leaving the Bay Area
If you are moving from Morgan Hill to a different state, the logistics change. Your items will likely be loaded onto a large semi-truck for the cross-country haul.
Semi-trucks cannot fit into most residential storage facilities or tight driveways. This requires a shuttle service.
Consolidating Pickups Before the Long Haul
For a long-distance move, we might use a smaller local truck to pick up items from your home and your storage unit. We then bring everything to our central hub or a wide loading area to transfer it onto the long-haul vehicle.
This is where experience matters. You need a team that understands how to consolidate inventory from multiple sources into a single manifest. Visit our about page to learn more about our team’s background in handling complex nationwide logistics.
Tips for a Smooth Multi-Stop Move
Success lies in preparation. Follow these steps to prepare your home and storage unit before the truck arrives.
Group Items Physically
Do not scatter storage items throughout the house. If possible, stage all "Storage" items in the garage or a single room. This allows the movers to clear that section quickly and load it into the correct zone of the truck.
Check Insurance Coverage
Verify if your valuation coverage (moving insurance) applies to items once they enter the storage unit. typically, carrier liability ends once the item is placed in the unit and the contract is signed off.
Hire the Right Team
Not all movers handle complexity well. You need a crew that communicates. When you read our post on how to choose the right moving company, you will see that organization and planning are the top indicators of a quality mover.
Conclusion: Expert Planning for Complex Moves
A multi-stop move does not have to be a headache. It requires a clear plan, a color-coded inventory, and a moving company that understands the geography of the Bay Area. Whether you are coordinating a stop at a storage unit in Gilroy or consolidating two households in San Jose, the logistics must be precise.
For multi-stop moves, we recommend a pre-move logistics call. Contact My Dad's Moving Inc. today, and we will map your route from Morgan Hill to anywhere in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do movers charge extra for additional stops?
Yes. Most companies charge a fee for each additional stop. For local hourly moves, this cost is absorbed into the total labor time. For long-distance moves, there is typically a flat "extra stop fee" ranging from $100 to over $500, depending on the mileage deviation.
How do I pack for a move with two destinations?
Use a color-coded system. Mark all boxes for the first destination with one color (e.g., Red) and the second destination with another (e.g., Green). Physically separate these groups in your home before the movers arrive to ensure they are loaded in the correct order (Last-In, First-Out).
Can moving companies pick up from a storage unit?
Yes. Professional movers can pick up from or deliver to storage units. You must provide the gate code and unit number, and verify the facility's access hours. Someone must be present to unlock the unit and sign off on the inventory.
What is a split shipment in moving?
A split shipment is a moving contract that involves picking up items from multiple locations (e.g., a home and a storage unit) or delivering to multiple destinations. It requires careful inventory management to prevent items from being delivered to the wrong location.
Do I need to be present at the storage unit during the move?
Yes. Most moving companies require the account holder or a designated representative to be present to unlock the unit. The movers cannot cut locks or access units without your direct authorization.
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