Key Takeaways
- Hire for attitude, train for skills
- Pay above market rate to reduce turnover
- Create clear advancement opportunities
- Use CRM software to simplify scheduling and dispatch
Your moving crew is the face of your company. They interact with customers, handle their belongings, and create the experience that generates reviews and referrals. This guide covers how to hire, train, and retain a top-performing moving team.
Hiring the Right People
The moving industry has high turnover. Hiring the right people from the start saves time and money.
What to Look For:
- Physical capability: Moving is demanding—test for lifting ability
- Reliability: Check references for attendance and punctuality
- Positive attitude: Customer-facing roles require friendly demeanor
- Team player: Movers work closely together all day
- Problem-solving: Every move has unique challenges
Screening Process:
- Background check (criminal history, driving record)
- Drug testing (DOT requirement for CDL drivers)
- Reference checks with previous employers
- Working interview (paid day on the job)
Training Your Crew
Even experienced movers need training on YOUR company's standards and procedures.
Training Curriculum:
- Safety: Proper lifting, dollies, straps, back braces
- Furniture protection: Wrapping, padding, and loading techniques
- Customer service: Greetings, communication, handling complaints
- Truck loading: Weight distribution, securing loads
- Company policies: Uniforms, breaks, phone use, tipping
Scheduling and Dispatch
Efficient scheduling keeps crews happy and jobs on track.
Scheduling Best Practices
- • Post schedules at least one week in advance
- • Match crew experience to job difficulty
- • Account for drive time between jobs
- • Have backup movers for call-outs
- • Use software to automate dispatch
Reducing Turnover
High turnover is expensive—recruiting and training costs add up. Keep your best people with these strategies:
Competitive Compensation:
- Pay $2-3/hour above local competition
- Offer performance bonuses for positive reviews
- Provide health insurance for full-time employees
- Consider profit-sharing or tips pooling
Career Advancement:
- Helper → Mover → Driver → Crew Lead → Foreman
- Clear criteria for each level
- Regular performance reviews
- CDL training sponsorship
Team Communication
- Daily briefings with job details and special instructions
- Group chat for real-time coordination
- Weekly team meetings to address issues
- Open-door policy for concerns
Simplify Crew Management with Reelow
- Visual scheduling and drag-drop crew assignments
- Automatic notifications to crews about their jobs
- Time tracking and payroll integration