What We Can & Can’t Move
The complete list of items movers won’t load — and what to do with them instead.
Federal law and common sense both put limits on what a moving truck can carry. Some items are flat-out illegal to transport. Others are too risky, perishable, or personal to put on a truck with the rest of your home.
Here’s the honest list, from LiteMovers (PUC A-8916211, USDOT 2173383, MC-888055), so there are no surprises on moving day.
Hazardous Materials — Federal Law Says No
FMCSA regulations prohibit movers from transporting anything flammable, corrosive, or explosive:
- ✓ Gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, lamp oil
- ✓ Propane tanks (even empty ones)
- ✓ Charcoal, charcoal lighter fluid
- ✓ Oil-based paints, paint thinner, varnish
- ✓ Aerosol cans (hairspray, spray paint, WD-40)
- ✓ Pool chemicals, chlorine, muriatic acid
- ✓ Pesticides, fertilizers, weed killer
- ✓ Fireworks, ammunition, gunpowder
- ✓ Car batteries, lithium batteries (loose)
- ✓ Matches, lighters, sterno
- ✓ Nail polish, nail polish remover
- ✓ Bleach, ammonia, drain cleaner
What to do with these: Use them up, gift them to neighbors, or drop them at a Household Hazardous Waste collection day. Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, and Bucks counties all run free HHW events every spring and fall. Some items can go through our junk removal service.
Perishables — They Won’t Survive the Trip
For local moves, perishables are usually fine to transport in your own car. For long-distance moves, they don’t make it.
- ✓ Open or refrigerated food
- ✓ Frozen items (the truck isn’t refrigerated)
- ✓ Fresh produce, dairy, meat
- ✓ Open containers, partially used food
- ✓ Houseplants (state laws restrict crossing borders with soil)
What to do: Eat it down in the two weeks before your move. Donate unopened nonperishables to a local food pantry. Gift plants to neighbors or transport them yourself in your car.
Personal & Irreplaceable — Keep Them With You
We can move them, but we strongly recommend you don’t let us:
- ✓ Cash, coin collections, precious metals
- ✓ Jewelry and watches
- ✓ Passports, birth certificates, social security cards
- ✓ Wills, deeds, titles, tax records
- ✓ Prescription medications
- ✓ Laptops and external hard drives
- ✓ Family photos, scrapbooks, photo albums
- ✓ Heirloom items with sentimental value
- ✓ School records, medical records
- ✓ Firearms (we don’t transport them)
Why we say this: Even with full-value protection, you can’t replace your grandmother’s wedding ring or your kid’s first finger painting. Some things deserve the front seat.
Living Things — Plants and Pets
Pets ride with you, not with us. Plants are tricky — local moves usually fine, but interstate moves run into agricultural inspection rules. California, Arizona, and Florida have especially strict plant-import rules.
What We CAN Move (Most Things)
The list of what we move is much longer than what we won’t:
- ✓ All standard furniture — sofas, beds, dressers, dining sets
- ✓ Pianos, organs, and large musical instruments (piano movers)
- ✓ Antiques and art (custom crating available)
- ✓ Appliances (drained and unplugged 24 hours ahead)
- ✓ Pool tables, hot tubs, treadmills
- ✓ Safes and gun safes (we move them — not the contents)
- ✓ Grandfather clocks (movement secured)
- ✓ Sheds, swing sets, and outdoor furniture
- ✓ TVs and electronics (boxed properly)
- ✓ Glassware, china, mirrors (in proper packing)
- ✓ Office contents, file cabinets, copiers
- ✓ Garage contents minus the chemicals
Special-Handling Items
Some items we move, but they need advance notice:
- ✓ Pianos — let us know the type (upright, baby grand, grand)
- ✓ Safes over 500 lbs — we’ll bring the right equipment
- ✓ Marble tabletops, glass shelving — custom crating
- ✓ Pool tables — disassembled and re-felted at destination
- ✓ Riding mowers and motorcycles — fuel must be drained
- ✓ Hot tubs — drained, with access for a crane if needed
Need Help Disposing of the Rest?
If you have items that won’t make the truck — old paint, expired chemicals, junk furniture — we can help:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you move a propane tank if it’s empty?
No. Federal hazmat regulations prohibit movers from transporting propane tanks regardless of whether they appear empty. Residual gas and pressure remain. Most grill propane tanks can be exchanged at hardware stores for credit toward a new tank at your destination. RV-size tanks should be purged by a licensed propane dealer.
What about my refrigerator and freezer contents?
Empty both completely. Refrigerators must be unplugged 24 hours before the move to defrost and dry out — wet interiors grow mold during transit. For long-distance moves, the freezer and fridge ride empty. For local moves on the same day, a small cooler with ice can keep essentials. Plan to eat down or donate frozen contents in the days leading up.
Will you move my gun safe?
Yes, we move gun safes as furniture. We do not transport firearms, ammunition, or gunpowder. You should remove all contents before move day, transport firearms yourself legally per state laws at origin and destination, and let us know the safe’s weight in advance so we bring the right equipment. Safes over 500 pounds may require additional crew or specialized dollies.
Can I move my plants across state lines?
It depends on the state. Some states — California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii — have strict agricultural import rules to prevent invasive pests. For most Pennsylvania-to-East-Coast moves, plants are fine if you transport them yourself. We don’t generally move plants long-distance because they suffer in dark trailers. Local moves with plants in our truck for an hour or two are usually fine.
What happens if I accidentally pack a prohibited item?
Our crew checks boxes during loading and will set aside anything flagged as hazardous. We’ll let you know so you can keep the item or arrange disposal. We’re not trying to police your move — we just can’t legally put aerosol cans or propane on the truck. A quick scan of the garage and under-sink cabinets the day before usually catches everything.
Questions About a Specific Item?
Call us. We’ve moved almost everything you can imagine. We’ll tell you straight up whether we can take it.
LiteMovers · PUC A-8916211 · USDOT 2173383 · MC-888055
307 East Church Rd, Suite 1 & 2, King of Prussia, PA 19406
