What Is Backloading? A Guide On When To Book, Its Benefits, Process & Practical Uses

Updated: February 2025 • Written by ZOOM Removals (AFRA Accredited)

Backloading Explained: The Simple Definition

Backloading interstate is a cheaper and more economical way to move items interstate by sharing truck space with other customers heading in the same direction. You save money by paying only for the space you use instead of hiring the entire vehicle.

Why customers love booking it: Booking a backload is a whole lot cheaper than trying to hire a full truck for a move. You can save anywhere from 40 to 60% on moving costs, which makes it perfect for people who are budget-conscious or don’t have a lot of items to move. This is why it is also commonly known as a small load removal service.

Why moving companies love offering it: Backloading presents removalists with an opportunity to earn additional revenue by offering discounted prices to customers moving in the same direction. Instead of returning empty from a job, they can fill unused truck space and generate income on the return journey.

How Backloading Works – Booking Step-by-Step

Booking backloading removalists is normally pretty straightforward. Here’s what you can normally expect:

1. Request a quote and list items: Reach out to a removalist that offers interstate backloading (like us) and share your moving details with them. Tell them where you’re planning to move to and when. Also, give them details on how many items you need moving interstate.
2. The Company Matches Your Job To A Scheduled Truck Route: The company you decide to use compares their schedule against yours to find a truck that is heading in the same direction as you. Being flexible with your dates really helps here, as places on a truck are usually on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.
3. Loading Day: On moving day, the truck shows up at your current address. Please note, it may already have other customers’ belongings on board. The moving team will load your belongings into the truck and make sure everything’s kept separate and labelled.
4. Final Delivery Timelines: Because the movers have to drop off some other people’s belongings along the way, you might only be given a general timeframe for when they’ll complete the move and not an exact time. That’s part of the tradeoff for keeping the costs down when travelling out of state on a shared service.

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Why Choose Backloading Services? Its Unbeatable Benefits

Backloading has become increasingly popular over the years because it provides genuine value for money. For many customers, it’s a practical and efficient alternative to booking an entire truck.

Cheapest Way To Move Out Of State (If You’re Flexible With Your Move)

Booking a backload can save you over 40% on moving costs if you have enough flexibility in your moving schedule. It’s all about taking advantage of a moving truck that is going the same way you are.

The Most Eco-Friendly Option

By ensuring trucks are always full, companies can adopt more sustainable logistical practices, effectively avoiding wasteful ’empty return’ trips. As a customer, by booking a backload, you’re also directly contributing to fewer empty trucks on the road, which helps lower carbon emissions per move.

Convenience and Flexibility

This one might surprise you, but you can secure you a move a whole lot sooner than if you’d booked a dedicated truck. As you’re basically joining a vehicle on an existing route, this may open up the possibility to use space available sooner than you might think.

AFRA-Accredited Quality Guaranteed For Less

When booking your move through ZOOM, our AFRA status guarantees you’re working with professional, quality-checked movers who know how to handle your items with care. We also include complimentary public liability insurance and transit insurance in every move, protecting your items against damage or loss during transit at no extra cost.

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The Other Side of the Coin: When Backloading May Not Be A Good Option

If You’re Not Flexible With Your Dates, It’s Not For You

Because backload moving is highly dependent on the space available on an existing truck, predicting pick up and delivery times is less accurate than if you book a dedicated interstate removalist service such as our Premium Direct offering.

If you have a strict moving deadline or you need to move items interstate quickly or on a specific day, a traditional interstate moving service might be a better fit. These offer more accurate time estimates and guaranteed delivery windows.

Not Great For Really Large Moves

If you’re moving a larger household, such as a 3 or 4-bedroom house, backloading may not offer any value, as you would be filling up most of the truck anyway. This service is only cost-effective if you have a small number of items to transport to another city.

Some Routes Are More Common Than Others

The service works best on more common or popular routes, such as backloading Sydney to Melbourne or backloading Sydney to Brisbane and vice versa. If you’re hoping to move somewhere a little more remote, it may take longer to find available space, as trucks will be coming back from these places less frequently.

Your Delivery Schedule Depends on the Route

Because the truck is delivering to multiple customers, you won’t get direct door-to-door service. Your delivery gets slotted into the route sequence, which means there might be other stops before yours.

It’s a Self-Pack Service

Unlike full service removalists, backloading typically doesn’t include packing unless you specifically request it (and pay extra). This helps keep costs down, but it also means you’ll need to have everything packed and ready to go before the truck arrives. Stay organised and make sure your items are packed securely and ready to load.

Mix-Up Risks

Since backloading is a shared service, there’s always a risk of items getting mixed up if they aren’t labelled properly or organised in advance. For this reason, you should always double-check that all your boxes and furniture have clear labels. It’s also important to hire experienced movers who specialise in providing this service, so they have the appropriate moving systems in place to keep everyone’s belongings separate and secure.

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Backloading vs. Full-Service Removals: Which is Right for You?

If you’ve ever wondered how backloading removals stacks up against the more traditional full service offering, we’ve got the differences here for you.

Feature	Backloading	Full-Service Removal
Cost	Significantly cheaper (as low as $600 with ZOOM Removals). Only pay for the space your items use. Great for budget-conscious movers.	Higher, starting at $2640, as you pay for the entire truck and journey, even if you don’t fill it.
Truck Space	Shared with other belongings. Low cost but lacks privacy.	Costs more, but exclusive usage of the entire truck.
Timeline	Availability varies depending on the route. Customers are advised to adapt to a broader schedule.	Flexible Dates. Book your preferred time. Perfect for tight deadlines and precise planning.
Packing	Typically, backloading is a self-pack service. Requires advanced preparation.	Includes packing, storage, furniture transport and item dismantling & reassembling + project manager.
Ideal For	Small-to-medium loads, budget-conscious movers, flexible schedules.	Large households, tight deadlines, and anyone wanting a fully hands-off experience.

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What You Need To Know When Booking A Backload

Just like with any moving service, a bit of due diligence upfront will make your move run far more smoothly. Because backloading operates differently to a standard long-distance moving service, it’s important to understand how it all works before you lock anything in.

Here are some important considerations:

1. Costs To Watch Out For (So You Don’t Get Any Surprises Down The Line)

Before booking with a company, ask their customer service team for a complete breakdown of all the costs included. It will help you avoid any unexpected fees before committing.

This should clearly outline:

• Transport fees (including tolls)
• Fuel surcharges
• Any loading/unloading fees
• Optional extras (storage, packing, insurance upgrades)

2. Remember, It’s Availability-Based

Unlike traditional services, you’ll need to double-check that there is availability on a truck for your chosen date and that there is space onboard for your belongings.

Being a shared service means there may not always be space on board; for this reason, we advise checking with the moving company at least two to four weeks in advance to see if there is any availability.

If you have a strict move date or deadline, a premium direct or full-service interstate move may be a better fit.

3. Not All Moving Companies Are Created Equal

Don’t just pick the first company you find. Get quotes from multiple services, and before booking a moving company, make sure you thoroughly scrutinise their online and offline reputation.

Check their Google Reviews or use third-party platforms, TrustPilot or ProductReview.

Use a company that has accreditation with organisations that regulate moving companies, such as the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA).

Finally, book with a company that has been operating for at least three years. This can all be done by performing an ABN lookup. This will help sidestep inexperienced movers who could potentially cause damage to your belongings.

4. Insurance and Coverage

Because backloads involve moving your stuff a long way, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got decent insurance to cover you.

Some companies like ZOOM include transit and public liability insurance as standard, while others may not. For this reason, always remember to review the terms of service:

• Ask what is actually covered
• What’s not covered
• How the claims process works

Pro tip: For added peace of mind, we also add another level of protection through our comprehensive moving insurance, which is underwritten by our partners at Zurich Insurance. For more information, please call 1300 721 826.

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Your Quick Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalise your backload removals booking, make sure you can answer “yes” to the following:

• ☑️ I’ve received a full written cost breakdown
• ☑️ I’m flexible on pickup/delivery dates
• ☑️ I’ve checked the company’s reviews and years in operation
• ☑️ I’ve confirmed whether the provider is AFRA-accredited
• ☑️ I’ve confirmed insurance coverage and understand what’s included
• ☑️ I understand that this is a self-pack service (unless arranged otherwise)
• ☑️ I’ve reviewed the terms, cancellation policy, and any surcharge conditions

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The Final Word: Is Backloading Right For You?

As we’ve highlighted throughout this guide, this service is more than just a budget-friendly way to move interstate; it’s also the more environmentally friendly option.

If you don’t mind sharing a truck with other people and are flexible with your moving dates, the trade-off is that you could save up to 40% on your next move, which is ideal for smaller moves or budget-conscious customers.

Ready to get started? Give backloading removalists ZOOM Removals a call on 1300 721 826 to get a no-obligation quote – and our friendly team will do their best to get you into a good spot for your move.

Explore our options by city or route:

• Adelaide Backloading
• Brisbane Backloading
• Canberra Backloading
• Gold Coast Backloading
• Melbourne Backloading
• Sydney Backloading