A 18-Wheeler Moving Company
- American National Movers
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
When moving long distance, it's common to see your belongings delivered in an 18-wheeler truck (semi-truck). Using an 18-wheeler is standard practice for nearly all reputable long distance moving companies due to cost efficiency. Movers reduce overhead significantly by combining multiple shipments, resulting in affordable pricing for customers.
However, if you have a larger home (4-5 bedrooms or more), your shipment might occupy the majority—or even the entirety—of the 18-wheeler. This will impact your moving costs and how much you can save.
4-5 Bedroom Homes May Occupy A Full Trailer.
An 18-wheeler truck can take up to about 4,000 cubic feet of household goods. Larger homes with multiple furnished rooms and additional spaces (garages, storage sheds, basements) can easily occupy most of the trailer space.
What If You Need An 18 Wheeler For Yourself?
You pay for the entire trailer. Average costs typically reach around $13,000 or higher, depending on your move's distance, loading difficulty, and timing.
No combined load discount. Smaller shipments benefit significantly from shared-load pricing. A large shipment eliminates that cost-saving opportunity.
Example:
A fully furnished 5-bedroom home with a dining room, living room, kitchen appliances, basement furniture, outdoor equipment, and boxes easily fills an entire 18-wheeler.
How Much Do 18-Wheeler Moving Companies Cost?
When moving to another state and hiring long distance movers, pricing is usually broken down in two ways:
Shared-Load Pricing (Smaller Homes):
Average cost: Between $5,000–$8,000, depending on distance and furniture volume.
Ideal for homes of 1-3 bedrooms (less than ~1,800 cubic feet).
Movers combine your belongings with those of others to minimize costs.
Dedicated Trailer Pricing (Larger Homes):
Moving companies such as American National Movers, Allied, Mayflower, and United Van lines offer dedicated 18-wheeler trucks, but it will cost you:
Average cost: Around $13,000 or more.
Common for 4+ bedroom homes or high-volume households exceeding approximately 2,500 cubic feet.
Your belongings fill the majority or entirety of the 18-wheeler, limiting the mover's ability to combine shipments.
Factors Influencing The Cost Of Using A 18-Wheeler Truck:
Use the chart we created below to see how long distance movers calculate costs when using a semi for your haul:
Ensure That A Tractor Trailer Can Park Within 100 Feet Of Your Home.
You and your moving company must ensure that your origin and destination states have trailer access. If not, you will incur additional fees to shuttle your belongings in a smaller truck so that the movers can access the location and unload your items. 18-wheeler moving companies usually charge $700.00 to $1500.00 to shuttle your items in a smaller truck. Please confirm with your moving company whether a shuttle truck is necessary and what the cost of this service is to avoid any surprises.
Bottom Line: What to Expect From an 18-Wheeler Moving Company
All reputable long distance moving companies use 18-wheeler semi-trucks because they are practical and cost-effective. Remember that larger homes (4+ bedrooms) usually occupy most or all of the available trailer space, resulting in higher average costs than someone with a small long-distance load:
For smaller homes: Expect affordable shared-load pricing ($5,000–$8,000 average).
For larger homes: Anticipate full-trailer rates ($13,000+ average).
Comments