Long Carry
A long carry is the additional charge most movers add when the truck cannot be parked close to the entrance and crews must walk an extended distance to load or unload.
Federal regulations and most moving company tariffs define a long carry as any carry distance over 75 to 100 feet from the truck to the door. When that threshold is exceeded, movers typically add a long-carry fee — sometimes per item, sometimes per 100 feet. In dense Boston neighborhoods where street parking is limited, long carries are common.
Boston Best Rate Movers does not charge long-carry fees within our standard Greater Boston service area. The hourly rate covers the time it takes to walk the distance, which is fair to the customer because the only cost is the actual extra time.
Related Terms
Accessorial Charges
Accessorial charges are extra fees added to a moving bill beyond the base rate for services like long carries, stair carries, shuttle service, crating, appliance servicing, and storage-in-transit.
Stair Carry
Stair carry is the fee most moving companies add for each flight of stairs the crew must navigate when loading or unloading — typically $50 to $75 per flight.
Shuttle Service
A shuttle service is when the moving company uses a smaller truck to ferry belongings between the customer's address and a larger long-haul truck parked elsewhere — typically because the larger truck cannot access the address.

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