Moving Containers for Military Moves
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Military moving with a Permanent Change of Service (PCS) can be done in several different ways, whether it is through a full-service moving company hired by the military, a rental moving truck, or a moving container. Military moving with portable moving containers is oftentimes the most affordable, flexible, and military mover friendly options out of all three.
Key Takeaways
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What is a Moving Container?
A moving container, also known as a portable storage unit, is a container that you load up with your belongings. It is then shipped to your moving destination where you or your movers unload it.
Learn more about What is a Portable Storage and Moving Container?
Why Military Families Use Moving Containers
PCS orders can arrive with little notice. Having a moving option that gives you more control over timing allows you to focus on what matters most: getting to your new duty station and helping your family settle in.
With moving containers, you can:
- Load on your own schedule
- Store your belongings if housing plans change
- Place the containers on a flat surface for easier loading and unloading
This flexibility is especially helpful when coordinating travel, housing availability, and school or work transitions.
Why U-Box® Containers Work So Well for Military Moves
U-Box containers are among the most affordable and flexible moving solutions for service members. Military moving can be a hectic experience, with relocation orders sometimes filed with no prior notice. This is where U-Box shines. With more than 1,500 U-Haul locations that offer U-Box containers across all 50 states and all Canadian provinces, this keeps shipping prices low for U-Box customers, while also providing one of the most affordable international moving services as well.this keeps shipping prices low for U-Box customers, while also providing one of the most affordable international moving services as well.
If you haven’t secured housing at your new duty station yet, U-Box containers can stay in storage for as long as needed. When you’re ready, containers can be:
- Delivered to your home by U-Haul
- Loaded or unloaded with help from Moving Help® Service Providers
- Towed by a capable towing vehicle
- Accessed at a local secure U-Haul storage facility
Check out these 10 Military Moving Tips
What Military Customers Think of U-Box Containers
“We are a military family with a lot of moves under our belt. This was our first time using U-Box to help facilitate a move. It was so easy, and everyone we dealt with was communicative, friendly, and helpful. Thank you so much!” - Trina B, 1 U-Box Container, Home Delivery
“This was far better than other big box companies out there. The tutorials were great and we did not experience any issues on initial delivery or final delivery. I will recommend U-Box to my military friends who have to do a PPM move for their household goods in the near future! Richard was AWESOME!” - Valentino S, 9 U-Box Containers, Home Delivery
Common PCS Challenges That Moving Containers Solve
- Move out and move in dates that don't align and cause a gap
- Having to handle the transportation yourself
- Having to load or unload all in one day
How To Plan a Military Move with Moving Containers
Once you have your PCS dates, start by getting a free online U-Box container quote. You’ll select:
- The number of containers you think you’ll need
- When you want access to them
- Your origin and destination locations
Unsure about how many U-Box containers you need? We’ll refund the amount you paid for the containers that you didn’t use, plus every U-Box container comes with 24 rental furniture pads for free!
Learn more about What's Included in Your U-Haul U-Box® Container Quote.
You’ll then have your complete U-Box moving timeline. During the U-Box reservation process, you can mark that you'll need weight tickets for your move, or you can reach out to U-Haul customer service after you make your reservation by texting 'help' to 1-800-664-5017 to let us know that you'll need weight tickets for your move.