Tips for training rookie movers
We all start a new job without experience and knowledge. The same applies to those who are just starting work in a moving company. But it’s all part of business, and it’s not a big problem because knowledge and skills are something that is acquired over time. So, if you have a moving company, you may be wondering how to handle this situation. You as a boss need to make professionals out of your employees who will successfully fight all the obstacles they encounter. How can the training of beginners be best handled? In order to answer these questions and help you with training rookie movers, we have prepared this moving guide article for you where we will reveal some useful tips. In the rest of this story, you will find several ways to transform your novice into a moving professional. Get ready, let’s start!
Teach your rookie movers that the customer always comes first!
One thing you need to understand when training rookie movers is the importance of customer satisfaction. As in any business, every lesson really carries a lot of weight in the moving business. After all, everyone is looking to hire reliable movers for their move. Especially considering that the same movers will be the ones handling all their belongings. That’s why it’s really important to learn rookie movers how to handle their customers. With great care and kindness. Above all, they must be presentable, clean, and professional. While neatness isn’t a top priority in a manual job like moving, keeping your movers looking clean will signal to your customers that they can be trusted to take good care of their belongings. And of course, teach them that the customer’s needs always come first.
Another thing that is important to customer satisfaction is how affordable your movers are. Having grumpy movers who react negatively to any question or special request won’t help your customer move stress-free. Instead, you should train your movers to approach their customers with a smile and a friendly look. Even if their requests seem silly, they should be able to accommodate or nicely explain to the customer if there is a better way to solve the problem. Additionally, train your movers to help clients manage moving stress. All of this will ensure more positive reviews and referrals for your business.
Explaining the importance of documentation to your rookie movers
Another thing to pay attention to when training movers is to explain to them the importance of moving documentation. Not only documentation is important to a successful move, but if they aren’t filled out correctly it can cause harm to your company! Another thing that is important to point out when training movers is that they should take care to offer the customer all the necessary documents to sign. And also, your movers should be available to customers at all times, and be ready to explain every item in the contract. But also, you need to know that if you don’t have certain documents that need to be offered to the customer, they can go to the complaint section of the American Moving and Storage Association. They can file an appeal, which is something no reputable moving company would ever want.
Also, when we talk about documentation, you need to explain the company’s business policy to your new movers. Clearly explain their responsibilities when it comes to documentation. For example, you need to clearly explain each item in the package to your customers and familiarize them with all the costs. Also, after signing, a copy must be given to the customer. And also, movers must always be ready to edit the contract and add and subtract costs. Or to put it more simply, your new movers must be familiar with the company’s operations and finances.
How to training rookie movers for the job?
Finally, the most important part of training movers will be prepared for the job itself. This will range from teaching them how to properly pack and lift things, to how to take safety precautions. But before you start with the practical training of packing, preparing things for packing, loading, and unloading, a little theoretical training is needed. What is now in order is to meet your rookie movers with the company’s complete offer, services, and additional services.
Therefore, you need to meet your movers with:
- The history of your moving company.
- Price list of services.
- By the type of services that your company offers.
- By providing services.
- A complete offer of each service separately.
- Working conditions.
- Working equipment.
- With other colleagues.
The bottom line is that you explain all the work procedures to your new movers. Before starting the practical training, your movers must be familiar with all the relevant details. They must be ready to explain each service in detail to their customers, what it includes, what it is used for, and the price, especially when it comes to moving long distance. Also, movers should be familiar with company rules, dress codes, working hours, breaks, and additional working hours. And after that, you can start with practical training.
Properly packing
The first thing you will need to teach when training rookie movers is how to properly pack items. Considering how many people choose to have a moving company handle their packing, it’s imperative that all of your movers are trained in proper packing. As well as being real professionals in the job. It would be best to take a hands-on approach here. Find cheap moving boxes and various other training packing supplies. Then make a course of packing in the weight range. You can start with things that are easier to pack, such as items that are difficult to break or don’t need to be taken apart.
The next level of training can be packing specific items that your moving company offers. Things like packing paintings and other artwork or other items for moving. Pay special attention to them when training beginners as their value can make them very risky to handle. In general, you’ll want your more experienced movers to handle these types of things properly to avoid damage. However, it’s a good idea to give beginners some basics that can help them.
What is very important is that you don’t expect your movers to remember and know everything immediately on the first day of training. Because the best packing skills will be learned through practice. Ideally, they would have three days of practical packing training, and after that, they could start real work with movers who have experience and learn from them. In this way, they will learn a lot of useful moving tips and tricks from older movers, which will be of great help to them later. Also, you can give your movers a trial period that lasts from 7 to 15 days in order to see if they fit into your company’s business or not.
Lifting, loading, and unloading
Another important thing you need to teach when training rookie movers will be how to properly lift items. Lifting heavy objects is one of the major injury causes in the moving industry. Even with the use of moving straps, improper lifting can lead to injury. Not only that but if your crewmember suddenly drops a heavy item they lifted with a coworker, due to injury, they put the other mover in danger as well. Additionally, if the object that is moved is very valuable, a sudden injury of a crewmember can lead to damage. This is why in most piano moving situations, rookies are rarely used.
Tell your rookie mover to keep a good, wide base of support. To lift properly, they will need to squat down with their feet apart bending only the knees. While keeping good posture they should slowly lift the item, using their legs and knees. It is important that they remember not to lift with their back. Also, to make the move easier, they should hold the load close to their belly.
Also, lifting objects is of great importance when it comes to loading and unloading things. Then they should be careful and avoid injuries, but also take care not to damage the things they are handling. What is also important is that before loading, all things must be adequately packed, and most importantly, nicely placed in the cargo area of the moving truck. When it comes to packing items, it would be useful for your more experienced movers to reveal a few useful packing hacks for moving. Remember, you learn best from your senior colleagues.
Special moving services
Depending on the services you offer, you may need to train your new movers in certain movement scenarios. This means that your movers will have to go through another type of training where they will learn everything about the special moving services you offer. For example, industrial relocations. In those situations, they may have to handle heavy equipment or hazardous chemicals, for example. On the other hand, older movers will have to be more patient and kind with their clients, but also with their movers. Especially considering how difficult this move can be. Also, storage services can be considered in a special moving offer. For that reason, your new movers need to learn all storage tips in order to help your customers choose the best storage solution for them.
In addition, special moving services also include the removal of safes, and gun safes, as well as the removal of bulkier and less frequently used objects. When it comes to these types of moves, there is special equipment that is used. This means that before the practical training of rookie movers, you must meet your movers with the types of tools and explain them proper handling. Also, your movers will not be able to provide special moving services to your customers right away, they need some time to acquire practice and skills to be able to move such things independently. Be patient!
Safety is the most important thing!
Finally, the most important thing you will have to train your new employee on will be personal safety. Considering how moves can be done in all kinds of weather conditions and with all kinds of items, safety can easily become compromised. Having your rookie aware of all the dangers and teaching them how to avoid any tragic accidents.
But unity is important for the whole team. In addition to the fact that you will teach your employee to take care of himself and take care not to injure himself, you must teach him to take care of his colleagues in the same way. If, for example, they are carrying a bulky sofa together, they must guide each other and take care not to feel the object or to injure each other. As a precaution, if you see that the movers are not ready for more serious work, do not force them. Just because of injuries.
Turning rookie movers into pro movers
And here it is. After reading our article, you should be ready for training rookie movers. Just make sure to give them as many safety, packing, and customer care tips as possible. And in no time your newbie will turn into a pro, ready for any moving challenge! Also, what is also important is to be patient and show understanding toward new movers. If they don’t get it right, give them a second chance regardless of whether it is short distance moving or long distance moving. And don’t forget, the best knowledge and truths are gained by work. Therefore, let the movers learn with their older colleagues!