Delivery Spread

When you book a long-distance move with a non-guaranteed delivery date, the mover gives you a delivery spread instead of an exact date. A typical Austin-to-California spread might be 5 to 10 days from pickup; a denser route like Austin-to-Houston might be 1 to 3 days. The actual delivery date falls anywhere within that window. The mover is required to give you 24 hours of advance notification before delivery and to be available within the spread. If you can't accept delivery during the spread (you're still in your old home, the new home isn't ready), the mover may hold the shipment in storage at your expense until you can.

Customers used to the precision of a local-move time often assume long-distance delivery is the same. It isn't. Hours-of-service rules, multi-stop routing, weather, and dispatch all factor into when a truck arrives. Customers who plan for "delivery day Wednesday" without understanding the spread end up with their shipment in storage Friday or arriving Sunday with no one home. The right plan: book the spread, get the 24-hour notification, be flexible within the window, and budget for storage if your new home isn't ready.

On every long-distance move we set a realistic delivery spread on the Bill of Lading — typically the shortest legitimate window for your route. We send the 24-hour notification when the truck is in range of destination, with route updates as the truck progresses. Where the customer's new home isn't ready, we offer on-truck hold or storage-in-transit so the shipment doesn't arrive at a closed door.

Can I get a guaranteed delivery date instead of a spread?

Yes — but it's a separate service called guaranteed delivery, which carries an additional charge and typically a penalty/reimbursement clause if the mover misses the date. Customers who need to move into a closing or a lease change with no flexibility usually book guaranteed delivery; everyone else accepts a spread.

How wide is a typical delivery spread?

Same-state moves: 1 to 3 days. Texas to neighboring states (Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico): 2 to 5 days. Cross-country (Texas to West Coast or East Coast): 5 to 14 days depending on route, dispatch, and weather. The exact spread should be on your Bill of Lading.

What if I miss the entire delivery spread?

If you cannot accept delivery within the spread, the mover may hold your shipment in storage at your expense until you can receive it. Communicate with dispatch the moment you know there's an issue — most movers will work with you, but the storage clock starts the day the spread closes.