In the midst of planning an industrial move, there's a good chance your moving company will provide a list of materials that, under any circumstance, they aren't allowed to move. The presence of these "non-allowables" can easily put a wrench in your company's moving schedule unless you know how to deal with them.

What Your Moving Company Definitely Won't Transport

There's a lot that your moving company will do to help facilitate a safe and successful move. But there are some things that your movers just won't touch. Many companies have prohibitions against handling the following materials:

• Flammable liquids such as lamp oil, charcoal lighter fluid, motor oil and kerosene
• Explosive items such as fireworks and ammunition
• Cleaning solvents and darkroom chemicals
• Portable exothermic heating devices such as camp stoves
• Pesticides and poisons
• Acids
• Paints and paint thinner
• Potentially combustible items such as batteries
• Tanks filled with gases (including propane and pure oxygen)

Some of these materials can prove highly volatile during transit, making it a very dicey proposition unless exceptional care is taken. Others often require specialized containers or transportation protocol that simply isn't available to most industrial movers.

If you absolutely must move these non-allowables, then you may need to enlist the help of a hazmat transport company experienced in moving hazardous materials. However, this option could add a considerable expense to your company's overall moving expenses.

In many cases, it's better to dispose of these materials prior to your scheduled move. Keep in mind that these materials must be disposed of according to municipal, provincial and federal guidelines and regulations.

Exceptions to the Rule

Hazardous chemicals aren't the only items that your movers are often unwilling to transport. Perishable items such as refrigerated foods, fresh produce and frozen foods can also be found on a typical list of non-allowable items.

As it turns out, it's not uncommon for items like these to linger in storage, making spoilage and mold growth serious problems that must be resolved. Even the most efficient reefer unit has to be shut off at some point, at which time extreme heat could accelerate the decomposition process. As a result, your movers could be left holding the bag – or in this case, a bunch of rotten perishables.

Nevertheless, your industrial moving company may be willing to transport perishable items as long as the distances are relatively short and said items are delivered within a day of pickup and transport. As long as these and other strict conditions are met, it may be possible to have your perishable items moved along with the rest of your equipment.

Things You Might Want to Move Yourself

In addition to the hazardous and perishable items your moving company might refuse, there may be items that the movers might recommend that you personally transport. This often includes:

• Items of sentimental value, such as scrapbooks and photo albums
• Financial documents, including bank statements, tax records, deeds, deposit certificates and checkbooks
• Professional documents pertaining to your job and its duties
• Personal belongings such as cell phones, address books, car keys, laptops and tablets.

One of the big reasons behind this is that these items can easily get lost in the shuffle of a big move. It often takes time to get everything unpacked, which could be to your disadvantage if you need any of the above within reach as soon as possible.

Another big reason involves the sensitive nature of certain items, especially if it involves medical patient data, industrial blueprints or customer information. Instead, you may want to transport these items yourself to ensure that they arrive safely at your new destination without any compromises.

Don't forget that there are moving companies that specifically specialize in transporting confidential files and other sensitive materials. If necessary, you may want to call on the services in addition to your industrial mover to handle important paperwork and records.