Furniture Removalist - Career Advice - Transport and Travel

Furniture Removalist Offsider/Assistant

Furniture removalists move domestic and commercial furniture between different locations within the state or territory and nationwide. Activities may include examining the items to be moved, packing and labelling articles, FutureGrowthModerate loading goods and boxes into trucks and ensuring that they are completely secure, driving to and from locations, then unloading and unpacking items. They may also be required to keep an inventory of items, and maintain or clean their truck.

ANZSCO description: 733113: Drives a removal van or truck to move household and office furniture and equipment between locations. Registration or licensing is required.

Alternative names: Furniture Remover, Remover, Furniture Removalist Driver,

Specialisations: Commercial Removalist, Office Mover, Piano Removalist

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A furniture removalist needs:

to enjoy practical work
to be physically fit and able to lift heavy objects
to have a safe driving record
to have some mechanical aptitude
good communication skills.

Duties and Tasks

Furniture removalists may perform the following tasks:

inspect the house or office at the pick-up address to see what has to be moved, then pack and label items if required
load goods onto the truck either by hand, or by using a forklift, trolleys, lifting straps or lifting hooks
use pads and pieces of hessian to make sure items such as fridges, couches and beds are not damaged
make sure the load is correctly placed and secured to avoid any damage to the truck or to the goods
drive defensively and handle all types of road conditions
unload goods and move them into the drop-off address, unpacking if required
check larger items against inventory, noting any wear and tear or damage
conduct a general maintenance check of the truck and clean the vehicle
provide customer service
manoeuvres vehicles into position for loading and unloading.
loads and unloads vehicles using lifting and tipping devices.
observes safety requirements when loading and unloading vehicles.
estimates weights to comply with load limitations and ensure safe distribution of weight.
ensures goods are stowed and securely covered to prevent loss and damage.
verifies loading documents, checks condition of goods and obtain certification of deliveries.

Furniture Removalist Van Working conditions

Furniture removalists may work long hours and be away from home for extended periods, especially if they drive country or interstate. The work can involve lots of lifting.

Tools and technologies

Furniture removalists may need to be able to drive loading equipment such as forklifts, as well as large removal vans.

Education and training/entrance requirements

It is possible to work as a furniture removalist without any formal qualifications and get training on the job. You may improve your employment prospects if you complete a traineeship in furniture removal. The traineeship usually takes 24 months to complete.

You must gain appropriate licences for driving vehicles and operating equipment.

Did You Know?

"For any moving activity, a reliable and expert mover is always accompanied with all types of moving blankets even if it is just intended for your small moves interstate. But, if you are planning for long distance relocation and needed proper storage, then it would be a wise decision to buy your own moving blankets.

Moving Day

For your information there are 2 kinds of moving blankets: the Quilted or padded and the Non-Quilted known as Skins or Space Savers. Quilted moving blankets offer maximum protection while lighter moving blankets on the other hand are perfect for long term storage or for any small move interstate, since they are light in weight, cheaper and don’t take much space. These blankets provide adequate protection as well. When choosing which type of moving blanket to use, consider the type of furniture you are going to cover, either it is heavy, solid, made of leather and the space."

Washing Machine removal

"Plastic covers and bubble wrap: These packaging materials are widely used for mattress, sofa and chairs. Plastic covers may include Shrink wrap or Stretch wrap. Moving companies make use of these packing materials to provide added protection to items with small parts to prevent them from getting lost or misplaced during the move. Bubble wraps are ideal for any electronic gadgets and other delicate items made of glass."
(Source: Interstate Removals)

A furniture removalist offsider drives in the truck alongside a furniture removalist and assists with furniture removal duties, at a junior level. Assistants to Furniture Handlers and Removers secure and move items between residences, commercial buildings, storage facilities and transport vehicles. They assist in loading shipments into trucks and moving vehicles. Glass, wood, and other easily damaged aspects of furniture must be handled with care to avoid breakage and damage. FutureGrowthModerate

ANZSCO ID: 891112

Alternative names: Removalist Jockey

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Ability to follow Safety Standards
Attention to detail
Listen and take directions
Operate equipment and heavy machinery
Perform physical and repetitive tasks
Enjoy practical work
Able to cope with the physical demands of the job
Capable of lifting and carrying heavy items
Able to follow instructions.

Assistant Removalist
Assistant with Furniture Removalist
(Source: Seek)

Duties and Tasks

Apply padding and protection to reduce accidental damage when moving
Drive moving vehicles to furniture destinations
Indicate destinations of items by labelling; secure loads in vehicles to prevent damage and shifting
Notify management of any damage and breakage
Carry heavy items up and down stairs
Make sure items are protected from scratches and and pack delicate items in a secure manner so they will not break during a move
Complete paperwork -Label goods with customers' details and destinations
Assist with navigation and truck maintenance on long-distance trips
Direct drivers when reversing into tight spots.
Take direction from head removalist in loading and unloading; pack vehicles to conserve space
Use hands and equipment to load heavy goods into vehicles
Working with a truck driver: labelling goods with customers' details and destinations.
Loading goods into trucks and securing loads.
Assisting to tie down loads and cover them with tarpaulins [if necessary].
Guiding truck drivers into loading bays and through confined spaces.
Performing clerical functions to record and check cargo on arrival, storage and dispatch.
Transferring loads using moving equipment and directing equipment operations using communication systems.

Working conditions

Furniture Removalist Assistants generally travel to various commercial and residential locations, as well as storage facilities. The work can be very physically demanding; therefore, workers must take precautions, especially when lifting heavy loads, to avoid injuries. They may work part or full time, and generally work 8 hour shifts.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Truck Driver's Offsider without formal qualifications, however, a certificate II, III in driving operations may be useful.