An estimate is a plan, not a fixed price
A moving estimate is a forecast built from what you tell the mover: how much you own, how the buildings are accessed, how far the move is and what services you need. For hourly local moves, the estimate predicts how many hours the crew will need. It is useful for budgeting, but it is not a cap.
FleetGo's terms say this plainly: an estimated number of hours is for planning purposes and is not a guaranteed maximum or a fixed price unless FleetGo identifies the move in writing as fixed price. If a move estimated at three hours takes four, the fourth hour is billed at the contracted rate. Knowing this up front is the best protection against surprises, because it tells you what to get right in your quote request.
The parts of a FleetGo local move price
A local FleetGo move has four parts.
- Hourly crew rate: 2 movers at $125 per hour, 3 movers at $169 per hour, 4 movers at $209 per hour, or 5 movers at $249 per hour.
- Service fee: $120, which covers the moving truck, fuel, moving blankets, dollies and standard moving equipment.
- Three-hour minimum: every move is billed for at least three hours of labour unless FleetGo agrees otherwise in writing.
- HST: added to the total.
The crew size changes the hourly rate, but it also changes the hours. A larger crew costs more per hour and often finishes sooner, which is why FleetGo may recommend three movers for a larger home. The pricing page shows which crew sizes usually suit which home sizes.
A worked example
Here is the arithmetic for a two-mover local move that takes four and a half billable hours. It shows how the parts combine; it is not a quote for your move.
- Labour: 4.5 hours x $125 = $562.50
- Service fee: $120.00
- Subtotal: $682.50
- HST at 13%: $88.73
- Total: $771.23
If the same move finished in two and a half hours, the three-hour minimum would apply, and labour would be billed as 3 x $125 = $375.
When the clock starts and how time is rounded
Labour is not billed from the scheduled arrival time. The crew arrives, you review and sign the agreement, and the billable start time is recorded after that. Reading and signing time is not billable.
At the end of the move, FleetGo applies a ten-minute grace period after each full-hour or half-hour point. Time that runs ten minutes or less past a billing point is not rounded up; beyond that, it rounds up to the next half hour. For example, 4:00 to 4:10 is billed as 4.0 hours, 4:11 to 4:40 as 4.5 hours, and 4:41 to 5:00 as 5.0 hours.
What makes a move take longer
Most differences between estimated and actual hours come from details that were missing from the quote request. The common ones are:
- More items than listed, especially from storage lockers, garages and basements
- Stairs, long hallways and long carries from the door to the truck
- Elevator waits, or elevators shared with other residents
- Truck parking far from the entrance
- Furniture that needs to be taken apart or reassembled
- Boxes that are not packed and sealed when the crew arrives
- Heavy or oversized items that need extra handling
Under FleetGo's terms, the customer arranges parking, elevator reservations and building access. Waiting caused by an unavailable elevator, missing access or parking problems is billable time, so confirming those details before move day protects your budget. The condo elevator booking guide covers building access in detail.
Charges that can be added to the hourly total
- Heavy items: an item over 100 lb may be treated as a heavy item, with a standard charge of $100 per qualifying item unless your written quote already includes it.
- Materials, parking and tolls: added where they are stated in the quote.
- Extra crew or equipment: if the inventory or access needs more movers, another truck or special equipment, FleetGo explains the reason and the cost.
- Packing: if you book packing services, the packing time is part of the job.
Long-distance moves are priced differently
Moves over 100 km are not quoted on the hourly local model. FleetGo reviews each long-distance move manually and prices it as a flat rate based on the route, inventory, access and trip details. See long-distance moving for what the review covers.
Deposits and changing your date
A $100 booking deposit reserves your date, crew and truck unless your quote states a different amount. Once the booking is accepted, the deposit is non-refundable if you cancel. FleetGo asks for at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. These terms are set out in full in the FleetGo terms, and it is worth reading them before you book with any mover.
How to get an accurate estimate
- List every room, including storage lockers, balconies, garages and sheds.
- Name the large and heavy items: pianos, safes, treadmills, sectionals, marble or glass tables.
- Describe access at both ends: floor number, stairs, elevator booking windows and where the truck can stop.
- Say what you will pack yourself and what you want the crew to pack.
- Mention any items that need to be taken apart.
- Choose a crew size, or ask FleetGo to recommend one.
The FleetGo quote form shows the applicable crew pricing before you submit. Start a free quote with these details, and the estimate will be built on what your move really involves.