We do provide free in-home estimates, but we prefer virtual estimates. Virtual estimates are safer (no one comes into your home) they save time, and they are very accurate (a video recording is made of the items you are moving) – all done virtually on-line.

Great Canadian lists all surcharges on your Estimate Form. There are however some charges that are unknown at the time of the estimate. An example of this and the most common is a shuttle surcharge. This charge is applicable when access is an issue and the tractor trailer unit is not able to get close to your home for a pick up or delivery. A smaller unit is used to get the pick up or delivery completed. This process does involve the transfer of the shipment from the tractor trailer unit to the smaller truck and an additional charge (shuttle surcharge) is added for this service.

Packing is not included in your estimate price. We can provide you with a full packing price, partial packing price or just packing for certain items. It is mandatory to have your tv’s and beds packed though and all fragile items must be packed. If you are doing your own packing just make sure that anything that can fit into an average sized box should be packed. Loose items can easily get lost so please make sure to pack everything.

Your estimate includes, dismantling of items such as beds and tables, a complete colour-coded and numbered inventory, with description and condition of the items you are moving. It also includes professional pad wrapping of all furniture, carrying the items out of your current home, loading them onto the truck, hauling them  to your new home, unloading the truck, carrying the items into your home; unwrapping them, and placing them into the rooms of your choice. All pricing and surcharges are transparent and listed on your estimate. Your estimate does not include items such as moving your vehicle or packing services, unless your have requested those services.

Yes you declare the value of your goods. We list the value based on a $8.00 per pound. You can however declare a higher value than the minimum amount of $8.00/lb. We do not sell insurance; you declare a value of your goods and the Cargo Coverage on that truck covers your goods based on the value declared.

No, a moving company should not charge you a deductible, because they do not sell insurance. If they damage or lose one of your items they should replace or repair the item without charging you a deductible.

Yes we do ship cars but they generally go with a trusted third-party carrier that we have worked with for decades. We handle everything for you though. All we need is the make model and year of your car and we will price it for you, add it to your moving estimate and set up shipping for you.

Yes a 10% deposit is required to secure your move date and reserve a truck and crew. In the event you need to change you move date that can be done as well, just advise us well in advance and we will change your date, send you the revised contract and your deposit will remain. In the unlikely event that you have to cancel your move, your deposit will be held on file and can be used on any of our services for up to one year after your cancellation. Your final balance owing can be paid upon delivery, directly online in our secure portal right on your file.

Items such as propane tanks, fuel tanks, corrosive cleaning products, and fluids should not be shipped. Fluids can leak and cause damage to your furniture so we recommend that you dispose of them prior to your move. Items such as lawn movers, snow-blowers or anything with a small engine should be drained of gas and oil before your move.

TV’s must be removed from the wall (if mounted) prior to your move and must be professionally packaged by you or us, to be covered under your moving protection plan. If you do not have the original packaging for your TV(s) we can package them for you, just provide the sizes of your TV’s to us and we can provide you with a price.

Beds must be plastic wrapped or packed in a bed carton to be covered under your moving protection plan. Just provide us with the sizes and we will provide you with an estimate for packaging.

Fragile items such as glass, marble, stone, chandeliers must be professionally packed or crated to be covered under your moving protection plan. If they are shipped unpacked or uncrated they will not be covered under your moving protection plan, and shipped at your risk.

Particle board furniture is not made of solid wood but is made of wood particles. It is not as solid as wood and unfortunately does not move well. It must be disassembled prior to moving, otherwise it will generally fall apart during moving. If you choose to move particle board furniture assembled it will be noted and shipped at your risk. Because we want all of your furniture to arrive safely please disassemble all particle board furniture prior to you move date.

Yes you or your representative must be present on the day of loading. Your crew will complete a walk thru of your home with you before they start loading and will survey the list of items moving. Then they will complete an Inventory of the items moving with the conditions of those items before loading. You must be present to review and confirm and sign the Inventories. Then it is recommended that you complete a walk thru of your home with the crew to make sure that everything has been loaded onto the truck. Don’t forget to check crawl spaces, attics, your garage and any offsite storage locations.

The moving truck is weighed (light weight) at a government-registered scale prior to arriving at your residence. Your goods are loaded onto the truck and then the truck is weighed again (heavy weight.) The light weight is subtracted from the heavy weight and this gives us the net weight (actual weight) of your shipment.

All of your goods are tagged (colour-coded sticker placed on the item) and inventoried (listed with a number, item description and the condition of the item.) You receive a copy of this Inventory Form and the van driver keeps a copy. When the van driver arrives to deliver your goods to your new residence, both the van driver and you will check the Inventory to make sure you received all your belongings and verify they are in the same condition they were in at origin. 

If you are moving locally with us, your crew will be the same throughout your move. If you are moving long distance, you will generally have the same driver loading and unloading at your new home. The driver in most cases will have one crew loading at your origin home and a different crew helping him to unload at your destination. They generally use local crews at the origin city and a different local crew at the destination city because they cannot fit the crew in their truck driving across the country, and it is not feasible.

Most of our drivers are agent drivers which means they are trained on Great Canadian Van Lines paperwork and procedures and that the agent driver schedules and loads are coordinated by Great Canadian Dispatch. We will occasionally use a broker but this only occurs if they are a regular trusted broker that we have a great track-record with. If our driver runs out of space. However, the trusted broker is dispatched by Great Canadian and all communication and coordination is conducted by our Dispatch.

We provide you with a transit time frame (a delivery period) For example 7-15 days from pickup. You have to be available in this time frame to receive your goods and we have to make your delivery within this time frame. The transit time frame is based on the weight of your shipment and the distance your shipment is travelling. Our Van Foreman will call you ahead of time (24-48hrs) to arrange a delivery date and time within the delivery frame on your contract. If we deliver late (beyond the time frame) you are compensated for late delivery.

Yes absolutely. You must be present to check the items off of your inventory as they are delivered into your new home, to check the items for damage, and to report any damage or missing items on your Inventory Form; and to instruct the crew where each item needs to be placed.

Absolutely, if you are moving more that 25 miles for work or  for school, all of your move related expenses are fully tax deductible. Deductions can be made for you flight, hotel, travel expenses and of course your moving bill.

Identify your claim (damaged or missing item) in the Delivery Exceptions column on your Inventory Form beside the corresponding item number. Ask the van driver for a Claim Form or print one from our website in the Documents section, follow the instructions on the claim form and send your claim to us. A representative from Great Canadian will be in contact with you within 2 business days of receiving your claim form and a claim file will be opened. Our priority is to resolve your claim quickly and to your satisfaction.