Hazardous Materials Movers Won't Transport
Federal regulations and moving company policies prohibit transport of hazardous materials. The list is extensive and important to understand before packing. Attempting to sneak hazardous items into the moving truck creates serious safety risks and may void insurance coverage for your entire shipment.
Common Hazardous Items NOT to Pack
- Flammable liquids: Gasoline, lighter fluid, kerosene, paint thinner, lacquer, nail polish remover
- Compressed gases: Propane tanks, oxygen tanks, helium tanks, scuba tanks
- Aerosols: Hairspray, cooking spray, paint cans, cleaning sprays, bug spray
- Cleaning chemicals: Bleach, ammonia, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, pool chemicals
- Automotive supplies: Motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, batteries
- Pesticides and fertilizers: Lawn chemicals, garden pesticides, weed killers
- Paint and finishes: Latex paint, oil-based paint, varnishes, stains
- Matches and lighters: Standard matches, lighter fluid, charcoal lighter fluid
- Fireworks and ammunition: Any explosive materials, gunpowder, fireworks of any type
- Pool supplies: Chlorine tablets, pool acid, pool shock chemicals
Why These Items Are Restricted
Moving trucks are not equipped for hazardous material transport. Temperature changes during transit can cause leaks, explosions, or chemical reactions. Many items are illegal to transport across provincial borders without proper hazmat licensing. Insurance does not cover damage caused by hazardous materials.
Valuables to Keep With You
Even when items aren't legally restricted from transport, certain valuables should travel with you in your personal vehicle rather than the moving truck:
Jewelry & Watches
All jewelry — engagement rings, wedding bands, family heirlooms, designer pieces — should stay with you personally. Even with insurance coverage, replacing irreplaceable family pieces is impossible. Movers handle thousands of items per move; small valuable items can be misplaced.
Cash & Financial Items
Cash, savings bonds, stock certificates, banking documents. Even small amounts of cash add up to significant losses if misplaced. Take all cash with you on move day.
Collectibles & Heirlooms
Coin collections, stamp collections, vintage items, family heirlooms with sentimental value beyond replacement cost. These items deserve personal transport even when professionally packed by movers.
Electronics with Personal Data
Laptops, tablets, hard drives containing personal data and irreplaceable photos. Backup data before moving but also transport devices personally to prevent loss of access during the move period.
High-Value Art
Original artwork worth $5,000+ may benefit from personal transport when feasible. For larger pieces requiring professional handling, ensure custom crating and full-value insurance coverage.
Prescription Medications
All prescription medications should stay with you. Loss or temperature damage can affect medical care. Important for managing health continuity through move period.
Important Documents to Hand-Carry
Documents that should never go in the moving truck:
Identification
- Passports (Canadian and any other citizenships)
- Driver's licenses
- Health cards (OHIP)
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Citizenship/PR documents
- Social Insurance Number cards
Financial Documents
- Tax returns (previous 7 years for CRA compliance)
- Banking documents and statements
- Investment account information
- Insurance policies
- Mortgage documents
- Credit card statements
- Estate planning documents (wills, POAs)
Real Estate Documents
- Lease agreements
- Purchase/sale agreements
- Property tax records
- Closing documents
- Property insurance documents
Move-Related Documents
- Moving company contract
- Moving insurance policy
- Inventory lists
- Building access codes/keys
Keep all these in a single dedicated folder that travels with you on move day. Don't pack with general household items.
Perishable Items
Food Movers Won't Transport
- Refrigerated foods: All items in refrigerator and freezer
- Open packages: Opened pantry items, partially-used containers
- Fresh produce: Fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs
- Bread products: Bread, baked goods, anything with limited shelf life
- Dairy products: Milk, yogurt, cheese, butter
- Meat and seafood: Frozen or fresh proteins
Strategy for Reducing Food Waste
Begin reducing food inventory 2-3 weeks before move:
- Plan meals around using up frozen items
- Donate sealed pantry items to food banks (Ottawa Food Bank, neighbourhood pantries)
- Give perishables to neighbours, family, or coworkers
- Eat at restaurants in final days to avoid additional groceries
- Move day pantry: keep only items consumed within 24 hours
Plants
Most Ottawa movers don't transport live plants due to:
- Damage risk during temperature changes
- Soil mess in moving trucks
- Provincial regulations on plant transport (some species)
- Insurance liability issues
Transport plants in personal vehicle. For long-distance moves, consider giving plants to friends rather than risking transport stress.
Living Things
Pets
Pets travel with you, never in moving trucks. Plan pet logistics:
- Keep pets in secured area during loading at old home (boarder, family, friend)
- Transport pets in personal vehicle with familiar items (favourite blanket, toys)
- Consider dog walker or cat sitter during chaos of move day
- For long-distance moves, plan pet-friendly hotels and frequent breaks
- For air travel with pets, book pet-approved flights well in advance
- Update pet ID tags with new address before move
- Confirm new home is pet-ready: secure fencing, removed hazards, familiar items
Aquariums
Live fish and aquariums require special handling not provided by standard movers. Options:
- Find new home for fish before move (give to friend, donate to aquarium store)
- Empty aquarium and transport without fish, then restock at new home
- Hire specialty aquarium movers for high-value setups
Reptiles, Birds, Other Pets
Specialty pets require personal transport with appropriate carriers, climate control, and stress reduction techniques. Consult veterinarian for specific transport guidance.
Items Requiring Special Handling
Firearms & Ammunition
Most Ottawa movers don't transport firearms or ammunition. Federal regulations require specific licensing for firearm transport. Options:
- Transport personally with proper licensing and lockable case
- Hire licensed firearm transport service
- Coordinate with new home gun safe installation before transport
Liquor Collections
Some Ottawa movers transport sealed liquor; others don't. Confirm with your mover. For valuable wine collections, consider:
- Climate-controlled transport (heat damages wine)
- Specialty wine moving services
- Personal transport in temperature-controlled vehicle
High-Value Items Requiring Custom Crating
Items benefiting from custom crating typically not in standard mover service:
- Original artwork worth $10,000+
- Antiques worth $5,000+
- Marble tops, large mirrors
- Specialty equipment (medical, professional)
Coordinate custom crating in advance — typically 2-3 weeks lead time required.
Temperature-Sensitive Items
Wine, art, electronics, instruments may benefit from climate-controlled transport. Standard moving trucks reach extreme temperatures. Climate control adds $150-400 to move cost.
What to Do With Items You Can't Pack
Hazardous Material Disposal
Ottawa offers multiple disposal options:
- Household hazardous waste depots: Trail Road Landfill (open year-round), Springhill Landfill (Spring/Fall events)
- Take-back programs: Most paint stores accept old paint, automotive shops accept used motor oil
- City pickup events: Ottawa periodic hazardous waste collection events in different neighbourhoods
- Specialty disposal: Battery disposal at electronics stores, fluorescent bulb disposal at hardware stores
Donation Options
- Sealed pantry items: Ottawa Food Bank, neighbourhood food cupboards
- Cleaning supplies (sealed): Local shelters, women's resource centres
- Garden chemicals (sealed): Community gardens, neighbours
Use Before Moving
For items you can't transport but don't want to dispose of:
- Use up cleaning supplies in final pre-move cleaning
- Use up paint on touch-ups before listing/leaving home
- Use up garden chemicals on final lawn/garden treatment
- Cook meals using remaining frozen items
Final Pre-Move Checklist
Two weeks before move, do final inventory of items NOT going on truck:
- ☐ Hazardous materials identified and disposal scheduled
- ☐ Plants given away or arranged for personal transport
- ☐ Refrigerator/freezer plan in place (eat down, give away, or arrange disposal)
- ☐ Pets travel arrangements confirmed (vet records, carriers, pet-friendly route)
- ☐ Aquarium fish rehomed or specialty transport arranged
- ☐ Firearms transport arranged with proper licensing
- ☐ Important documents folder prepared and ready for personal transport
- ☐ Jewelry and valuables identified and ready for personal transport
- ☐ Cash withdrawal planned (move day expenses, tips)
- ☐ Prescription medications gathered for personal transport
- ☐ Electronics with personal data backed up
- ☐ High-value art arranged for custom crating or personal transport
- ☐ Wine collection plan in place (climate transport or personal vehicle)
Following this checklist prevents the most common moving day issues: discovering forbidden items at loading time, losing valuables in the chaos, and incurring unnecessary risks during transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can movers absolutely not transport?
Hazardous materials (flammables, compressed gases, aerosols, chemicals), perishable foods, live plants and animals, and explosives. These restrictions are universal across all licensed Ottawa moving companies due to federal regulations and insurance requirements.
Should I move my own jewelry?
Yes — always transport jewelry and high-value items personally. Even with full insurance coverage, irreplaceable family pieces cannot be replaced. Don't risk loss in the chaos of move day.
Can movers transport my plants?
Most Ottawa movers don't transport live plants. Damage risk, soil mess, and provincial regulations make plants problematic. Transport in personal vehicle or give to friends before move.
What about my refrigerator's food?
Movers will not transport perishable food. Plan to eat down inventory 2-3 weeks before move. Donate sealed items to food bank. Empty and defrost refrigerator/freezer 24-48 hours before move date.
How do I dispose of hazardous materials?
Ottawa offers multiple disposal options: Trail Road Landfill household hazardous waste depot, paint store take-back programs, automotive shop oil disposal, and periodic city collection events. Schedule disposal 2-3 weeks before move.