CMC Load Planning & Weight Distribution 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a household move, which item category should NEVER be placed at the bottom of a floor-to-ceiling stack?
- Wardrobe boxes
- Mattress boxes
- Lamp boxes (Correct answer)
- Dish pack boxes
Correct answer: Lamp boxes
Lamp boxes contain fragile, tall items with no structural integrity and will collapse under any weight placed on top of them.
Question 2: What is the recommended maximum stack height for standard moving boxes inside a truck?
- 4 feet
- 5 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- No limit if secured with straps
Correct answer: 6 feet
Standard practice limits box stacking to approximately 6 feet to prevent toppling during transit and to avoid exceeding box compression limits.
Question 3: A crew is loading a shipment with both a steel safe (400 lbs) and a china cabinet (120 lbs). In what order should these be loaded?
- China cabinet first, then the safe on top
- Safe first against the cab wall, china cabinet separately secured (Correct answer)
- Both simultaneously on a shared moving blanket
- China cabinet last so it can be unloaded first at delivery
Correct answer: Safe first against the cab wall, china cabinet separately secured
The heavy safe goes in first against the cab wall on the floor; the china cabinet is loaded separately and secured to prevent damage from the safe's weight.
Question 4: What is 'cube utilization' in moving truck load planning?
- The number of cubic feet of empty space left in the truck
- The percentage of the truck's total cubic footage that is actually used (Correct answer)
- The weight-to-volume ratio of the entire shipment
- The number of cube-shaped boxes in a shipment
Correct answer: The percentage of the truck's total cubic footage that is actually used
Cube utilization measures how efficiently the truck's total volume is filled, with higher percentages indicating better use of available space.
Question 5: When loading upholstered sofas in a moving truck, what is the most space-efficient orientation?
- Flat on the floor, cushions removed
- Standing on end vertically against the wall (Correct answer)
- Placed seat-up on top of mattresses
- Positioned diagonally across the truck width
Correct answer: Standing on end vertically against the wall
Standing sofas on end vertically against the truck wall maximizes floor space for other items while keeping the sofa stable and protected.
Question 6: Which federal agency regulates the weight limits for commercial moving trucks on US highways?
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) (Correct answer)
- US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct answer: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
The FMCSA regulates commercial vehicle operations including weight limits, hours of service, and safety standards for moving companies.
Question 7: A mover notices the truck feels 'top heavy' while driving. What is the most likely cause?
- The fuel tank is nearly empty
- Heavy items were stacked too high rather than kept low on the floor (Correct answer)
- The truck's suspension needs adjustment
- Too many boxes were placed near the cab wall
Correct answer: Heavy items were stacked too high rather than kept low on the floor
A top-heavy feeling indicates the center of gravity is too high, typically caused by placing heavy furniture or appliances elevated rather than on the floor.
CMC Load Planning & Weight Distribution 3
In a household move, which item category should NEVER be placed at the bottom of a floor-to-ceiling stack?