Moving Safety 101: Items Movers Can’t Transport This Season

The holiday season brings tight schedules, cold snaps, and more reasons to keep moving day safe and efficient. If you’re planning a November or December move in Wisconsin—whether in Wausau, Green Bay, Eau Claire, or Stevens Point—knowing what movers can’t transport will save time, prevent damage, and avoid day-of surprises. Here’s a clear, locally informed guide from Peak Movers to help you prep confidently before winter weather and holiday closures kick in.

Why some items are off-limits in winter

Movers follow federal safety regulations and carrier policies to protect crews, trucks, and your home. Cold weather can make some materials more volatile or fragile, and shortened daylight hours increase risk if items leak or break. Liquids can freeze and burst, pressurized containers can fail in temperature swings, and certain goods become unsafe to load or store. Planning now ensures compliance, safety, and a smoother timeline with your Wausau movers or Green Bay moving company.

What items will movers not move?

Most moving companies prohibit items that are hazardous, perishable, or high-risk. Expect these to be on the “non-allowables” list:

• Flammables and combustibles: gasoline, propane tanks (including grill cylinders), lighter fluid, paint thinner, varnish, kerosene, and fireworks.
• Corrosives and chemicals: bleach, ammonia, pool chemicals, pesticides, and automotive fluids (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid).
• Pressurized containers and aerosols: propane, oxygen tanks, spray paint, butane, CO2 cylinders for kegerators, and some medical gas canisters.
• Perishables: refrigerated or frozen foods, open food containers, and anything that can spoil during transit or freeze-solid and burst.
• Valuables and sensitive documents: cash, jewelry, heirlooms, passports, deeds, and medical files should move with you.
• Firearms and ammunition: most movers prohibit ammo; firearms require strict handling and often must be transported by the owner.
• Live plants: many movers won’t take plants on long-distance routes; winter temps across Wisconsin can damage or kill them.

The Wisconsin winter twist: freezing risks and fragile goods

Cold temperatures in Marathon, Brown, and Eau Claire counties can turn a routine load into a hazard. Paint and cleaning liquids become unstable when frozen; candles and cosmetics can crack; glass containers are more prone to shatter. Plan to use up, dispose of, or personally transport any liquids that could freeze. If you’re moving wine or craft beer, temperature swings can ruin quality—move these in your personal vehicle or look into specialized shipping.

Safe alternatives and local disposal options

When in doubt, ask us for our non-allowables checklist before packing. For items we can’t take:

• Use county household hazardous waste programs in Marathon, Brown, Winnebago, Eau Claire, and Portage counties for paints, solvents, and chemicals (check holiday hours).
• Donate usable housewares, coats, and blankets before Thanksgiving to reduce load size and help neighbors in need.
• Schedule Peak Movers junk removal for damaged furniture, broken electronics, or bulky items you don’t want to store or move.
• Consider short-term, climate-controlled storage for items that need protection while you sort, stage, or wait on closing.

Pre-move prep: how to stay compliant and on schedule

A little planning keeps your timeline—and budget—on track:

• Create a “Do Not Load” zone for chemicals, aerosols, open food, and valuables.
• Defrost and dry your fridge/freezer 24–48 hours before move day; discard perishables.
• Drain fuel from snowblowers, lawn mowers, and small engines; safely dispose of leftover fuel.
• Remove and carry lithium-ion batteries separately; avoid shipping loose, damaged, or swollen batteries.
• Move plants, wine, and high-value items in your own vehicle with proper insulation from the cold.

Can movers transport alcohol or wine in winter?

Policies vary, but many movers avoid transporting alcohol—especially high-proof spirits—due to flammability and temperature risks. If you’re moving a collection, pack bottles upright in foam or molded protectors, insulate against freezing, and use your personal vehicle or a specialty wine shipper. Ask Peak Movers about packing supplies and best practices; we can guide you even when we can’t load it.

How Peak Movers keeps holiday moves safe

We start every job with a pre-move consultation, a clear non-allowables checklist, and packing recommendations tailored to Wisconsin winters. Our team offers full-service packing, furniture assembly, climate-controlled storage, and coordinated junk removal so you can downsize safely before Thanksgiving and glide into the New Year with less stress.

Make your next move safer with Peak Movers

From Wausau and Weston to Green Bay, Appleton, Eau Claire, and Stevens Point, Peak Movers delivers safe, compliant, and efficient moves—without holiday hiccups. Get our winter-ready non-allowables checklist and a free quote today at peakmovers.com, or call our team to schedule packing, storage, and junk removal that streamlines your move and safeguards your belongings all season long.