Moving labor: crews by the hour

What labor-only means and who it suits

You book people to load, unload, or both.

Labor-only means hired hands, not a full move. You book people to load, unload, or both. The truck, container, or van is yours, or you already have a plan for it. This fits a rental truck, a portable container, or help with a few heavy pieces when you do not want a full-service mover.

Hourly crews suit short, defined work. HireAHelper books local crews by the hour in all 50 states to load, unload, or both. TaskRabbit helpers set their own rates and minimums, and most do not bring a vehicle. Lugg pairs an on-demand truck with two movers for small moves and single items.

Haulest compares the booking models. Haulest is not a carrier and is not paid by these companies. The cards on this page describe how each company books labor. Confirm the rate, fees, and rules with the provider before you book.

Marketplace or company-assigned crew

Dolly was folded into TaskRabbit in May 2026.

A marketplace lets you pick the crew. HireAHelper, Moving Help (U-Haul), and TaskRabbit are marketplaces where you compare providers and book. Moving Help lists independent helpers, and each one sets an hourly rate. TaskRabbit helpers are independent, set their own rates and minimums, and Dolly was folded into TaskRabbit in May 2026.

Bellhop assigns the crew. The company sends the people for labor-only, local, and long-distance moves. Lugg books two movers with a truck in an app for small moves and single items. On both, the company supplies the crew that shows up.

How payment, cancellation, and damage cover differ

HireAHelper takes payment the day before the job.

HireAHelper takes payment the day before the job. The rate is by the hour per crew and is set by the provider. Some providers add stair or heavy-item fees. Moving Help charges per provider, per hour, plus a small refundable marketplace fee, and payment is held until you release it with a code after the job.

Bellhop, Lugg, and TaskRabbit bill on other terms. Bellhop uses a prorated hourly price or a fixed price, depending on the job, and takes a deposit of about 10% of the estimate. Lugg charges a vehicle fee plus labor by the minute, with no hourly minimum, and shows the estimate before you confirm. TaskRabbit is hourly at the rate and minimum each Tasker sets.

Cancellation and damage cover are part of each booking. These five companies do not share one published cancellation window or one damage rule on this page. Read the terms for refunds and damage before you pay a deposit or release a code. The payment steps above are the rules stated for each model.

Pairing labor with a truck or container

Lugg brings the truck and two movers.

Most labor crews arrive without a truck. HireAHelper crews, Moving Help providers, Bellhop labor-only jobs, and most TaskRabbit helpers come to load or unload. Pair that labor with a rental truck you drive or a container at your address. You keep the rental contract, the driving, or the container schedule.

Lugg brings the truck and two movers. You book it in an app for a small move or a single item. The bill is a vehicle fee plus labor by the minute, with no hourly minimum. The estimate shows before you confirm, which helps you judge a short hop or one heavy piece.

Line up the crew with the truck or container. Book hourly labor for the time the vehicle is actually there to load or unload. A marketplace rate set by the hour can grow if the truck is late. Bellhop may price the job as prorated hourly or fixed, depending on the job, so ask how a delay is billed before you reserve.