Every estimate we give you has a line called the call out fee. It’s the cost of getting our truck and crew to your door and home again. This post explains how we work it out, and why we’re covering a good chunk of that cost ourselves right now.

What the call out fee covers

It pays for the driving we do before and after your move: from our base to your first address, and from your last address back to base. That’s all it covers.

The drive between your old place and your new place is not in the call out fee. That’s already counted in the time on your estimate, so you’re never charged for the same kilometres twice.

Why it costs more to run a truck right now

Everything that goes into getting a truck on the road has gone up, and you’ve probably felt the same in your own household.

• Diesel. Prices are high at the moment, and a moving truck drinks a lot of it, especially in Auckland traffic.
• Road user charges (RUCs). Every kilometre a heavy truck drives has a charge paid to the government on top of the fuel.
• Wages. Good movers are skilled, and wages are high at the moment. Our crew are on the clock while they drive, even before the first box is picked up.
• Wear and tear. Tyres, servicing and repairs all cost more too.

How we worked it out

We kept the maths simple.

1. We worked out what it costs per kilometre to run each of our trucks, from small to large. That includes fuel, RUCs, tyres and servicing.
2. We added the crew’s wages for the time they spend driving.
3. We averaged the results across our trucks. That gives us a fair baseline cost for every kilometre.
4. Then we asked what’s fair. Charging you the full amount would make longer trips expensive, so we charge about half of it on the extra kilometres. We keep a flat fee for shorter trips so it’s easy to understand.

What you pay

The distance counted is our base to your first address, plus your last address back to base. All prices are plus GST.

Distance to and from base	Call out fee
Up to 20 km	$65
21 to 40 km	$95
Over 40 km	$95, plus $1.64 for each km beyond 40, rounded to the nearest $5

For example, 30 km is $95, 50 km is $110 and 60 km is $130. Your instant estimate works the distance out for you from the suburbs you choose.

What we cover ourselves

On a short trip, the fee roughly covers what it costs us. On longer ones it doesn’t. On a longer trip, the real cost to us is well above what we charge. We absorb the difference, because we think that’s the fair thing to do.

We know times are tough. Prices are up everywhere, and moving house is stressful enough without surprise costs. We’d rather be upfront about where the money goes and keep our fees as low as we can.

You’ll see the call out fee as its own line on your estimate. Remember, it’s a sight-unseen estimate, not an official quotation, so the final price may be higher or lower but it gives you a fair idea of what kind of price you will be facing. You can get yours in a couple of minutes with our instant moving price estimator.