FAQ
Straight answers to common questions.
24 answers covering pricing, booking, insurance, and what our crews will and won't do.
The basics
- What is River Bend Moving Labor?
- River Bend Moving Labor is a labor-only moving company serving the Quad Cities. We send trained W-2 crews to load, unload, pack, or rearrange for you. You supply the truck, POD, U-Pack, or storage access — we supply the crew, pads, straps, and dollies.
- Do you provide the truck?
- No. We do not provide, rent, arrange, or operate moving trucks or transportation. The customer supplies and drives the truck, trailer, container, or other transportation. This keeps our pricing transparent and lets you pick the rental brand you prefer.
- What areas do you serve?
- We serve Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa; Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, and Silvis in Illinois; plus surrounding communities including Milan, Eldridge, Le Claire, and Blue Grass. Jobs outside our active service zones are collected as leads and reviewed by dispatch.
- What hours do you run?
- Crews run 7am–8pm Central, seven days a week. Dispatch answers calls Monday through Saturday, 7am–8pm. Same-week booking depends on crew capacity; summer and month-end fill first.
- Are you the same as a moving company?
- We're a moving labor company. A full-service moving company brings a truck, drives it, and moves you door to door. We only bring the crew — you or your driver handle transportation. It's a cheaper, more flexible model when you already have (or want to rent) a truck or container.
Pricing and payment
- How much does a move cost?
- Jobs are billed hourly with a clear minimum. A 2-person crew is $179/hr with a 2-hour minimum. A 3-person crew is $249/hr with a 2-hour minimum. A 4-person crew is $319/hr with a 3-hour minimum. Time after the minimum is billed in 15-minute increments.
- How much is the deposit?
- A $100 booking deposit reserves your window. The deposit is applied to your final bill — it is not an add-on charge.
- When am I charged the final total?
- Your card on file is charged for the final hourly total minus the deposit at the end of the job, after the crew lead confirms hours with you and closes the ticket in-app.
- Are there surcharges?
- Stairs, long carries, heavy items, weekend or holiday scheduling, and short-notice (<48 hours) bookings may add time or a surcharge. Every surcharge is disclosed in your estimate before the deposit is charged — no surprise fees.
- Do you accept tips?
- Yes — tipping is optional and appreciated. You can tip in cash on-site or add a tip to your final invoice. 100% of tips go to the crew.
Booking and scheduling
- Do I need an account to book?
- You can start an estimate without an account. Confirming a booking creates an account so you can view your job, sign the agreement, and manage payments in one place.
- How far in advance should I book?
- 3–5 days ahead is safe most of the year. Book 2 weeks ahead for weekend jobs in June, July, August, and the last week of any month.
- Can I reschedule or cancel?
- Yes. Reschedule at no cost more than 48 hours before your window. Cancellations more than 48 hours out get a full deposit refund. See the cancellation policy for shorter-notice rules.
- What if the crew is late?
- Your window is a 60-minute arrival range, not a promise-to-the-minute. If we're going to miss the window, dispatch calls you before it closes. The clock starts when the crew begins work, never when they set out.
- Do I have to be there?
- Yes, or a designated adult with authority to approve the load plan, sign the completion ticket, and pay. If you can't be present, tell us at booking so we can plan accordingly.
On the job
- What if I have a piano, gun safe, or hot tub?
- Heavy or specialty items (pianos, safes, pool tables, hot tubs, or any single item over 250 lbs) flag your booking for manual review. We may quote a specialty surcharge or decline items that require rigging equipment we don't stock. This keeps you and the crew safe.
- Do you supply blankets, straps, and dollies?
- Yes. Every crew arrives with moving blankets, hand trucks, appliance dollies, shrink wrap, and tie-down straps included in the hourly rate. Boxes and packing paper are quoted separately at cost.
- Will you reassemble furniture?
- Yes. Standard reassembly — beds, tables, cribs, basic shelving — is included in the hourly rate. Complex flat-pack pieces are billed hourly and should be flagged at booking.
- What won't you move?
- We don't move hazardous materials (paint, propane, ammunition, cleaning chemicals), live plants in some scenarios, pets, or anything requiring HVAC/plumbing disconnection. We also don't defrost refrigerators or freezers on-site — those need 24 hours to dry down.
- Do you protect floors and walls?
- Yes. Crews lay runners in hallways, wrap door frames when needed, and take before-and-after photos of the space. If damage happens, our claims process is fast and documented.
Insurance and safety
- Are you insured?
- Yes. River Bend Moving Labor carries commercial general liability and workers' compensation insurance. A certificate of insurance (COI) is available for buildings that require one — request it at booking.
- Are your movers employees or contractors?
- Every crew member is a W-2 employee. Not a day-laborer, not a 1099 contractor. That means workers' comp coverage, real training, and accountability — for you and for them.
- How do damage claims work?
- Every job is documented with before-and-after photos. If something goes wrong, file a claim in your account or by email within 7 days. Most claims are resolved in under 14 days. See our claims policy for details.
- Do you background-check your crews?
- Yes. Every crew member passes a background check before dispatching to a customer job. Drug screens are added when a client or building requires it.
Ready when you are
Get a transparent estimate in a few minutes.
You provide the truck. We provide the crew.