The term “pod people” might conjure up the image of a science-fiction thriller from the 1950s. But these days it might just as well refer to fans of the latest tool for moving and storage. In the past decade and a half, American homeowners and renters have patronized a wide selection of pod companies to take care of their goods, whether the clients need to move a long or short distance, or need a little extra and flexible storage space.

 

Instead of trying to drive a big truck or pull a trailer themselves, clients have the option of using a pod. All they have to do is load and unload their possessions at their leisure. After that, someone else handles the transport. In the case of storage, pods enable owners to pick up and move their stuff quickly and easily, without having to load it all up again at the warehouse.

 

Pod company storage facilities and warehouses feature temperature control and their own security measures. These facilities add an extra bit of flexibility for long-distance moves: if customers should encounter a hitch in closing a home sale, or some other holdup in the process, their belongings will remain safe and dry in one or more pods inside the leasing company’s warehouse for days, weeks, and even months.

 

Pod units sit on the ground level so customers find them much easier to load and load than a truck. Since the company drops the container off at the client’s home, he or she can take as long as necessary to pack the pod before it gets moved, although most people take an average of four days. Thus, you don’t have to pay for a truck to idle at each end of the move, or for other workers to do the loading and unloading.

 

Pods also lower the potential for damage to goods, because companies typically pick up the container on large mechanical arms as part of the transport truck. This process keeps the pod upright at all times, which lessens the likelihood that the contents will topple or get crushed.

 

A pod normally measures 8 feet in width by 8 feet in height. Companies can supply a variety of lengths, from 12 to 20 feet, depending on the customer’s needs. Some pod companies can also offer containers that measure even longer, if the client needs to store or move the contents of a corporate space or sizable home. College students love the convenience of pods for between-term storage or cross-country moves.

 

Clients may select pods made entirely of metal, a mix of wood and metal (marine-grade plywood backed with aluminum is a popular option), or fiberglass that includes a hardwood floor. All-steel construction may appeal for higher durability and security, and it may come with a 16-gauge steel roof, and extra protection for the door lock so it is resistant to bolt cutters.

 

PODS, which refers to itself as the leader in the industry, was established in 1998. Many other companies offer pod services, however. Some of the others are MyWay Mobile Storage, U-Box, Mobile Attic, Units Portable Storage, Mobile Mini, United Mayflower Containers, Door to Door Storage, Go Mini’s, and Pack Rat Portable Storage.

 

To learn more about storage pods, click here