Residents of greater Montreal who will call on professionals to move in the coming months will have to deal with a much higher bill than last year, as inflation continues to wreak havoc.
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Depending on the needs, it can cost between $110 and $180 per hour to have two or three movers and a truck.
This is explained by increases reaching 20%, indicate various companies consulted by The newspaper.
These prices are essentially due to the explosion in the prices of equipment and fuel, affected by the war in Ukraine.
“We pay 40% more for a fund of type before the pandemic,” cites Karolane Brault, co-owner of Brault Déménagement, as an example.
At Clan Panneton, we are currently trying to keep prices stable in order to ensure fairness between citizens who have paid before and after inflation.
“It is certain and certain that if the situation in terms of gasoline does not improve, we will be forced to change the pricing next January. [pour la prochaine saison] “, argues the co-owner Pierre-Olivier Cyr.
Difficult to hire
Moving companies must also increase their wages due to the persistent labor shortage and to meet the strong demand from customers.
“It becomes much more competitive. The rest of us, now, we offer meals to our employees to attract them and keep them. Sometimes, for an extra dollar an hour, they will go work elsewhere,” illustrates Karolane Brault.
“Salaries are our biggest expense,” adds Mario Bulimi, co-owner of Déménagement Laval et Rive-Nord. It’s not very pleasant work either, so it’s not easy to find people who will work for less than $22, $24 an hour. »
More evictions
During this time, the profile of customers is gradually changing.
In Greater Montreal, approximately 40% of calls to Clan Panneton come from citizens evicted from their homes.
This would be at least quadruple compared to previous years.
“There are a lot of people who call us to tell us: ‘Listen, I need a mover, the problem is that I don’t know where I’m going'”, says Pierre-Olivier. Cyr.
These conditions risk creating a big traffic jam in the storage units, since some citizens deposit goods there for an indefinite period, points out Mr. Cyr.
Its 100,000 square foot warehouse will be more than 120% full by June.
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The different offers
- $80/hour20ft truck with driver, protective equipment
- $110/hour20 foot truck, 2 movers
- $180/hour20 foot or 26 foot truck, 3 movers
- $275/hour40-foot truck, 6 movers
Sources: Déménagement Laval et Rive-Nord, Clan Panneton, Tandem Transport