Moving trucks become “mobile sources of infestation”
During the US autumn moving season, multiple consumers complained to consumer protection groups: bed bugs were found in the wooden rail gaps of moving trucks rented from truck rental companies, causing infestations to break out after furniture arrived at new homes. Some cases were traced further to moving companies’ reused anti-collision blankets — never hot-washed between jobs, the blankets became the bugs’ “free ride.”
Industry upgrades SOPs: heat disinfection becomes standard
Facing complaints and potential litigation, large truck rental and moving companies have urgently updated their hygiene protocols: cargo areas must be steam-treated on wooden structures before each rental, anti-collision blankets switched to “one use, one hot wash/dry,” and quarantine zones set up in warehouses for suspected contaminated packing materials. Some companies have even added pest disclaimers and reporting clauses to contracts.
Anti–bed bug checklist before and after moving
- When picking up the truck, check cargo corners and wooden slat gaps for signs of bugs;
- Prefer disposable packing materials over reused blankets and boxes;
- Before settling into the new home, treat mattress seams and furniture joints with How to handle bed bugs yourself first.