The honest answer: it depends on the job. But here’s a plain English breakdown of what drives the price, so you know what to expect before you call.
What drives the price
Distance. Local jobs around Watford and the M25 belt are the cheapest. Longer runs add cost, whether by the mile or by the day.
Load size and weight. A pallet of bricks is a quick lift. A 3-tonne container or a large hot tub takes more time, more rigging and more crane capacity.
Lift complexity. Lifting over a wall is routine. Lifting over a house, into a tight courtyard, or onto a scaffold takes longer and needs more planning.
Access. Restricted-access sites take more time to plan and more care to work in. Narrow lanes, soft ground and tight yards all add to the job.
Timing. Same-day jobs and out-of-hours jobs cost more. Booked-ahead jobs during normal working hours cost less.
Waiting time. If the load isn’t ready when we arrive, or the site isn’t accessible, waiting time can add to the cost. We’ll always tell you upfront.
What’s included in our quote
Every quote from Watford Haulage is fixed and covers:
- The vehicle and driver
- The Hiab crane and all rigging (slings, chains, brick clamps, pallet forks)
- Loading at pickup
- Transport to destination
- Unloading and placement at drop-off
- Goods-in-transit, public liability and motor insurance
There’s no separate charge for forklift hire, crane hire, or a second vehicle. One booking covers the whole job.
What’s not included
- Waiting time if the load isn’t ready when we arrive
- Tolls and congestion charges on some routes (usually included, but told upfront if not)
- Specialist rigging — some jobs need extra kit or a second operator, told upfront if so
- Clean-up — we don’t remove packaging, pallets or debris unless agreed
Rough guide to pricing
Every job is different, but as a rough sense of scale:
- Local delivery, simple lift (Watford and 15 miles, single pallet, kerbside or driveway placement) — from a modest rate
- Local delivery, complex lift (over a fence, soft ground, restricted access) — more, depending on the difficulty
- Regional delivery (30–150 miles) — day rate or fixed quote
- National delivery (150+ miles) — day rate or fixed quote, often overnight for single drops
We don’t publish a rate card, because no two jobs are the same. Send us the details and we’ll come back with a fixed price — usually within the hour during working hours.
Why fixed quotes matter
Many haulage companies quote hourly. That means the price can creep up if the job takes longer than expected. We don’t work that way. Once we’ve quoted, that’s the price — even if the job takes longer than we thought.
The only time a quote changes is if the job details change: if the load is heavier than described, if access is worse than described, or if extra work is added mid-job. We’ll always tell you before we do anything that changes the price.
How to get an accurate quote
Send us:
- Pickup address and postcode
- Drop-off address and postcode
- What’s being moved — type, dimensions, weight if known
- Any access notes — fences to lift over, soft ground, narrow lanes, tight yards, time windows
- When you need it done
We’ll come back with a fixed price and any caveats, usually within the hour during working hours.
Get a quote
Call 07932 870006 or send the details through our quote form. Plain English, no surprises.
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