Moving guides & field notes

About these moving guides

These guides are written for anyone who has to move a heavy, valuable machine and wants to get it right: vending operators relocating a route, collectors moving a vintage jukebox or pinball machine, casino and bar owners shipping slot machines, and businesses moving ATMs and kiosks. Each article covers a specific situation. Together they describe the same process we use on every move.

Every guide is practical rather than promotional. They explain why machines travel upright, how to measure a route, what to empty and unplug before pickup, how machines are wrapped for local moves versus freight, and what to check when the machine arrives. If you only read one, start with the relocation guide and then the article closest to your machine type.

The process every guide comes back to

1. Plan the route. Measure the machine and every door, hallway, stairway and elevator at both ends, and check parking and dock access.
2. Prepare the machine. Empty product, coins and cash, unplug it at least 24 hours ahead, drain any water, and secure doors, glass and loose parts.
3. Protect it. Blanket wrap and padding for local moves, pallet and shrink wrap for freight, and crating for fragile or international shipments.
4. Move it upright. Use an appliance dolly or stair-climber, a liftgate where there is no dock, and individual straps inside the truck.
5. Deliver and place it. Bring it inside, set and level it, remove packing material and let it settle before powering on.

Guides by topic

Vending machine moves. Start with the vending machine relocation guide for the full process, then read mistakes to avoid when moving a vending machine and what a great vending machine move looks like. Operators deciding whether to move a machine at all can read when to relocate a vending machine. For the basics, see how to transport a vending machine safely and how heavy is a vending machine.

Buying and shipping machines. If you bought a machine in another state, shipping a used vending machine out of state explains how pickup from a seller works. For receiving new equipment, see white-glove vending machine delivery. Buying a smart cooler? Read AI vending machines: who sells them, and who ships and installs them.

Slot machines and gaming equipment. How to move a slot machine safely covers preparation, and casino and gaming equipment moving covers larger jobs. For a long-distance example, read shipping a slot machine from Arizona to New York.

Jukeboxes and pinball machines. Collectors should read moving a Wurlitzer jukebox and jukebox and pinball machine moving, and how fuel rates affect pinball shipping costs for pricing.

Choosing a mover. How to choose the best vending machine mover lists the questions to ask and what a quote should include.

Industry and operator topics. For a lighter look at where the industry is heading, read could a robot move your vending machine? and vending machines, passive income and robotic machines.

What each guide covers

A short summary of every article, so you can go straight to the one that matches your move.

• How heavy is a vending machine? Weights by type. Typical approximate weight ranges for snack, soda, combo, glass-front, coffee and frozen machines, and how weight affects the liftgate, stairs and crew size.
• How to transport a vending machine safely. Keeping the machine upright, emptying and securing it, pad wrapping, liftgate and pallet loading, dolly and stair tips, and when to hire movers.
• AI vending machines: who sells them, and who ships and installs them. What makes a vending machine or smart cooler "AI", some of the companies selling them, and how these heavy, sensor-packed machines are delivered and set in place.
• Best vending machine movers in Richmond, VA. What to look for in a Richmond mover, the questions to ask, what affects the cost and how to prep your machine.
• Vending machine relocation guide. The complete process for relocating a vending machine, from measuring the route and preparing the machine to loading, transport and placement. Start here if you have never moved a machine before.
• Mistakes to avoid when moving a vending machine. The errors that most often cause damage or delays, such as laying a refrigerated machine down, skipping measurements or leaving product inside, and how to prevent each one.
• Who moves vending machines in Virginia. Your options for moving a machine in Virginia, from Richmond and Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, plus the questions to ask any mover before you book.
• How to move a vending machine, step by step. Ten practical steps from measuring the route to restocking at the new spot, with a free printable guide: download the step-by-step PDF checklist.
• What a great vending machine move looks like. A walk through a well-run move from the first call to delivery, so you know what to expect from a mover and what to ask for.
• When to relocate a vending machine. For operators deciding whether a machine should move to a new site, with the signs that a location is no longer working and what to plan before moving it.
• Shipping a used vending machine out of state. How pickup from a private seller or another operator works when you buy a machine in a different state, including what to confirm with the seller before the truck arrives.
• White-glove vending machine delivery. How new or refurbished machines are received, brought inside and placed, and why inside delivery matters when a site has no loading dock.
• How to move a slot machine safely. Preparing, wrapping and transporting a slot machine without damaging the cabinet, glass or electronics, plus the paperwork questions owners should check first.
• Casino and gaming equipment moving. Larger jobs involving several slot machines or other gaming equipment, with a planning checklist for multi-machine moves.
• Shipping a slot machine from Arizona to New York. A cross-country example showing how a long-distance slot machine move is planned, protected and delivered.
• Moving a Wurlitzer jukebox. How collectors can protect a vintage jukebox's cabinet, glass and mechanism during a move.
• Jukebox and pinball machine moving. Handling notes for jukeboxes and pinball machines, including removing pinball legs and protecting playfields and backglasses.
• How fuel rates affect pinball shipping costs. Why the cost of shipping a pinball machine changes with fuel prices and distance, and how flexible dates can help.
• How to choose the best vending machine mover. The questions to ask any mover and what a complete quote should include before you book.
• Could a robot move your vending machine?. A lighter look at automation in moving and why heavy machine moves still depend on trained crews.
• Vending machines, passive income and robotic machines. An operator-focused look at the vending business, newer machine types and what they mean when it is time to move equipment.

Moving terms used in these guides

The guides use a few freight and moving terms that are worth knowing before you request a quote, because they change what is included and what the move costs.

• Liftgate. A powered platform on the back of a truck that lowers a machine from truck-bed height to the ground. It is needed wherever there is no loading dock at pickup or delivery.
• Loading dock. A raised platform at truck-bed height. With a dock, a machine can roll straight onto or off the truck without a liftgate.
• Inside delivery. The crew brings the machine through the building to the spot you choose, rather than leaving it at the curb or the dock door.
• Blanket wrap. Moving pads and stretch wrap around the machine. It is the usual protection for local moves and for machines that stay on one truck the whole way.
• Pallet and shrink wrap. The machine is strapped to a pallet and wrapped so it can be handled with a forklift, which is common for freight moves that change trucks or pass through a terminal.
• Crating. A custom wooden crate built around the machine. It is used for fragile vintage equipment, ocean or air freight, and moves where the machine will be handled several times.
• Dedicated truck. A truck that carries only your machines, directly from pickup to delivery. It is faster and more predictable, and usually costs more.
• Shared lane. Your machine rides with other freight on a route that is already running. It usually costs less but needs flexible pickup and delivery dates.
• Settling time. The rest period a refrigerated machine needs after transport, so its oil can drain back to the compressor before it is plugged in.

How to use these guides

If you have a move coming up, start with the guide closest to your machine and situation, then use the checklist in it to prepare. Measure the machine and the path at both ends, empty and unplug it, secure doors and glass, and note any stairs, elevators or dock limits. When you request a quote, share those details and some photos. The more we know about access, the more accurate the quote and the smoother moving day will be.

If your situation is not covered, such as an unusual machine, a tight building or an international shipment, call 866-216-7742. We would rather talk it through before moving day than find a problem at the door.

What a professional move includes

When we quote a move, it covers a trained crew, padding or pallet wrap, liftgate service, upright transport and inside delivery to the spot you choose. Stair carries, crating, storage between locations, multi-machine route moves and international shipping are added when the job needs them. See the individual service pages for vending machines, slot machines, jukeboxes and pinball machines, or find your city in our service areas.

Machine moving questions

Can I move a vending machine myself?

It is possible with the right equipment and enough people, but machines are heavy, top-heavy and easy to damage. Most damage happens on stairs, at thresholds and when a machine is laid down. If there are stairs, narrow doors or a long distance, a professional move is usually safer.

Does a machine have to stay upright?

Yes, in almost every case. Refrigerated machines especially should travel upright and rest before they are plugged back in. Slot machines, jukeboxes and arcade cabinets also travel upright to protect glass, screens and mechanisms.

How far ahead should I book a move?

Give as much notice as you can, especially for long-distance moves, fixed delivery dates or multiple machines. Short-notice moves are sometimes possible. Call 866-216-7742 to check availability.

What is included in a standard machine move?

A trained crew, blanket or pallet wrap, liftgate service where there is no dock, upright transport and inside delivery to the spot you choose. Stair carries, crating, storage and multi-machine route moves are quoted when the job needs them.

What affects the price of moving a machine?

Distance, the machine's size and weight, access at both ends (stairs, elevators, dock or no dock), extra services such as liftgate, crating or storage, and how fixed your dates are. Flexible dates on a shared lane usually cost less than a dedicated truck.

Do you ship machines internationally?

Yes. Machines are crated for ocean or air freight, and we prepare the commercial paperwork customs requires. The owner provides proof of ownership and any import permits the destination country requires.