I’m not new to moving. I’ve done it in heat waves, in snowstorms, in cabs and in college, with an electric scooter (don’t ask). But when I decided to make the move from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn—a deceptively far, multi-bridge journey—I knew I’d need professionals. Enter: Roadway Moving, NYC’s top-rated white glove mover, and the reason why I’m now wondering why I ever did it any other way.
Moving Is the Worst—But This Service Made Things (Dare I Say It?) Stress-Free
Trust: moving from borough to borough is no easy feat
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Published Jun 10, 2025
Original Image by Sydney Meister
Before the Move
First, I filled out a quick quote request with my move date, addresses, building access details and a rough inventory of furniture—bed, dresser, sofa, dining table, you name it. It took less than ten minutes to submit, and within the hour, a real person followed up via phone and email (not a bot!) to walk me through next steps.
Once I confirmed the move, they emailed me a transparent pricing breakdown based on travel time, item volume, the number of movers needed (I had a team of four), and the inclusion of packing services. Roadway uses a flat-rate model, so I knew exactly what I was paying ($2,100), with no surprise add-ons later. And while I didn’t opt for full-service packing, they still came equipped with wardrobe boxes, packing tape, moving blankets and bubble wrap—especially helpful for loose items I hadn’t gotten around to boxing (more on that below).
The real standout? They handle all the building paperwork, including Certificates of Insurance, directly with your management company—something most movers leave you scrambling to do yourself. I was given a two-hour arrival window, and when I asked for a more specific time due to my building's elevator policy, they accommodated it without issue. Already, the lead-up felt different from past moves: zero back-and-forth.
They Arrived at 9 A.M. Sharp
My move was scheduled for 9 a.m. sharp on a Monday—which, in New York terms, is basically rush hour for elevators, street parking and your sanity. But at exactly 8:08 a.m., I got a cheerful text from Roadway: “It’s moving day and your movers are on their way.” I could even track their exact route via GPS as the truck made its way to the Upper West Side.
By 9 a.m. on the dot, they were at my door: uniformed, upbeat and armed with more packing materials than an Amazon warehouse. Every Roadway mover is employed directly by the company—not a freelance worker or third-party team—so the service felt consistent and professional from the jump. They’d already scoped the elevator, reviewed my inventory list, and got straight to work. I had a ton of loose items—books, sweaters wrapped around vases, hangers tangled in tote bags—but instead of flinching, they pulled out wardrobe boxes, shrink wrap and bubble wrap, tucking everything away with surgical precision.
The walk-through took minutes. One guy shrink-wrapped my dresser drawers shut. Another labeled boxes I hadn’t finished packing—and told me to sit back while he bubble wraps . They even labeled the overflow boxes I hadn’t touched, grouping them by room without me having to say a word. Basically, what could’ve turned into a last-minute scramble ended up looking like a Marie Kondo-approved cube system. By 11 a.m., the apartment was cleared—no rushing, no barking orders, no broken glass.
Plus, as an added touch, Krystal from Roadway’s team checked in mid-move and again the next day to make sure everything had gone smoothly. The whole thing felt more like a concierge service than a moving company.
White Glove Means White Glove
Here’s what I’ve learned from moving in New York: “full service” is usually code for “we’ll carry the couch, but you’re on your own with the lamp, the dog crate and the two dozen random tote bags.” Not with Roadway. These guys don’t just move your stuff—they protect it like it’s going into a museum.
Before anything left the apartment, they taped padded bumpers onto the doorframes (like professional art handlers do). They rolled out blue foam runners across the hardwood floors and vacuumed both apartments—my old place and the new one—every 20 minutes. They were also shockingly good at space planning. I watched one of the movers pause mid-haul to ask: “Which direction do you want the bed to face?” Ten minutes later, we were in a full design consultation about rug placement, dresser angles and whether or not to center the mirror. And the best part was that I didn’t feel like a burden—they seemed like they genuinely wanted to get it right.
This is their specialty services tier—Roadway handles high-value moves like fine art, pianos and antiques—and while I wasn’t moving a Picasso, they made my IKEA mirror feel just as important. In fact, I’ve had movers break plates and ghost me mid-elevator ride. These guys were so thoughtful and thorough, I would’ve trusted them to stage an apartment for Architectural Digest.
The Move Took 6 Hours—But Never Felt Rushed
Let me be clear: This was not a small move. We went from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn, with a team of four, several pieces of large furniture, and dozens of boxes—including a few that were packed (admittedly) on the fly. But by 3 p.m., we were fully out of the old apartment, fully into the new one, and already arranging throw pillows on the couch.
The speed was impressive, yes—but what really stuck with me was the pacing. Nothing felt frantic. No one cut corners. They lifted, wrapped, vacuumed repositioned the bed twice, helped us move a rug three inches to the left, and somehow made the day feel…unhurried. To that end, Roadway’s model is premium for a reason: They invest in full-time staff, newer trucks, and consistent training—so nothing about this move felt like it was left to chance.
They Knew Where Everything Was
A day after the move, my roommate had a brief panic spiral: “Where’s my stuff?” Cue flashbacks to every move where boxes go missing or unlabeled bins get buried behind six others. But not only did Roadway respond to her question (via text) within seconds, but they were also able to tell her which box it was, which room, and where it was stacked in the truck—down to the order it was unloaded. It sounds simple, but when you’ve been running on adrenaline and coffee since 6 a.m., that kind of certainty is a godsend.
The Bottom Line
At one point during the day, as I watched one of the movers gently pivot a dresser through a narrow hallway (without so much as a scuff on the wall), I realized I wasn’t stressed. No pretending not to be stressed or micro-managing to deal with the fact that my life was packed up into boxes. And that’s the highest compliment I can give a moving company. Between the padded bumpers, the check-in texts, the vacuum breaks and the impromptu design chat, Roadway made what is usually a soul-draining experience feel manageable. Maybe even—dare I say it—easy. (Even my neighbor—who’s never smiled at me once—peeked out and said, “Wow, these guys are impressive.” I gave him their card.)
