May Playbook: Moving Season Momentum
May is National Moving Month, military PCS season opens, and Memorial Day launches summer projects. This playbook captures the momentum that carries you through October.
Updated: Mar 2026
Best for
Operators running at full capacity who want to maximize revenue per truck and build summer pipeline
Primary goal
Book 30–45 jobs, implement surge pricing on weekends, and lock in moving-company partnerships
What you'll implement
Moving season marketing pivot from spring cleaning to relocation angles
Memorial Day promotional campaign with weekend surge pricing
Military PCS targeting near installations
Cross-referral partnerships with movers, agents, and storage facilities
Time commitment
10–15 hours/week for 4 weeks (heavily weighted toward execution and capacity management)
Executive Summary
May is officially National Moving Month, and the data backs it up. Approximately 15% of all annual U.S. moves occur in May, tying with August as the single highest-volume moving month. Over 60% of all moves happen between May and September, compressing roughly 11 million relocations into a five-month window.
Military PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves begin May 15 and run through August 31. The Department of Defense books approximately 200,000 household goods shipments each summer. Military families need pre-move decluttering to meet weight allowances and post-move disposal at new duty stations. Operators near military installations should actively pursue this segment.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and triggers outdoor projects, garage cleanouts, and pre-party cleanup. It's also a popular weekend for yard sales — which generate cleanup work afterward. Run a promotional campaign and implement weekend surge pricing.
College move-out hits in late May. Students leave behind furniture, appliances, and packing materials. Near-campus operators can partner with university facilities management for bulk disposal contracts or offer student-focused cleanout packages.
Home renovation spending remains robust — projected at $524 billion by early 2026. 48% of homeowners plan renovation projects, and May is when outdoor projects (decks, patios, landscaping) generate peak debris volume.
The Strategy
Pivot messaging from spring cleaning to moving season. Shift partnership focus from real estate agents to moving companies. Implement surge pricing on weekends and high-demand days. Every truck should be running every day at maximum capacity — if a truck sits idle in May, something is wrong with your marketing or scheduling.
The 3 Moves That Matter Most
Pivot all ad copy from 'spring cleaning' to 'moving season' — 'Moving this summer? We handle what you leave behind'
Establish cross-referral partnerships with 3–5 moving companies in your market
Implement weekend and Memorial Day surge pricing at 10–20% above standard rates
Target military families near bases with PCS-specific messaging and military discounts
Run Memorial Day promotional campaign: 'Memorial Day Weekend Special — Book Friday–Monday and Clear Space for Summer'
If you only do one thing
If you only do one thing in May, implement weekend surge pricing. Saturday and Sunday are your highest-demand days, and a 10–15% weekend surcharge on a 2-truck operation adds $2,000–$4,000 per month in pure margin without changing your volume.
Targets & KPIs
Hit these numbers and you'll have a profitable month.
Primary KPIs
Booked jobs
30–45 for the month
Revenue vs. average
110–130% of monthly baseline
Weekend/surge revenue
15%+ above weekday rates
Secondary KPIs
Moving company partnerships
3+ active cross-referrals
Jobs per truck per day
4–5+
Utilization rate
100% — no idle trucks on any workday
Tracking Cadence
May is a capacity management month, not a demand generation month. If you're not at full utilization, the problem is scheduling or routing, not marketing. Track jobs per truck per day as your primary operational metric and windshield time per route as your primary efficiency metric.
The Plan
Execute week by week. Each builds on the last.
Update all ad copy across Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and GBP from spring cleaning themes to moving season angles: 'Moving This Summer? We Clear Everything You Leave Behind'
OwnerContact 5 moving companies in your market to propose cross-referral partnerships: you refer overflow moves to them, they refer pre-move and post-move cleanouts to you
OwnerSend 'Moving Season Is Here' email to full customer list: 'Know anyone moving this summer? We handle the junk so they can focus on the move — refer a friend and get $25 off your next job'
Owner/Office ManagerReview April performance data and adjust May marketing spend: increase budget on top 2 channels, reduce on underperformers
OwnerIf near a military installation: register with the base family support center as a preferred vendor and post in military spouse Facebook groups
OwnerExpected Outcome
Moving season messaging live across all channels; 2–3 mover partnerships initiated; referral-focused email sent
KPI Focus
New leads from moving-related keywords and moving company partnership responses
If near a university: contact campus facilities management about bulk move-out waste disposal contracts — universities generate massive volume in a 2-week window
OwnerPost geo-targeted Facebook ads within 10 miles of campus: 'College Move-Out? We'll Haul Away Everything You Can't Take Home — $99 Student Special'
OwnerAudit routing efficiency: map all jobs from the past 2 weeks and identify clusters — are you spending more than 20 minutes between jobs? Tighten zones to reduce windshield time
OwnerFollow up with mover partnerships from week 1 — finalize referral terms and exchange marketing materials
OwnerPost 'Moving Tips' content on social media: '5 Things to Throw Away BEFORE the Movers Arrive' — educational content that positions you as the solution
OwnerExpected Outcome
College move-out pipeline activated if applicable; routing tightened to 4–5 jobs per truck per day; mover partnerships finalized
KPI Focus
Average windshield time between jobs (target under 20 minutes) and daily jobs per truck
Implement weekend surge pricing: 10–15% above standard rates for Saturday and Sunday bookings starting this week — update your item-select booking tiers and quote templates
OwnerBuild Memorial Day campaign: 'Memorial Day Weekend Special — Clear Space for Summer' — schedule email, social media posts, and GBP updates for Thursday delivery
OwnerPrint additional yard signs for Memorial Day weekend deployment — every completed job should have a sign in the yard for maximum neighborhood visibility
OwnerPre-schedule Memorial Day weekend routes for maximum efficiency — Friday through Monday should be planned by Wednesday
Owner/DispatcherSend personalized texts to your top 20 past customers: 'Memorial Day weekend coming up — if you've been thinking about a cleanout, this is a great time. Want me to reserve a spot?'
OwnerExpected Outcome
Surge pricing live on weekends; Memorial Day campaign pre-built; yard signs stocked for deployment
KPI Focus
Weekend booking rate at surge pricing (target: no decline in volume vs. standard pricing)
Launch Memorial Day campaign: email blast Wednesday, social media posts Thursday–Saturday, GBP updates daily through the weekend
Owner/Office ManagerDeploy all trucks Friday through Monday with maximum crew — Memorial Day weekend is the second-highest demand weekend of Q2 after July 4th
OwnerDeploy yard signs after every Memorial Day weekend job — neighborhoods are full of people doing outdoor projects who see your signs
CrewSend 'June Is Our Busiest Month' email by Thursday: 'June schedule is filling — book now to secure your preferred date'
Owner/Office ManagerBegin building June content with heat-season and renovation angles: 'Too Hot to Haul? Let Us Handle It' for southern markets; 'Renovation Season Is Here' for all markets
OwnerExpected Outcome
Memorial Day weekend fully booked; 5+ June jobs pre-booked; surge pricing validated
KPI Focus
Memorial Day weekend revenue vs. a standard weekend and June pre-bookings count
Channels & Tactics
Organized by speed. Start at the top and work down.
Fast Channels (This Week)
Free, low-effort, start today
Memorial Day Weekend Campaign
What to do
checkSend campaign by Wednesday before the weekend
checkOffer a time-limited incentive: 'Book Friday–Monday and we'll add free yard sign placement' or 'Memorial Day pricing — book before Tuesday'
checkDeploy on email, SMS, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and GBP simultaneously
What to say
Memorial Day weekend is here — and it's the perfect time to clear out the garage, yard, or basement before summer. Our crews are running all weekend with extended hours. Call [phone] or book online: [link]. Slots fill fast — book by Friday.
Running Memorial Day ads that are indistinguishable from every other service company's holiday marketing. Be specific to junk removal: 'Make room for the grill' or 'Clear the patio before the cookout' converts better than generic 'Memorial Day Sale' messaging.
Memorial Day weekend bookings (target: 20%+ increase over standard weekend) and campaign revenue
Military PCS Targeting (Near Installations)
What to do
checkPost in military spouse Facebook groups and base community pages
checkRegister with installation family support centers as a preferred vendor
checkOffer 10–15% military discount — it costs less than your standard customer acquisition and generates loyalty
What to say
PCS orders? We help military families declutter before the move and clean up after arrival. 15% military discount on all services. Fully insured. Same-day available. Thank you for your service. — [Business Name], [Phone]
Ignoring the military segment if you're more than 30 miles from a base. PCS moves are concentrated — if you're not near an installation, this channel has minimal volume. Only invest time here if you're within 20 miles of an active military base with family housing.
Military family bookings (target: 3–5 per month if near a base) and military discount redemptions
Reliable Channels (2–6 Weeks)
Build consistent lead flow
Google Ads — Moving Season Keywords
What to do
checkAdd moving-specific keywords: 'pre-move cleanout,' 'moving junk removal,' 'move-out cleanup [city]'
checkMaintain full peak-season budget — May search volume is higher than April
checkCreate a separate ad group for moving-related terms with dedicated copy
What to say
Moving This Summer? We'll Clear Out Everything You're Not Taking. Same-Day Service. Book Online or Call Now. Locally Owned, Fully Insured.
Running the same spring cleaning ad copy from March and April through May. The customer psychology shifts from 'I want to organize my home' to 'I need to clear out before I move.' Copy that doesn't match the intent underperforms — update your ads for moving season.
Leads from moving-related keywords (track separately) and cost per booked moving-related job
Moving Company Cross-Referral Partnerships
What to do
checkFinalize agreements with 3–5 local movers: you refer overflow moves, they refer pre-move and post-move cleanouts
checkExchange marketing materials — leave your cards at their office, they leave theirs at yours
checkSet up a simple tracking system: 'How did you hear about us?' captures referral source
What to say
We specialize in the junk removal side of moves — the stuff movers won't take. When your customers have old furniture, broken appliances, or garage junk they don't want at the new place, send them our way and we'll send overflow moving leads back to you.
Approaching movers as competitors instead of partners. You're not competing for the same job — movers transport belongings; you remove what's being left behind. Frame the partnership as complementary services that improve both companies' customer experience.
Referrals received from movers (target 3–5 per month) and referrals sent to movers (reciprocity matters)
Compounding Channels (Months)
Invest now, compound later
Storage Facility Partnerships
What to do
checkContact 3–5 storage facilities in your market about partnering for unit cleanout services
checkOffer to be their preferred vendor for abandoned unit cleanouts and tenant-requested disposal
checkLeave marketing materials at the facility office for customers who are downsizing
What to say
We partner with storage facilities to provide fast, reliable unit cleanouts. Whether it's an abandoned unit, a downsizing customer, or someone moving out of state — we handle same-day disposal with no hassle for your team. Can we set up a referral arrangement?
Expecting storage facility partnerships to generate volume immediately. These are slow-burn relationships — the facility manager needs to trust you before recommending you to tenants. Focus on delivering excellent work on the first 2–3 jobs and the referral volume will follow.
Storage facility partnerships activated (target 2–3) and jobs from storage referrals per month (target 2–4 by month 2)
Scripts & Templates
Copy, customize with your business name, and use immediately.
Moving Season Email to Past Customers
Subject: Moving This Summer? (Or Know Someone Who Is?) Hey [Name], Moving season is here — and whether you're relocating, downsizing, or just clearing out before summer, we've got you covered. Know someone who's moving? Refer them to us and you both get $25 off. We handle all the stuff movers won't take — old furniture, broken appliances, garage junk, yard debris. Call [phone] or book online: [link] — [Your Name], [Business Name]
Memorial Day Promotional SMS
Happy Memorial Day weekend! [Business Name] crews are running Friday–Monday with extended hours. Need to clear the garage before the cookout? Or tackle that yard cleanup? Book by Friday for weekend availability. Call [phone] or reply YES. — [Your Name]
Moving Company Partnership Pitch Email
Subject: Partnership Idea — Junk Removal + Moving Services Hi [Mover Name], I run [Business Name] — we specialize in pre-move cleanouts and post-move disposal in [City]. Your customers often have junk that needs to go before or after the move, and I'd like to set up a referral arrangement. How it works: you send us cleanout referrals, we send you overflow moving leads. We're fully insured, offer same-day scheduling, and our COI is ready to send. Would a 10-minute call this week work to set this up? — [Your Name], [Business Name], [Phone]
Budget & Allocation
Pick the tier that matches your current stage. All three work.
$0
Sweat Equity Only
Email/SMS moving season and Memorial Day campaigns to past customers (free)
Contact 5 moving companies for partnerships (free)
Post 3–4x per week on all social platforms with moving-themed content (free)
Register as a preferred vendor at military base and storage facilities (free)
Deploy yard signs after every job (free, using existing signs)
May demand is strong enough that partnership-driven and organic channels generate meaningful volume. If you have 3+ active referral partnerships and 100+ past customers, free channels can produce 20–25 jobs this month.
$1,000–$2,000
Smart Starter
Everything above
Google Ads at $25–$40/day with moving-season keywords ($750–$1,200)
Google LSA at $10–$15/day ($300–$450)
Facebook moving and Memorial Day ads at $10/day ($300)
College move-out geo-targeted ads if applicable ($100–$200)
May's high demand and strong conversion rates make this the most efficient spend tier. Your cost per booked job should be lower than April despite higher ad budgets — search volume is up and intent remains strong.
$3,000+
Growth Mode
Everything above
Google Ads at $60–$80/day ($1,800–$2,400)
Facebook/Instagram video ads showing truck-loading time-lapses ($500)
Nextdoor promoted posts in 5+ neighborhoods ($300)
Military community advertising if near base ($200)
Sponsor a Memorial Day community event ($200–$500)
Only if you're running multiple trucks and consistently scheduling 3+ days out. At $3,000+ monthly spend, you should be generating 40–60 leads and booking 25–35. If your booking rate is below 50%, invest in sales training before adding more marketing spend.
Mistakes to Avoid
Each of these costs you money or leads.
Marketing Mistakes
Continuing to run spring cleaning ad copy through May. Customer psychology shifts from 'organize my home' to 'clear out before the move' in May. Your ads need to match this intent — moving, Memorial Day, and summer angles convert better than spring cleaning messaging after April.
Not pursuing moving company partnerships. Every moving company customer is a potential junk removal customer. The pre-move declutter and post-move disposal opportunity is worth $200–$600 per transaction, and movers are happy to refer because it improves their customer experience. Missing this partnership channel in May is leaving money on the table.
Pricing Mistakes
Not implementing weekend surge pricing. Saturday is the highest-demand day in May. Customers expect to pay a premium for weekend service — moving costs jump 20–30% during peak season, and junk removal pricing should reflect similar dynamics. A 10–15% weekend surcharge is standard and generates $2,000–$4,000 per month in additional revenue for a 2-truck operation.
Discounting Memorial Day weekend to drive volume. Memorial Day demand is naturally high — promotional pricing on the busiest weekend of Q2 gives away margin you would have earned at full price. If anything, Memorial Day warrants a weekend surcharge. Save promotions for slow periods.
Ops Mistakes
Not hiring additional help when demand exceeds capacity. Every unfilled job in May is lost revenue that never comes back. If you're scheduling 3+ days out or turning away calls, hire immediately. A seasonal helper costs $15–$20 per hour; an unfilled job costs $300–$600. The math is clear.
Letting fleet utilization drop below 100%. Every truck should be on the road every workday in May. If a truck is sitting, diagnose the cause: scheduling gap? Routing inefficiency? Marketing underperformance? Repair downtime? Fix it immediately — an idle truck in May is the most expensive problem in your business.
What's Next
Where you go depends on your results so far.
Behind Target
If fewer than 20 jobs booked by May 15: your marketing isn't working — audit Google Ads (is budget capped? are keywords stale?) and add 2 new channels (Nextdoor, Thumbtack, or Yelp)
If no moving company partnerships are active: switch from email to in-person visits — show up at their office with a stack of referral cards and your insurance certificate
If weekend pricing hasn't been implemented: activate it this Friday — don't wait another week of weekend revenue at standard rates
If any truck is idle on any workday: investigate immediately — schedule maintenance for off-hours, not prime revenue hours
On Track
Execute Memorial Day campaign with full intensity — this is Q2's most important promotional weekend
Begin building June campaign content focused on peak-season, renovation debris, and summer themes
Identify your top 3 revenue days from May data — replicate the conditions (marketing, pricing, routing) that made them work
Start tracking cash reserves — July is the optimal month to hit your 3-month reserve target
Ahead of Target
Evaluate fleet expansion: if consistently turning away work, a second (or third) truck ordered now can be operational by July
Test premium pricing on same-day service requests — same-day premiums of 15–25% are standard in the industry and customers expect them
Expand into a new service area — May demand levels can support geographic expansion with 2–3 weeks of marketing lead time
Begin documenting SOPs for crew operations — scaling beyond owner-operated requires written processes
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
April Playbook
The busy season ignition — the foundation May's momentum builds on.
StrategyJune Playbook
Peak season arrives — everything May's volume prepares you for.
FeatureRoute Optimization
Maximize jobs per truck per day during high-volume months.
AcademyExpanding Service Area
When and how to grow your geographic coverage during peak demand.
May Demands Full Capacity — Run It on ScaleYourJunk
Dispatch, item-select booking, CRM, and route optimization built for junk removal — so every truck runs every day at maximum efficiency.
Starter plan: $149/mo