Plano company warns summer heat can wreck cardboard moving boxes

Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies is urging Dallas-Fort Worth families to rethink cardboard for June and July moves as garage heat and humidity can weaken boxes before moving day. The Plano company is pitching reusable plastic crates as a sturdier option that can also speed up loading and cut moving costs. Why it matters: - North Texas summer heat can weaken cardboard moving boxes before a move even starts. - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies says reusable plastic crates can better protect belongings in high temperatures and humidity. - The switch can also save time for families hiring professional movers. What happened: - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies, a Plano-based reusable plastic moving crate rental company, warned Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners about cardboard failure in summer moves. - The company said garage and storage temperatures in North Texas regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in June and July. - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies said cardboard stored in those conditions absorbs heat and humidity, which can weaken box walls and bottoms. - John and Mollie Hancock founded Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies in 2015. - John Hancock said families often pack a week early, store boxes in garages and find the cardboard has gone soft by moving day. The details: - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies provides reusable plastic moving crates for local residential moves across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. - The crates are weather-resistant, stackable and designed for conditions that cardboard cannot withstand. - The plastic crates do not require tape, do not collapse under weight and do not soften when stored in warm conditions. - Multiple customers have reported that professional movers worked faster with uniform plastic crates than with mixed-size cardboard boxes. - Customers said the consistent crate size and secure stacking helped movers load trucks more efficiently. - Several customers reported saving one to two hours of mover time. - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies said that time savings can offset a meaningful share of the rental cost at prevailing Dallas-area mover rates. - Rental packages are priced by home size and include free delivery and pickup. - A two-week rental for a one-bedroom home starts at $140. - A three-bedroom package includes 75 crates and costs $235 for two weeks. - Packages are available for homes from one to five bedrooms. - Rental periods run two, three or four weeks. - Customers who need more time can contact the company to arrange an extended rental. - The company serves local residential and office moves in Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Garland, Irving and Carrollton. - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies does not provide long-distance or out-of-state moving services. - Since launch, the company says it has helped divert more than 300,000 cardboard boxes from North Texas landfills. - The company was named Best of Plano Small Business of the Year in 2024. - Localmovers.com certified the company as Best Moving Supplies in Plano. - The City of Plano issued the company Green Business Certification in March 2026. - Rental packages and online ordering are available at the company’s website . - Customers can also call 214-755-4675. Between the lines: - The pitch blends practicality and sustainability. - The company is framing plastic crates not just as a greener choice, but as a way to reduce moving-day damage and labor time. - The timing targets a seasonal pain point for DFW families, when heat makes cardboard more vulnerable. What’s next: - Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies is positioning itself for its busiest summer season. - Families planning June or July moves in DFW may increasingly consider crate rentals as an alternative to cardboard. - Longer rental timelines remain available through direct contact with the company. The bottom line: - In North Texas, summer heat can turn cardboard into a moving-day liability, and Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies is betting durable plastic crates will look like the safer, cheaper fix.