Michelle Jump has been talking to a lot of frustrated college students.

The source of their chagrin: a shortage of moving trucks to haul their belongings from one apartment to another.

It seems that back in March, when many Kansas University students were caught up in March Madness or partying their way through spring break, others were booking moving trucks in anticipation of this week.

“We start getting calls for the 31st of July in March,” said Jump, a transportation clerk at Penske Truck Rental, 1120 E. 23rd St. and 2201 Kresge Road. “Pretty much until the sixth of August, we are booked solid. The majority of it is student traffic.”

Most student-housing leases come up the last week of July or the first week of August. The mass movement that follows has become an annual tradition in Lawrence during which the lawn and garden aisles at local retail stores give way to lava lamps, mini fridges and Yaffa Blocks, and apartment crews become inundated preparing units for new tenants.

A premium price

KU senior Jaymie Hoffman avoided the rush on moving trucks altogether by figuring out a way to avoid moving more than would fit in her car. She’ll be living at a friend’s apartment.

“I’m really lucky because I’m subleasing from him, so he’s leaving all his furniture,” she said.

For those in the less-fortunate position of desperately needing a moving truck, the price to get one this late in the game could blow a college student’s wallet.

Jump said Penske was bringing in trucks from as far away as Dallas and Springfield, Mo.

“We’re hauling a lot of trucks in from out-of-state, so prices are going sky high,” she said.

Last week, the price to book a truck hauled in from Dallas was $899, versus the $99 to $149 it would cost for a local truck booked in advance, Jump said.

Reservations are backed up at U-Haul Co. as well.

“This is by far the busiest time of year for us,” said Mike Roberts, general manager of the Lawrence store at 540 Kasold Drive.

Booming business

It’s also the most hectic time of year for Lawrence apartment complexes, which have a matter of days or weeks to transition between outgoing and incoming tenants.

Hoffman, who’s also a leasing consultant at Colony Woods Apartments, 1301 W. 24th St., said the complex, like most others in town, had to hire extra help and put in extra hours during the rush.

“It’s pretty stressful because we work for a week from pretty much 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” she said.

A few 12-hour days are worth the payoff. All 372 units at the complex are spoken for. In fact, Hoffman said the complex had to turn people away this year.

Local retailers are benefiting from the influx of students as well. It seems there’s always some essential item missing from a new apartment or dorm room.

Kent Johnson, logistics executive at SuperTarget, 3201 Iowa, said the store started preparing for the back-to-college rush about two months ago. Now the aisles are bustling with students.

“We will have Christmas-like sales the second and third weeks of August,” Johnson said. “Then, after school starts, it drops directly right back off.”

More than 25,000 students enroll at KU’s main campus each year. The vast majority lives in Lawrence. About 5,000 live in campus housing and will be part of a second rush of students settling into Lawrence later this month.

Jayhawker Towers open on Aug. 16, and students begin moving into residence halls Aug. 18.