Exciting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, you in fact have to move your things from one house to another. You can always employ specialists to do this, but that can include a considerable expense to what is already a costly procedure.
And that's how some movers suddenly find themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's a number of feet longer and several thousand pounds heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be intimidating, however it's possible. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a big, heavy vehicle, any skilled driver can transfer their own valuables without too much stress. And the savings from doing so can be considerable.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're ready for the challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of crucial things you ought to do to prepare:
Research your rental business alternatives, with particular attention to the features of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to help with supporting and blind spot sensors that make it more secure to change lanes. They might be worth paying a little additional for if these features are important to you.
Quote just how much truck area you'll need for all your things. A lot of truck rental business use guidelines to help you find out what size truck you need, and it is very important to lease the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not only less costly, they're easier to drive.
Consider hiring a good friend to join you on your moving journey. If it's another experienced motorist and your truck rental agreement allows it, you can take turns driving. If you require somebody to direct you in backing up the truck, having a 2nd individual can also come in useful.
Purchase a GPS mount. Purchase a quality phone or GPS install that you can set up in the truck if you prepare to utilize GPS on the trip. It threatens to fumble with your gadget while driving any lorry, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it might be worthwhile to lease a truck for a day just to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often economical.
Spending plan for gas. In basic, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer journeys might wind up costing you a number of hundred dollars in gas.
Security When Driving a Moving Truck
When your journey has actually started, there are a couple of extra security pointers to observe:
Attempt the truck out initially. Drive your moving truck around town for numerous miles prior to packing. This is a great way to make certain the truck is running efficiently which there are no mechanical issues. Take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one if you discover a problem.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies often rent these accessories.
Take note of all road signs that apply to trucks, which you have actually most likely found out to neglect. This consists of different speed limitations, lane limitations and overhead clearance limits.
Stop safely. Always give yourself extra time and distance to stop directory the truck.
Prevent moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator gently.
Check your side-view mirrors often, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it comes to stopping at weigh stations. These laws vary from one state to another, however ABF U-Pack has actually assembled a detailed list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
If you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains, keep in mind that there will be stretches of roadway with no shoulder for emergency stops. Drive as slowly as necessary to guarantee your security.
Avoid backing up. Attempt to prevent circumstances where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for circumstances, search for two adjacent empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Buy the rental insurance coverage from the truck business. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely anxious about the idea of driving a 16-foot moving truck, consider the other cost-saving see here options to full-service movers.
There are numerous moving business that will do the driving as long as you do the loading and unloading. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and numerous other rivals offer a range of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a few days. In order to use these services, learn this here now you'll require a place to drop your containers at both your starting address and your location, so they can be challenging for apartment occupants in thick urban locations.
If this is an issue, some of these business will enable you to bring your items to a regional shipping depot and load them onto a truck or into shipping containers there. With this option, you'll most likely still require to rent and drive a truck, and you'll require to move everything two times on each end of the trip instead of simply when. You'll spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a long distance.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, however if you observe these best practices, you'll leave with a fantastic sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.