Amazing as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and someplace therein, you actually have to move your things from one home to another. You can always employ experts to do this, however that can include a substantial cost to what is already an expensive process.
And that's how some movers suddenly discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's numerous feet longer and numerous thousand pounds much heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be frightening, but it's not impossible. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a large, heavy car, any experienced chauffeur can transfer their own possessions without too much stress. And the savings from doing so can be significant.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're ready for the challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a few important things you ought to do to prepare:
Research your rental business alternatives, with specific attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to aid with supporting and blind area sensing units that make it much safer to alter lanes. If these functions are crucial to you, they might deserve paying a little additional for.
Quote how much truck space you'll need for all your things. Most truck rental business use standards to assist you find out what size truck you need, and it is very important to rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not just less costly, they're much easier to drive.
Think about hiring a good friend to join you on your moving journey. If it's another knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement enables it, you can take turns driving. Having a 2nd person can also come in handy if you require somebody to direct you in supporting the truck.
Buy a GPS mount. Purchase a quality phone or GPS install that you can install in the truck if you plan to utilize GPS on the journey. It threatens to fumble with your device while driving any vehicle, not to mention 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 simply to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are typically economical.
Budget plan for gas. In general, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer journeys could wind up costing you a number of hundred dollars in gas.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
When your journey has started, there are a couple of additional safety pointers to observe:
Try the truck out first. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles before filling. This is an excellent way to make sure the truck is running efficiently and that there are no mechanical issues. If you find an issue, take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one.
Secure your whole load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental business frequently rent these devices, also.
Take note of all road indications that apply to trucks, which you have actually most likely learned to overlook. This includes different speed limits, lane restrictions and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop safely. Constantly provide yourself additional time and range to stop the truck.
Avoid moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and using the brakes and accelerator carefully.
Check your side-view mirrors typically, since there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
When it comes to stopping at weigh stations, follow the law. These laws differ from state to state, however ABF U-Pack has assembled a detailed list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Use care in mountains. Keep in mind that there will be stretches of road with no shoulder for emergency situation stops if you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains. You'll also require to prepare for high hills and winding turns. Drive as gradually as necessary to guarantee your safety.
Prevent backing up. Attempt to prevent circumstances where you'll require to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, search for 2 adjacent empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance coverage from the truck company. Without it, even minor damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely nervous about the concept of driving a 16-foot moving truck, consider the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers.
There are numerous moving companies that will do the driving as long as you do the loading and dumping. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and several other rivals offer a variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a few days. In order to utilize these services, you'll need a place to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your destination, so they can be challenging for apartment residents in thick urban locations.
If this is an issue, some of these business will permit 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 probably still require to drive a truck and rent, and you'll require to move everything twice on each end of the journey instead of just 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 see it here if you observe these best practices, you'll walk away with an excellent sense of accomplishment and a little money in your pocket.