Interesting as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, you really need to move your things from one house to another. You can constantly hire professionals to do this, but that can include a substantial expense to what is already an expensive process.
And that's how some movers suddenly find themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's several feet longer and a number of thousand pounds heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be frightening, however it's not difficult. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a large, heavy car, any skilled chauffeur can transfer their own valuables without excessive tension. And the cost savings from doing so can be substantial.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're all set for the obstacle of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of crucial things you need to do to prepare:
Research study your rental company options, with particular attention to the features of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to help with backing up and blind spot sensors that make it safer to change lanes. If these features are essential to you, they may be worth paying a little additional for.
Price quote just how much truck area you'll require for all your things. The majority of truck rental business use standards to assist you determine what size truck you require, and it is very important to lease the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not only less expensive, they're easier to drive.
Consider 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. If you require somebody to direct you in backing up the truck, having a 2nd person can also come in handy.
Buy a GPS install. Purchase a quality phone or GPS mount 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 car, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. It might be worthwhile to lease a truck for a day simply to practice if this is your very first time driving a moving truck. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often inexpensive. Practice can help you with things like getting and turning utilized to the size of the car, but keep in mind that your truck will manage in a different way when it's packed with all your things.
Budget for gas. In basic, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer trips might 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 security ideas to observe:
Attempt the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles before loading. This is a great way to ensure the truck is running smoothly which there are no mechanical problems. Take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one if you find an issue.
Secure your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies often lease these accessories.
Pay attention to all roadway signs that apply to trucks, which you have actually probably found out to neglect. This includes different speed limits, lane constraints 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.
Inspect your side-view mirrors often, due to the fact that there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it concerns stopping at weigh stations. These laws differ from one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has actually compiled a thorough list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Use care in mountains. If you'll be driving a other moving truck through mountains, bear in mind that there will be stretches of road without any shoulder for emergency stops. You'll likewise need to get ready for steep hills and winding turns. Drive as gradually as required to guarantee your safety.
Prevent backing up. Attempt to avoid circumstances where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for instance, search for 2 nearby empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance from the truck company. Without it, even minor damage to the truck can be expensive.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely anxious about the concept of driving a 16-foot moving truck, consider the other cost-saving options to full-service movers.
There are several 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 a number of other rivals offer a range 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 difficult for apartment residents in thick metropolitan locations.
If this is a problem, some of these business will allow you to bring your products 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 rent and drive a truck, and you'll require to move everything twice on each end of the journey instead of just as soon as. You'll spare yourself the worry 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 great sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.