Exciting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere therein, you actually have to move your things from one house to another. You can always work with professionals to do this, however that can add a significant cost to what is already a pricey procedure.
And that's how some movers suddenly discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's numerous feet longer and numerous thousand pounds heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be intimidating, but it's possible. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a big, heavy lorry, any skilled motorist can carry their own valuables without excessive stress. And the savings from doing so can be substantial.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're ready for the difficulty of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of important things you ought to do to prepare:
Research study your rental business options, with particular attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to assist with backing up and blind area sensing units that make it safer to alter lanes. If these functions are necessary to you, they may deserve paying a little extra for.
Quote just how much truck area you'll require for all your things. Many truck rental business provide standards to help you determine what size truck you require, and it's crucial to rent the tiniest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just cheaper, they're simpler to drive.
Consider hiring a good friend to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another knowledgeable driver and your truck rental contract enables it. Having a second person can also be available in convenient if you need someone to direct you in backing up the truck.
Buy a GPS mount. Buy a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck if you plan to use GPS on the journey. It threatens to fumble with your gadget while driving any vehicle, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. It might be worthwhile to rent a truck for a day just to practice if this is your very first time driving a moving truck. For in-town relocations, truck leasings are typically low-cost. Practice can assist you with things like getting and turning utilized to the size of the lorry, however keep in mind that your truck will handle differently when it's packed with all your things.
Budget plan for gas. In general, moving trucks get poor gas mileage, and longer trips could end up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
Once your journey has actually begun, there are a few additional safety suggestions to observe:
Try the truck out first. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles before packing. This is a internet great way to ensure the truck is running smoothly and that there are no mechanical problems. If you find a concern, take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies frequently rent these accessories.
Take note of all road signs that apply to trucks, which you've most likely found out to overlook. This consists of different speed limits, lane limitations and overhead clearance limits.
Stop safely. Always give yourself additional time and range to see it here stop the truck.
Prevent moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and using the brakes and accelerator gently.
Check your side-view mirrors often, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
When it comes to stopping at weigh stations, follow the law. These laws differ from one state to another, however ABF U-Pack has actually put together an extensive list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Use caution in mountains. If you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains, keep in mind that there will be stretches of roadway without any shoulder for emergency situation stops. You'll also require to get ready for high hills and winding turns. Drive as slowly as necessary to ensure your security.
Avoid backing up. Attempt to prevent circumstances where you'll need to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for circumstances, search for two adjacent empty areas so that you can drive directly through.
Buy the rental insurance from the truck business. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're truly worried about the concept of driving a 16-foot moving truck, consider the other cost-saving options to full-service movers.
There are several moving business that will do the driving as long as you do the loading and discharging. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and a number of other competitors use a variety of shipping container types that you can fill over the course of a couple of days. In order to utilize these services, you'll need a location to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your destination, so they can be tricky for home occupants in dense urban locations.
If this is a problem, 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 journey instead of simply when. You'll his comment is here spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a long range.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everyone, however if you observe these best practices, you'll leave with a terrific sense of accomplishment and a little additional cash in your pocket.