Amazing 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 expense to what is already a pricey procedure.
And that's how some movers suddenly find 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 frightening, but it's not difficult. 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 challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of crucial things you ought to do to prepare:
Research study your rental business alternatives, with particular attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to aid with backing up and blind area sensing units that make it safer to alter lanes. If these functions are important to you, they might deserve paying a little extra for.
Quote just how much truck area you'll need for all your things. The majority of truck rental companies provide standards to assist you figure out what size truck you need, and it is essential to rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not just more economical, they're much easier to drive.
Think about recruiting a buddy to join you on your moving journey. If it's another knowledgeable driver and your truck rental agreement allows it, you can take turns driving. Having a second individual 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 utilize GPS on the journey. It threatens to fumble with your device while driving any car, not to mention a fully-loaded moving truck.
If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it may be rewarding to lease a truck for a day just to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often affordable.
Budget plan for gas. In basic, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer trips could end up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
When your journey has begun, there are a couple of extra security suggestions to observe:
Attempt the truck out initially. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles prior to packing. This is a great way to ensure the truck is running efficiently which there are no mechanical problems. Take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one if you discover an issue.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies frequently rent these accessories.
Focus on anchor all road signs that apply to trucks, which you've probably learned to ignore. This includes different speed limitations, lane constraints and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop securely. Constantly provide yourself extra time and distance to stop the truck.
Avoid moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator carefully.
Examine your side-view mirrors frequently, 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 one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has compiled a comprehensive 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 road without any shoulder for emergency situation stops. You'll also need to prepare for high hills and winding turns. Drive as gradually as needed to ensure your safety.
Avoid supporting. Attempt to avoid situations where you'll require to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for circumstances, look for 2 Homepage surrounding empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance coverage from the truck company. Without it, even slight damage to the truck can be pricey.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely anxious about the idea of driving a 16-foot moving truck, think about the other cost-saving options to full-service movers.
There here 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 variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a few days. In order to use these services, you'll require a location to drop your containers at both your starting address and your location, so they can be challenging for house dwellers 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 choice, you'll probably 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 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 stroll away with a fantastic sense of accomplishment and a little additional cash in your pocket.