Interesting as it is, moving is a pain. 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 work with professionals to do this, but that can add a significant cost to what is currently a costly process.
And that's how some movers suddenly find themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's several feet longer and several thousand pounds heavier than anything they've ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be daunting, but it's possible. 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 savings from doing so can be considerable.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're prepared for the difficulty of driving a moving truck, there are a few essential things you ought to do to prepare:
Research 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 area sensing units that make it more secure to alter lanes. They might be worth paying a little additional for if these functions are crucial to you.
Price quote just how much truck area you'll need for all your things. Many truck rental companies provide guidelines to help you figure out what size truck you need, and it is necessary to rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just less pricey, they're much easier to drive.
Think about hiring a pal to join you on your moving journey. If it's another skilled chauffeur and your truck rental agreement enables it, you can take turns driving. If you require someone to direct you in backing up the truck, having a second individual can likewise come in helpful.
Buy a GPS mount. Buy a quality phone or GPS install that you can set up in the truck if you plan to use GPS on the trip. It threatens to fumble with your gadget while driving any lorry, not to mention a fully-loaded moving truck.
If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it may be worthwhile to rent a truck for a day simply to practice. For in-town relocations, truck rentals are often low-cost.
Budget plan for gas. In general, moving trucks get poor gas mileage, and longer journeys could end up costing you numerous hundred dollars in gas.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
As soon as your journey has actually begun, there are a few extra security tips to observe:
Attempt the truck out initially. Drive your moving truck around town for several miles prior to packing. This is a great way to ensure the truck is running smoothly which there are no mechanical issues. Take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one if you find a problem.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental companies typically rent these accessories.
Take notice of all road signs that use to trucks, which you've most likely discovered to disregard. This consists of different speed limits, lane constraints and overhead clearance limits.
Stop securely. Always give yourself additional time and distance to stop the truck.
Prevent shifting your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator gently.
Examine your side-view mirrors frequently, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
When it comes to stopping at weigh stations, follow the law. These laws vary from one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has actually put together a comprehensive 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 gradually as required to guarantee your safety.
Prevent backing up. Attempt to avoid scenarios where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, search for 2 nearby empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance from the truck business. Without it, even slight damage to the truck can be expensive.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Consider the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're genuinely nervous about the concept of driving a 16-foot moving truck.
There are several moving business 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 location to drop your containers get more info 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 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 drive a truck and lease, and you'll require to move everything two times 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, but if you observe these best practices, you'll win a great sense of accomplishment and a little money in your pocket.