Exciting as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, 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 considerable cost to what is already a costly process.
And that's how some movers unexpectedly 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, however it's not difficult. With an understanding of what's various about driving such a big, heavy vehicle, any experienced driver can transport 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 prepared for the challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a few important things you should 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 spot sensing units that make it much safer to change 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 essential to lease the tiniest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just more economical, they're simpler to drive.
Consider recruiting a friend to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement enables it. Having a second individual can likewise be available in useful if you need someone to direct you in supporting the truck.
Buy a GPS mount. If you plan to use GPS on the journey, purchase a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck. It's harmful to fumble with your device while driving any vehicle, not to mention a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. It may be rewarding to lease a truck for a day just to practice if this is your first time driving a moving truck. For in-town relocations, truck leasings are frequently inexpensive. Practice can assist you with things like getting and turning utilized to the size of the vehicle, however remember that your truck will deal with differently when it's loaded with all your things.
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.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Safety
As soon as your journey has actually begun, there are a few extra security tips to observe:
Try the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for several miles prior to packing. This is a good method to make certain the truck is running smoothly which there are no mechanical issues. If you discover a concern, take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental business frequently rent these devices, also.
Focus on all road indications that apply to trucks, which you've 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.
Inspect your side-view mirrors typically, since there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it comes to stopping at weigh stations. These laws differ from state to state, however ABF U-Pack has assembled an extensive 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 slowly as essential to ensure your security.
Avoid supporting. Try to prevent situations where you'll require to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, look for two surrounding empty spots so that you can drive directly through.
Buy the rental insurance coverage from the truck company. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Think about the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're really nervous about the idea of driving a 16-foot moving truck.
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 use a variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a few days. In order to utilize these services, you'll require a place to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your location, so they can be tricky for apartment or condo dwellers in dense city areas.
If this is an issue, a few of these companies will enable you to bring your products to a local shipping depot and load them onto a truck or into shipping containers there. With this my company choice, you'll most likely still need to drive a truck and lease, and you'll need to move everything two times on each end of the trip instead of simply as soon as. You'll spare yourself the worry of a driving a box truck over a long range.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, but if you observe these best practices, you'll leave with a great sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.