Exciting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and someplace in there, you actually have to move your things from one house to another. You can constantly hire experts to do this, however that can add a significant expense to what is already a costly process.
Which's how some movers all of a sudden discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's numerous feet longer and several thousand pounds heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be frightening, but it's possible. With an understanding of what's various about driving such a big, heavy vehicle, any skilled chauffeur can carry their own belongings without too much stress. And the savings from doing so can be considerable.
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 important things you ought to do to prepare:
Research your rental company choices, with specific attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to assist with backing up and blind spot sensors that make it much safer to alter lanes. They may be worth paying a little extra for if these functions are crucial to you.
Price quote just how much truck area you'll need for all your things. Most truck rental companies provide guidelines to assist you find out what size truck you require, and it is necessary to lease the tiniest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not only less expensive, they're simpler to drive.
Think about hiring a pal to join you on your moving journey. If it's another knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement permits 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 helpful.
Purchase a GPS mount. If you plan to use GPS on the trip, buy a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck. It's dangerous to fumble with your device while driving any vehicle, let alone 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 simply to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are his explanation often inexpensive.
Budget for gas. In general, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer journeys could end up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Security
As soon as your journey has actually started, there are a few additional safety tips to observe:
Attempt the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles before loading. This is an excellent way to make certain the truck is running efficiently which there are no mechanical problems. Take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one if you discover a concern.
Secure your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies often lease these devices.
Focus on all road signs that use to trucks, which you have actually probably learned to ignore. This consists of separate speed limits, lane constraints and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop safely. Always offer yourself additional time and distance to stop the truck.
Prevent moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and using the brakes and accelerator gently.
Examine your side-view mirrors frequently, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving have a peek here trucks.
Follow the law when it comes to stopping at weigh stations. These laws differ from one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has assembled a detailed 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 road with no shoulder for emergency situation stops. Drive as slowly as necessary to guarantee your safety.
Prevent supporting. Try to prevent circumstances where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for instance, try to find two adjacent empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance from the truck business. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely nervous 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 unloading. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and numerous other competitors use a variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a couple of days. In order to use these services, you'll require a place to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your destination, so they can be challenging for apartment occupants in dense city areas.
If this is an issue, some of these business will allow you to bring your products to a local 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 trip rather of just as soon as. You'll spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a long distance.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everyone, however if you observe these best practices, you'll leave with a great sense of achievement and a little additional money in your pocket.