Interesting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, you really need to move your things from one house to another. You can always employ specialists to do this, but that can add a substantial expense to what is already a costly process.
Which's how some movers unexpectedly discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's several feet longer and several thousand pounds much heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be frightening, but it's not impossible. 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 aid with supporting 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 require for all your things. Most truck rental companies provide standards to assist you find out what size truck you require, and it is essential to lease the smallest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not only cheaper, they're easier to drive.
Consider recruiting a buddy to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement permits it. Having a 2nd individual can likewise be available in helpful if you require somebody to direct you in supporting the truck.
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 harmful to fumble with your device while driving any car, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it might be beneficial to rent a truck for a day just to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often inexpensive. Practice can help you with things like turning and getting utilized to the size of the lorry, however remember that your truck will deal with differently when it's packed with all your things.
Budget for gas. In general, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, anchor and longer journeys could end up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Security
When your journey has begun, there are a few extra security suggestions to observe:
Drive your moving truck around town for numerous miles prior to loading. If you discover a concern, take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one.
Secure your whole load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental companies often rent these devices, too.
Focus on all road signs that use to trucks, which you have actually probably found out to overlook. This includes separate speed limitations, lane limitations and overhead clearance limits.
Stop safely. Constantly provide yourself extra time and distance to stop the truck.
Prevent shifting your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator carefully.
Inspect your side-view mirrors often, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it pertains to stopping at weigh stations. These laws differ from state to state, however 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 slowly as essential to ensure your safety.
Prevent supporting. Try to avoid scenarios where you'll require to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, search for two surrounding empty spots 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 pricey.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Consider the other cost-saving options to full-service movers if you're really 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 discharging. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and numerous other competitors use a range of shipping container types that you can fill over the course of 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 difficult for apartment or condo dwellers in thick urban locations.
If this is a problem, a fantastic read a few of these companies will permit 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 need to drive a truck and rent, and you'll require to move everything two times on each end of the trip rather of just when. You'll 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 win a great sense of achievement and a little additional money in your pocket.