Interesting as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere therein, you actually have to move your things from one home to another. You can constantly work with professionals to do this, however that can include a considerable cost to what is currently a pricey procedure.
Which's how some movers suddenly find themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's a number of feet longer and a number of thousand pounds much heavier than anything they've ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be intimidating, however it's possible. With an understanding of what's various about driving such a large, heavy car, any skilled motorist 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 crucial things you need 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 may be worth paying a little extra for if these features are essential to you.
Quote just how much truck area you'll require for all your things. The majority of truck rental business use standards to help you figure out what size truck you need, and it is necessary to rent the tiniest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just less pricey, they're much easier to drive.
Think about recruiting a friend to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another experienced driver and your truck rental contract allows it. If you require somebody to direct you in backing up the truck, having a second person can also come in handy.
Buy 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 hazardous to fumble with your gadget while driving any automobile, 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 simply to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often inexpensive.
Budget for gas. In basic, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer journeys could end up costing you numerous hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Safety
Once your journey has started, there are a couple of extra safety suggestions to observe:
Attempt the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for numerous miles before packing. 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 business often lease these devices, also.
Focus on all road indications that use to trucks, which you've probably found out to neglect. This includes separate speed limitations, lane limitations and overhead clearance limits.
Stop securely. Constantly give yourself extra time and range to stop the truck.
Avoid shifting your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator gently.
Check your side-view mirrors typically, since there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it concerns stopping at weigh stations. These laws great post to read vary 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.
Avoid supporting. Try to prevent circumstances where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for instance, try to find 2 adjacent empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance from the truck company. Without it, even minor damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Think about the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're truly anxious 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 a number of other competitors provide a variety of shipping container types that you can fill check my site throughout a few days. In order to utilize these services, you'll need a location to drop your containers at both your starting address and your location, so they can be tricky for home dwellers in thick urban locations.
If this is a problem, 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 need to move whatever twice on each end of the journey instead of simply once. You'll spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a long distance.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, but if you observe these finest practices, you'll leave with a terrific sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.