Interesting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and someplace in there, you actually need to move your things from one home to another. You can always hire experts to do this, however that can include a considerable cost 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 a number of feet longer and numerous thousand pounds much heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be intimidating, but it's not impossible. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a big, heavy automobile, any knowledgeable motorist can carry their own belongings without too much stress. And the savings from doing so can be significant.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're ready for the challenge 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 aid with backing up and blind spot sensors that make it much safer to change lanes. If these functions are crucial to you, they might deserve paying a little additional for.
Quote just how much truck space 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 rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just more economical, they're much easier to drive.
Think about hiring a pal to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another skilled driver and your truck rental contract permits it. Having a 2nd individual can also be available in useful if you need someone to direct you in backing up the truck.
Buy a GPS install. If you prepare to utilize GPS on the journey, buy a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck. It threatens to fumble with your device while driving any lorry, not to mention a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. It might be rewarding to lease a truck for a day simply to practice if this is your first time driving a moving truck. For in-town moves, truck rentals are typically low-cost. Practice can assist you with things like turning and getting used to the size of useful reference the automobile, but keep in mind that your truck will handle in a different way when it's loaded with all your things.
Budget for gas. In basic, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer trips might wind up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
When your journey has started, there are a couple of additional security ideas to observe:
Drive your moving truck around town for numerous miles before loading. If you find a problem, take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one.
Protect your entire load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental business frequently lease these devices.
Take note of all road indications that apply to trucks, which you have actually most likely learned to overlook. This includes different speed limitations, lane restrictions and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop safely. Always offer 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.
Inspect your side-view mirrors often, due to the fact that 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 thorough list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Usage caution in mountains. Keep in mind that there will be stretches of roadway with no shoulder for emergency 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 needed 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 minor 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 alternatives to full-service movers.
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 over the course of a few days. In order to utilize these services, you'll need a location to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your destination, so they can be difficult for apartment residents in dense metropolitan locations.
If this is a problem, a few of these business will allow you to bring your products 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 rent and drive a truck, and you'll require to move everything two times on each end of the journey instead of simply as soon as. But you'll spare yourself the concern 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 stroll away with a great sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.