Amazing as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere therein, you actually have to move your things from one house to another. You can always work with professionals to do this, however that can add a significant cost to what is currently an expensive process.
Which's how some movers unexpectedly find themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's numerous feet longer and several thousand pounds much heavier than anything they have actually 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 big, heavy car, any knowledgeable driver can transfer their own personal belongings without too much stress. And the cost savings from doing so can be significant.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're prepared for the difficulty of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of important things you ought to do to prepare:
Research study your rental business options, with particular attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to assist with backing up and blind area sensing units that make it much safer to alter lanes. If these features are very important to you, they might be worth paying a little extra for.
Quote just how much truck space you'll need for all your things. The majority of truck rental companies provide standards to assist you figure out what size truck you need, and it's crucial to rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not just cheaper, they're easier to drive.
Think about hiring a friend to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another experienced driver and your truck rental agreement permits it. If you need someone to direct you in backing up the truck, having a 2nd individual can likewise come in convenient.
Purchase a GPS mount. If you plan to use GPS on the trip, purchase a quality phone or GPS install that you can set up in the truck. It's harmful to fumble with your gadget while driving any lorry, 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 just to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are often affordable.
Budget plan 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, Safety
When your journey has actually started, there are a couple of extra security ideas to observe:
Attempt the truck click here out. Drive your moving truck around town for a number of miles prior to packing. This is an excellent way to make certain the truck is running efficiently which there are no mechanical issues. Take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one if you discover my site an issue.
Protect your whole load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental companies frequently rent these accessories, also.
Take note of all road signs that apply to trucks, which you've probably found out to overlook. This consists of different speed limitations, lane limitations and overhead clearance limits.
Stop safely. Always give yourself extra time and distance to stop the truck.
Prevent moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator carefully.
Inspect your side-view mirrors frequently, since there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it concerns stopping at weigh stations. These laws vary from state to state, however ABF U-Pack has actually 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 stops. Drive as slowly as essential to guarantee your security.
Avoid backing up. Attempt to prevent circumstances where you'll need to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, try to find two adjacent empty areas so that you can drive directly through.
Buy the rental insurance from the truck company. Without it, even minor damage to the truck can be pricey.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Consider the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're genuinely worried about the idea 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 a number of other competitors use 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 require a place to drop your containers at both your beginning address and your location, so they can be tricky see here for apartment occupants in thick urban locations.
If this is an issue, some of these business will enable you to bring your items to a regional shipping depot and load them onto a truck or into shipping containers there. With this choice, you'll probably still require to drive a truck and rent, and you'll require to move everything twice on each end of the journey instead of simply 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 an excellent sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.