Amazing as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packaging, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, you actually have to move your things from one home to another. You can always employ specialists to do this, however that can add a considerable cost to what is already a pricey 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 prepared for the challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a few important 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 safer to change lanes. They might be worth paying a little additional for if these functions are essential to you.
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 knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement enables it. Having a second individual can likewise be available in useful if you need someone to direct you in backing up the truck.
Purchase a GPS mount. If you plan to utilize GPS on the journey, purchase a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck. It threatens to fumble with your device while driving any vehicle, not to mention a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it may be beneficial to rent a truck for a day just to practice. For in-town relocations, truck leasings are often inexpensive. Practice can assist you with things like getting and turning utilized to the size of the vehicle, however remember that your truck will deal with differently when it's loaded with all your things.
Budget plan for gas. In general, moving trucks get bad gas mileage, and longer journeys could wind up costing you a number of hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Security
When your journey has started, there are a couple of additional security ideas to observe:
Drive your moving truck around town for several miles prior to packing. If you discover a problem, take the truck back to the rental company and exchange it for another one.
Protect your entire load with rope, bungee cables or straps. Truck rental business often lease these accessories.
Pay attention to all roadway signs that use to trucks, which you have actually probably found out to disregard. This consists of different speed limits, lane constraints and overhead clearance limits.
Stop securely. Always offer yourself extra time and distance to stop the truck.
Avoid shifting your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and using 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 differ from one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has actually compiled a detailed list of state weigh this page 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 gradually as required to guarantee your safety.
Prevent backing up. Attempt to avoid circumstances where you'll need to support your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, search for 2 nearby empty areas so that you can drive straight through.
Purchase the rental insurance from the truck business. Without it, even minor damage to the truck can be expensive.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Consider the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're genuinely 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 unloading. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and a number of other competitors use a variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout 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 destination, so they can be challenging for apartment residents in thick urban locations.
If this is a problem, some of these business will allow 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 require to drive a truck and lease, and you'll need to move everything two times on each end of the trip instead of simply once. But you'll spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a cross country.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, but if you observe these finest practices, you'll win a fantastic sense of achievement and a little money in your pocket.