Amazing as it is, moving is a discomfort. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and someplace in there, you really need to move your things from one home to another. You can constantly hire experts to do this, however that can add a substantial cost to what is currently a pricey procedure.
And that's how some movers all of a sudden discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's several 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 daunting, however it's not impossible. With an understanding of what's different about driving such a big, heavy vehicle, any skilled motorist can transport their own valuables without too much stress. And the savings from doing so can be substantial.
How to Prepare to Drive a Moving Truck
If you're ready for the challenge of driving a moving truck, there are a couple of crucial 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 aid with backing up and blind area sensing units that make it safer to change lanes. If these functions are important to you, they may deserve paying a little additional for.
Estimate how much truck space you'll need for all your things. The majority of truck rental companies offer standards to assist you figure out what size truck you need, and it is essential to lease the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not only more economical, they're much easier to drive.
Think about recruiting a buddy to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another experienced chauffeur and your truck rental agreement permits it. Having a 2nd individual can also come in useful if you require somebody to direct you in supporting 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's unsafe to fumble with your gadget while driving any vehicle, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it may be rewarding to rent 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 poor gas mileage, and longer trips could end up costing you several hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Safety
Once your journey has begun, there are a few additional safety suggestions to observe:
Try the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for several miles before loading. This is a good way to make sure the truck is running smoothly and that there are no mechanical issues. If you find a concern, take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one.
Protect your entire load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental companies often rent these accessories, as well.
Focus on all road signs that apply to trucks, which you've most likely found out to overlook. This consists of useful reference separate speed limits, lane restrictions and overhead clearance limits.
Stop securely. Constantly provide 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 often, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it comes to stopping at weigh stations. These laws differ from one state to another, however ABF U-Pack has put together an extensive list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Use care in mountains. Keep in mind that there will be stretches of road with no shoulder for emergency situation stops if you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains. You'll likewise need to prepare for high hills and winding turns. Drive as gradually as needed to ensure your safety.
Avoid backing up. Try to prevent circumstances where you'll need to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, search for two adjacent empty areas so that you can drive directly through.
Buy the rental insurance coverage More Bonuses from the truck business. Without it, even small 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 worried about the concept of driving a 16-foot moving truck.
There are a number of moving companies that will do the driving as long as original site you do the loading and dumping. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and a number of other competitors offer a range 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 location, so they can be tricky for apartment occupants in dense 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 lease, 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 stroll away with a terrific sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.