Interesting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and someplace therein, you in fact have to move your things from one home to another. You can always employ experts to do this, however that can add a substantial expense to what is already an expensive process.
And that's how some movers unexpectedly discover themselves behind the wheel of a truck that's numerous feet longer and numerous thousand pounds much heavier than anything they have actually ever driven in their lives.
Driving a moving truck can be frightening, however it's not difficult. With an understanding of what's various about driving such a big, heavy vehicle, any experienced driver can transfer their own possessions 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 important things you ought to do to prepare:
Research your rental business alternatives, with specific attention to the functions of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to assist with supporting and blind area sensing units that make it much safer to alter lanes. If these functions are necessary to you, they may be worth paying a little extra for.
Price quote just how much truck area 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's important to lease the tiniest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just cheaper, they're simpler to drive.
Think about recruiting a buddy 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. If you require somebody to direct you in backing up the truck, having a second individual can likewise come in helpful.
Buy 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's hazardous to fumble with your device while driving any car, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
If this is your very first time driving a moving truck, it might be worthwhile to lease a truck for a day simply to practice. For in-town moves, truck rentals are typically economical.
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 begun, there are a couple of extra safety pointers to observe:
Try the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for numerous miles before filling. This is an excellent way to make sure the truck is running efficiently and that there are no mechanical issues. If you find an issue, take the truck back to the rental business and exchange it for another one.
Secure your whole load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental business frequently rent these devices, as well.
Take note of all road indications that apply to trucks, which you have actually probably learned to neglect. This includes different speed limits, lane constraints and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop safely. Constantly give yourself additional time and distance to stop the truck.
Prevent shifting your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator gently.
Check your side-view mirrors frequently, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it pertains to stopping at weigh stations. These laws vary from state to state, however ABF U-Pack has put together a comprehensive list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Usage caution in mountains. If you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains, remember that there will be stretches of road without any shoulder for emergency stops. You'll likewise need to get ready for steep hills and winding turns. Drive as gradually as required to guarantee your safety.
Prevent backing up. Attempt to avoid circumstances where you'll need to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for circumstances, search for 2 nearby 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 expensive.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Think about the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're genuinely nervous 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 discharging. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and numerous other competitors use a official site variety of shipping container types that you can fill throughout a couple of days. In order to use these services, you'll require a location to drop your containers at both your starting address and your location, so they can be tricky for apartment or condo occupants in dense metropolitan locations.
If this is a problem, a few of these business will enable you to bring your products to a regional shipping depot and load them onto a truck or into shipping containers there. With this choice, you'll most likely still need to drive a truck and lease, and you'll need to move everything two times on each end of the trip instead of simply as soon as. You'll spare yourself the worry of a driving a box truck over a long distance.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, however if you observe these best practices, you'll leave with an excellent sense of accomplishment and a little additional money in your pocket.