Interesting 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 already a pricey procedure.
And that's how some movers suddenly 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 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 excessive 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 your rental business choices, with specific attention to the features of their moving trucks. Modern trucks have tools like rear-facing video to help with backing up and blind area sensing units that make it safer to change lanes. If these functions are essential to you, they may deserve paying a little additional for.
Estimate how much truck space you'll need for all your things. A lot of truck rental business use standards to help you determine what size truck you require, and it is very important to rent the smallest truck possible. Smaller trucks are not only less costly, they're much easier to drive.
Consider recruiting a buddy to join you on your moving journey. If it's another knowledgeable motorist and your truck rental agreement allows it, you can take turns driving. Having a 2nd individual can also come in helpful if you require somebody to direct you in supporting the truck.
Purchase a GPS mount. Buy a quality phone or GPS mount that you can install in the truck if you plan to utilize GPS on the journey. It threatens to fumble with your gadget while driving any vehicle, let alone a fully-loaded moving truck.
Get some practice. It may be rewarding to rent a truck for a day just to practice if this is your first time driving a moving truck. For in-town moves, truck rentals are frequently economical. Practice can assist you with things like getting and turning utilized to the size of the lorry, however remember that your truck will manage in a different way when it's loaded with all your things.
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.
Safety When Driving a Moving Truck
Once your journey has begun, there are a few additional safety tips to observe:
Drive your moving truck around town for several miles before loading. 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. check over here This consists of 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 gently.
Inspect your side-view mirrors often, because 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, however ABF U-Pack has compiled a comprehensive list of state weigh station laws for moving other trucks.
Usage care in mountains. Keep in mind that there will be stretches of roadway 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.
Prevent backing up. More about the author 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 from the truck business. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
If you're genuinely anxious about the idea of driving a 16-foot moving truck, consider the other cost-saving options to full-service movers.
There are numerous moving companies that will do the driving as long as you do the loading and unloading. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and numerous other rivals 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 starting address and your location, so they can be challenging for apartment or condo residents in dense city locations.
If this is a problem, a few of these business will allow you to bring your products to a local shipping depot and load them onto a truck or into shipping containers there. With this option, you'll most likely still need to rent and drive a truck, and you'll need to move whatever twice on each end of the trip rather of just as soon as. However you'll spare yourself the worry of a driving a box truck over a long range.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everybody, but if you observe these finest practices, you'll walk away with a great sense of achievement and a little money in your pocket.