Interesting as it is, moving is a pain. There's the packing, the lifting, the unpacking-- and somewhere in there, you really need to move your things from one house to another. You can constantly work with professionals to do this, but that can add a significant expense to what is currently a pricey procedure.
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 frightening, however it's not difficult. With an understanding of what's various about driving such a big, heavy lorry, any experienced driver can transport 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 should 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 aid with supporting and blind area sensing units that make it much safer to alter lanes. If these functions are necessary to you, they might deserve paying a little additional for.
Estimate how much truck area you'll require for all your things. A lot of truck rental business provide guidelines to help you figure out what size truck you need, and it's important to rent the tiniest truck possible. Smaller sized trucks are not just cheaper, they're simpler to drive.
Consider recruiting a friend to join you on your moving journey. You can take turns driving if it's another experienced driver and your truck rental contract permits it. Having a 2nd person can also come in handy if you require somebody to direct you in supporting the truck.
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 harmful 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 may be beneficial to rent a truck for a day simply to practice. For in-town relocations, truck leasings are often inexpensive.
Spending plan for gas. In basic, moving trucks get poor gas mileage, and longer trips might end up costing you numerous hundred dollars in gas.
When Driving a Moving Truck, Safety
Once your journey has actually begun, there are a few extra security tips to observe:
Try the truck out. Drive your moving truck around town for several miles prior to packing. This is a good method to make certain the truck is running smoothly which there are no mechanical issues. If you discover a concern, take the truck my response back to the rental company and exchange it for another one.
Protect your entire load with rope, bungee cords or straps. Truck rental business often lease these devices, as well.
Focus on all road indications that apply to trucks, which you have actually most likely learned to overlook. This includes different speed limitations, lane restrictions and overhead clearance limitations.
Stop safely. Constantly provide yourself extra time and range to stop the truck.
Avoid moving your load by driving slower than the surrounding traffic and utilizing the brakes and accelerator gently.
Examine your side-view mirrors frequently, because there are no rear-view mirrors in moving trucks.
Follow the law when it concerns stopping at weigh stations. These laws vary from one state to another, but ABF U-Pack has actually put together a comprehensive list of state weigh station laws for moving trucks.
Usage caution in mountains. Keep in mind that there will be stretches of roadway with no shoulder for emergency stops if you'll be driving a moving truck through mountains. You'll likewise need to get ready for steep hills and winding turns. Drive as slowly as needed to ensure your security.
Avoid supporting. Try to avoid situations where you'll require to back up your truck. When parking in a lot, for example, try to find two surrounding empty spots so that you can drive directly through.
Buy the rental insurance coverage from the truck company. Without it, even small damage to the truck can be costly.
Moving Truck Alternatives
Consider the other cost-saving alternatives to full-service movers if you're genuinely anxious 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 dumping. ABF U-Pack, PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT and a number of 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 need a location 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 probably still require to drive a truck and rent, and you'll require to move whatever twice on each end of the journey rather of just when. You'll spare yourself the concern of a driving a box truck over a long distance.
Driving a moving truck isn't for everyone, however if you observe these finest practices, you'll win a terrific sense of achievement and a little money in your pocket.