Moving Truck Rental Guide

One of the most important decisions you have to make when moving house is to decide whether you’ll be using the services of a professional moving company or whether you’ll move by yourself – that is, without hiring movers.

If you happen to be moving short distance – either across town or within the state, then you may as well try to organize a self-move. If you don’t have too many household items to pack and move, then yes – moving out without hiring professional movers is possible. And if you know that you can rely on your good friends to help you out in that difficult period, then yes – you should be able to pull off a DIY move.

Bear in mind that the most critical stage when moving on your own is to rent a moving truck – a tough task that you should not underestimate in any way.

What is the best truck rental company out there? Should you get a U-Haul truck rental, a Budget truck rental, a Penske truck rental, a Ryder truck rental, or an Enterprise truck rental? Or maybe you should rent a moving vehicle from a local truck rental company?

Also, do you know what type and size of moving truck you will need to load up safely and transport problem-free your belongings? What will happen if it turns out that the rented truck is too small to fit your stuff?

Read on to find the answers to all the truck rental questions you must be asking yourself when you’ve made up your mind to move without hiring professional movers.

What to consider before renting a moving truck

There are a number of important things that you must consider when renting a moving truck for your moving needs. Remember that the process of renting a moving vehicle may seem pretty straightforward but it does include a few possible traps that you could fall into if you’re not careful enough.

  • CHOOSE a reputable truck rental company – that’s often the most critical step during your entire DIY move. You need a moving truck agency that’s proven, again and again, to be trustworthy and reliable when it comes to responding adequately to their customers’ needs.
  • UNDERSTAND the deposit terms. Some truck rental companies will require a deposit to reserve the truck for the date when you need it. Ask your van rental agency about whether you will need a credit card to pay that deposit fee. Also, inquire when you can expect the deposit to be returned to you or the charge to be lifted from your credit card. Most importantly, ask them what will happen if you cancel your truck reservation for some reason or another – will you lose the deposit as a cancellation fee?
  • EXPLORE your insurance options when renting a moving truck. The truck rental company you’ve picked will offer you various types of insurance coverage to give you the peace of mind when you’re driving the cargo vehicle. If an accident does occur on the road, then the truck rental insurance you’ve purchased should help you with the incurred costs. Bear in mind that most rental truck insurance policies will only cover the moving truck, so if you’re worried about having your belongings damaged, then you’re going to have to purchase extra cargo insurance.
  • What to know when renting a moving truck
    Renting a moving truck doesn’t need to be stressful at all.

    SPEAK with the truck rental company whether you can also rent from them the necessary moving equipment such as a moving dolly, furniture sliders, moving blankets, or purchase from them all the packing supplies you will need to protect your items. If yes, then compare the rental or sale prices with other providers to make sure their rates are competitive and you’re not being grossly overcharged.

  • BE aware of possible penalties and extra charges imposed by the truck rental company under specific circumstances. For instance, you are expected to return the rented truck with a full gas tank because that’s how you’ll have it at the time of renting it. If you don’t return the vehicle with its gas tank full, then the company will charge you for the missing fuel, most often at a higher price than the current market cost. Also, if you return the truck dirty, messy and untidy, then you’re likely to get charged a cleaning fee. Of course, there’s also a penalty for returning the vehicle later than scheduled.
  • KNOW what you’re supposed to do if the rented truck breaks down en route to the new home. Will you need to pay out of your own pocket and then get reimbursed by the company? Or will the truck rental agency pay up in advance? Does the truck rental company offer roadside assistance? Are you required to use specific service stations if the moving vehicle does suffer a mechanical breakdown of some sort along the way? Get that important information before you rent the moving van.
  • COMPLETE the initial truck inspection. You just have to be sure that you’re renting a moving vehicle that’s in good technical shape and that you’ll be comfortable driving it to wherever you need to go. Check the truck for any visible signs of damage and report anything that’s out of the ordinary. Then, check the vehicle’s tires, lights, turn signals, and side-mirrors. Make sure you are familiar with the basic controls of the moving truck before you rent it.

How to move by yourself (DIY moving)

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How to choose the best truck rental company

Once you make up your mind to rent a moving truck, load it with your things and drive it all the way to the new home, it’s time to start thinking about choosing a reputable truck rental company. But with so many nationwide and local truck rental agencies to choose from, you might find it a bit challenging to pick the right one for your relocation needs.

It’s only natural that you should be looking to save money when moving – after all, moving house is often an expensive affair, so the less money you spend on your move, the better. As a result, when you’re looking for a cheap truck rental company, you may get really tempted to go with the cheapest offer you get. And while that’s a good strategic move, you may end up sacrificing quality service and reliability in the process.

All things considered, choosing the cheapest truck rental company could actually prove to be the costlier option for you because what they offer may be affordable but not exactly what you need to organize a smooth DIY move. So, here’s how to choose a reputable truck rental company that will not only satisfy your self-moving needs but will fit your budget as well.

  • Ask friends for recommendations. The first step to finding one of the best truck rental companies in the country is to ask your friends and family if they can recommend an agency that they know is dependable. Feel free to expand your search with coworkers and even neighbors. The good news is that you can always use your preferred social media network to reach many of your friends and acquaintances with a single post.
  • Contact the agencies in your area. Call up the truck rental agencies in the area you live and hear out what they will tell you. Ask them for advice if you’re not sure about the size of the truck you need. Also, ask the rental companies for free quotes but don’t make any commitments just yet even if you happen to hear the “perfect” offer. As a rule, you should give yourself more time to research the companies more thoroughly.
  • How to choose a moving truck rental company
    Not all moving truck rental companies are created equal.

    Research the companies online. Get online and compare the truck rental companies you’ve contacted. First of all, read customer reviews to get a feel for their reputation among their former customers. Then, compare the quotes you’ve received from those truck rental agencies and pay special attention to the extra charges and surcharges that may be applicable. Also, make sure you understand your insurance options before saying YES to the terms and conditions offered by a truck rental company.

  • Reserve your truck. Once you’ve compared the various truck rental quotes and made up your mind which truck rental company to go with, you should contact that company again and reserve the right vehicle for your needs. Don’t make the rookie mistake of waiting until the last moment to book your truck – do it as soon as you know which vehicle you want and need so that you can focus on other aspects of your DIY move.

How to Choose a Moving Company in 31.5 Steps

The best truck rental companies in the country

When planning on renting a moving van to complete your DIY move, it helps to know the best moving truck rental companies in the country so that you can first get quotes from them before considering any other smaller local van rental agencies. Simply put, you just have to be familiar with your moving truck rental options.

When choosing a truck rental company as part of your self-move, you should never just look at the offered price – believe it or not, there are other important factors to consider as well when looking for the best company for your DIY move.

Here are the top 5 national truck rental companies when it comes to affordability, quality of service, available truck sizes, extra equipment, rental locations, and customer service.

U-Haul

U-HaulThinking about hiring a U-Haul truck rental?

U-Haul is probably the best-known truck rental company in the country.

  • It has more than 20,000 locations all over the United States (all 50 states) and Canada (10 provinces), making it the moving truck rental company with the largest and widest coverage of rental locations in the world.
  • It has a great variety of moving truck sizes: 10’-, 15’-, 17’-, 20’-, 26’ truck rentals. It offers cargo vans and pick-up trucks.
  • It offers 4 different sizes of cargo trailers (4’ x 8’, 5’ x 8’, 5’ x 10’, and 6’ x 12’) and 5 different sizes of utility trailers (4’ x 7’, 5’ x 8’, 5’ x 9’, 6’ x 12’ and 6’ x 12’ with a ramp.
  • It offers car trailers and motorcycle trailers.
  • It sells all the moving boxes and packing supplies you may ever need.
  • It offers moving help service providers (moving labor) to help you with packing or loading the truck rental.

Find out more: U-Haul

Budget

Budget Truck RentalThinking about hiring a Budget truck rental?

Budget is a national truck rental company that’s known for its competitive rates and special discount packages.

  • It has more than 1,700 locations in the United States and Canada.
  • It offers the following moving truck sizes: pick-up trucks, cargo vans, 12’, 16’, and 26’.
  • It offers towing equipment for rent: car carriers and tow dollies.
  • Budget Truck Rental also rents moving dollies (hand trucks) and furniture pads to help you have a smooth DIY moving experience.
  • The nationwide truck rental company also offers to help you find packing, loading, and unloading assistance from HireAHelper.
  • It offers 3 types of Protection Plans so that you and your belongings can stay protection throughout the entire DIY move.

Find out more: Budget Truck Rental

Penske

Penske Truck RentalThinking about hiring a Penske truck rental?

Penske is one of the top 3 national truck rental companies that is always ready to provide complete truck rental services to people who are moving by themselves, either locally or long distance.

  • Penske has over 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
  • It offers the following moving truck sizes: cargo vans, 12’, 16’, 22’ and 26’.
  • It offers self-storage options to their customers.
  • It offers towing equipment: a tow dolly or a car carrier so that you can get your own vehicle to the new home too.
  • It rents out moving equipment: hand trucks and furniture pads so that you can have an easier and safer DIY move.
  • It sells moving boxes (including wardrobe boxes) and other moving supplies to help you pack up your things safely.
  • Penske is known to offer free unlimited mileage with one-way truck rentals when moving long distance.
  • The moving truck rental company also offers a variety of discounts, including military discounts and college student discounts.

Find out more: Penske Truck Rental

Enterprise

Enterprise Truck RentalThinking about hiring an Enterprise truck rental?

Enterprise is another national truck rental company that you may end up working with thanks to their great variety of moving vehicles to fit your specific needs.

  • Enterprise has more than 350 truck rental locations in the U.S. and Canada.
  • It offers the following moving truck sizes: 16’ cabover trucks with a liftgate, 16’ and 24’ stakebed trucks, 15’ parcel vans, 5 different types of cargo vans, 3 different types of pickup trucks, and 24’ and 26’ box trucks with liftgate.
  • The company offers pickup truck towing equipment.
  • Enterprise Truck Rental offers their customers affordable mileage rates for large vehicles and no mileage rate charges for small vehicles.

Find out more: Enterprise Truck Rental

Ryder Truck Rental

Ryder Truck RentalThinking about hiring a Ryder truck rental?

Ryder Truck Rental is another nationwide moving truck rental company that you may consider as your potential partner during your self-move.

  • Ryder has 800 truck rental locations across North America.
  • It offers the following moving truck sizes: 20’ and 26’ box trucks with lift gates.
  • It offers 3 types of cargo vans for leasing: Ryder Sprinter Van, Ryder Electric Van, and Ryder Electric Step Van. It also rents out refrigerated vans should you happen to need a specialized vehicle for temperature-sensitive items.
  • It offers auto insurance dubbed as Ryder Physical Damage Protection.
  • Ryder does not offer towing vehicle options and if you have a trailer, you will not be allowed to use it.

Find out more: Ryder Truck Rental

Questions to ask moving truck rental companies

Chances are that you’ll have plenty of questions to ask the truck rental agencies, especially when you’re about to rent a moving vehicle for the very first time.

You just have to be well-informed before you can get into that moving van and drive it away simply because you may decide that there are too many things about the truck rental process that you don’t particularly like. In the beginning, it may all look fairly easy but the more you understand, the harder and more confusing it may all become.

To make the right decisions when organizing a self-move, here are the most important questions to ask moving truck rental companies before you agree to rent a truck from one of them.

  • Do you have any special requirements for renting a truck?
    The most basic requirements to rent a moving truck are a valid driver’s license and a minimum age limit which varies from company to company and from state to state. U-Haul and Penske – two of the biggest truck rental companies in the country – require a renter’s age to be at least 18 while other truck rental agencies require renters to be 24 years and above.
  • Do I have to pay a deposit to rent the moving truck?
    Always ask if the truck rental company requires renters to pay a deposit, and if yes, how much that deposit fee is. Once you know it, you’ll be able to adjust your DIY budget accordingly. In most cases, truck rental agencies will put a hold on your credit card to the amount of the deposit when you rent the vehicle.
  • What kind of insurance and protection plans do you offer?
    Questions to ask truck rental companies
    Knowing exactly what you need is the first step to a successful DIY move.

    This is a very important question because you have to know that you and your belongings are adequately protected on the road – for instance, roadside assistance. In some cases, your current auto insurance coverage may also protect you while driving a rental truck, so contact your auto insurance company to find out. However, purchasing the right type of insurance from the truck rental company is often the best option for you and your household items.

  • Can I add another driver to the insurance policy?
    If you’re planning on driving long distance with the truck you rent, then it’s a good idea to inquire about whether you can add another driver to your policy. You shouldn’t just assume that anyone can drive the rental truck – you have to inform the truck rental company beforehand so that they can insure the additional driver as well – usually for an additional fee too.
  • What sizes of trucks do you have available and which size will be the right one for me?
    This is one of the most commonly asked questions when renting a moving vehicle. If the truck size guidelines on the companies’ website tend to confuse you even more, the experts at the truck agencies will gladly help you figure out the right size truck to hire for your needs.
  • Do you also rent moving equipment and packing supplies?
    If you’re organizing a big move, you may need to rent more than just a moving vehicle. The best truck rental companies in the country also offer moving dollies, furniture sliders, straps, moving blankets, moving boxes, and other packing materials as well.
  • Where should I return the truck in case of a long-distance move?
    When you’re moving to a new area that’s far from where you are, it won’t make sense to drive the rental truck all the way to the place you rented it from. In such cases, you should be looking for one-way rentals and luckily, most big truck rental companies offer that convenient service.
  • Are there any additional costs when renting a moving truck?
    This is a super important question to ask the truck rental agencies because there are often hidden charges and additional costs that increase substantially the truck rental cost, thus affecting negatively your DIY budget.

Hire Movers or Do It Yourself: 10 Questions to Help You Decide

Moving truck sizes

One critical aspect when renting a moving vehicle for your DIY move is to select the right size of moving truck for your needs. Why is this so important?

If you happen to pick a moving vehicle with insufficient space for all the household items you wish to transport to the new house or apartment, then you’ll most likely be forced to do any of the following actions:

  • leave behind some of your possessions which is not a very good option;
  • complete multiple relocation trips between Point A and Point B. In addition to having to spend more money and waste more time, that house moving scenario may prove to be simply impossible, especially when you’re moving a fairly long distance away;
  • rent a bigger moving truck – again, you’ll have to deal with loads of time wasted, extra money spent, and extra dosage of stress.

On the other hand, choosing a truck rental with much more storage than you need is not ideal either. Basically, it means that you’ll be spending more money on truck space that will remain completely unused.

So, what size of moving truck do you need?

Here are the major types of moving trucks that you should be able to rent from a reputable truck rental company:

  • Renting a pickup truck
    Sometimes renting a pickup truck can be enough to satisfy your DIY moving needs.

    Pick-up trucks. A pick-up truck is ideal for transporting small loads (partial moves).

  • Cargo vans. A cargo van is a good choice when you’re moving out of a studio apartment, when you’re performing a partial move, or, for instance, when you’re moving to or from college.
  • 10-12 ft. trucks. A small moving truck is the logical choice when you’re moving out of a studio apartment or a small one-bedroom apartment.
  • 14-17 ft. trucks. Bear in mind that medium-size moving vehicles are the most popular truck rentals thanks to their favorable ratio between price and usefulness. They are ideal when you’re moving out of a 1-2 bedroom apartment, a small house, or an office. Medium-size trucks can be used for fairly long cross-country moves.
  • 20-26 ft. trucks. The largest moving truck you can rent is a good option when you’re moving out of a 3-4 bedroom apartment or a big house. Of course, you shouldn’t forget that those big moving vehicles are the most difficult ones to drive across the country, especially when you have to navigate them through narrow roads and park in places with limited parking space.

As you can see, each rental truck comes with its own specific storage capacity that is effectively measured in cubic feet. In reality, that truck capacity is the available storage space from floor to roof – absolute storage room that you won’t possibly be able to utilize fully but you can at least try to come close.

To make it easier to figure out what size of moving truck you need, truck rental companies tend to state the approximate number of rooms that each rental vehicle can fit inside it. Those are rather broad guidelines but can still help self-movers like you get a preliminary idea of the size of the vehicle they need.

  • Cargo van: up to 1 room;
  • 12 ft. truck: 1-2 rooms;
  • 16 ft. truck: 2-3 rooms;
  • 22 ft. truck: 3-5 rooms;
  • 26 ft. truck: 5-7 rooms.

What size of rental truck do you need?

One-way truck rentals

If you happen to be renting a moving truck for a DIY move across the town or to a nearby town or city, then you should be able to return the rented vehicle to the same place from where you picked it up. In that case, the moving truck rental company should charge you less money to rent the truck.

However, if you happen to be moving to another city in the same state that’s located far, or if you’re moving to another state across the country, then it won’t make much sense to drive the rental truck all the way back to the original pick-up location.

In such cases, the truck rental agency should offer you one-way moving truck rental – the super convenient method of dropping off the rented vehicle to another location that is the closest one to your new address.

One-way truck rentals
Moving one way may be the only way to move.

One-way moving is a great Do-It-Yourself option when you’re renting a moving truck for a long-distance move. Therefore, you should start looking for a reputable one-way moving truck rental company that has drop-off locations (offices) in or near your destination town or city. Get in touch with top-rated national or local can rental agencies and let them know that you’re looking for one-way moving offers that are customized to your specific needs.

Also, make sure you ask those one-way moving truck rental companies for binding quotes that will guarantee to a large extent that the quoted price will remain unchanged.

Are there any truck rentals with unlimited mileage? Yes! Some of the best one-way truck rental companies in the country can also offer you unlimited mileage with one-way truck rentals – a unique offer that you should always accept. It basically means that you get free unlimited miles on one-way truck rentals anywhere in the county as opposed to being charged for miles over a certain amount. That’s a sweet bonus when you’re not in a great hurry to reach the destination but wish to take a little detour or two to experience national landmarks or visit some friends or relatives during your relocation trip.

One way moving truck rental

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moving Truck?

The cost of renting a moving truck is lower than the cost of hiring a professional moving company, of course, but the final price you’ll have to pay may not be as low as you hoped – especially when it comes to long-distance moves.

Moving truck rental prices depend on several factors:

  • The size of the vehicle – The smaller vans typically cost about $20-$30 per day while larger trucks can be anywhere between $40 and $100 per day;
  • The duration of the move – Depending on the distance to your new home, you may need to rent a moving truck for a couple of days or for over a week – and you must pay the daily rental fee for each day you keep the vehicle;
  • The type of the move – The price to rent a moving truck for a local move is calculated in a different way than the price to rent a moving truck for a long-distance move (see below for details);
  • The move date – Moving truck rates are higher during busy periods (the summer months, the weekends, the national holidays, etc.) when the demand for moving vehicles is higher;
  • The add-ons – Additional supplied come at an extra cost.
How much does it cost to rent a moving truck?
All things considered, renting a moving truck may prove to be more expensive than you thought.

The average cost to rent a moving truck for a local move is between $150 and $300. The price equals the sum of the daily truck rental fee, the mileage fee ($0.59-$0.99 per mile), the environmental fee, the taxes, the insurance costs, and the charges for any additional supplies. Usually, there is a deposit of about $100 and you’re required to return the truck with the same amount of gas as it had when you picked it up (so you need to consider fuel costs as well).

The average truck rental cost for long-distance moves is $2,000-$3,000. The cost factors for one-way truck rentals include the truck rental fee, time and mileage (one-way rental policies usually include a set number of miles and days based on the distance of the move – if you exceed the mileage or don’t return the truck on time, you’re charged an extra fee), environmental fee, taxes, insurance coverage, and equipment rentals. When renting a moving vehicle for a long-distance move, you need to also budget for fuel costs, road tolls, meals and lodgings on the way, etc.

Depending on the circumstances, there may be some extra fees that will further increase the final truck rental cost:

  • Additional driver fee – for every driver added to the rental policy;
  • Young driver charge – for drivers who are 18–23 years old;
  • Late return fee – if you fail to return the truck on time;
  • Excess mileage fee – if you go over the allotted mileage on one-way rentals;
  • Gas fee – if you return the truck with less gas than it had at the time of pickup;
  • Cleaning fee – if the vehicle is not as clean upon return as it was when you picked it up;
  • Damage fee – if you cause some damage to the truck;
  • Cancellation fee – if you cancel your reservation less than forty-eight hours before the scheduled pickup time.

Additional information: How much does it cost to rent a moving truck?

How to save money on moving truck rentals

When organizing a self-move without using the services of a full-service moving company, one of your major goals should be to minimize the moving costs any way you can. And when it comes to DIY moving expenses, renting a moving truck will be your biggest expense, at least in most cases.

Luckily, it’s quite possible to save money when renting a moving van – you just have to know where to look for good cost-reduction tactics that can work great in your house moving case.

Here are the top ways to save money on truck rentals:

Pick the most affordable truck rental company

Make sure you get quotes from several national or local van rental agencies so that you can compare their rates in the best possible way.

Do a little research to find out whether the quoted prices are final or whether there will be extra charges that you’re not aware of in the beginning. Contact each company and ask them specifically if there are additional fees or charges that you should know about and that are not on their quote.

Sometimes an extra question like that one can save you unpleasant surprises when you’re handed the final bill.

Keep an eye out for truck rental deals

How to save money on moving truck rentals
Never turn down any good truck rental deals.

Always look for good truck rentals deals or promotional offers from reputable and reliable moving truck rental companies. First, visit the respective websites of the best truck rental agencies in the country and look for ways to bring the rental cost down. Also, make sure you contact those companies and speak with them directly about possible cost reduction options – be brave as you’ve got nothing to lose.

When moving long distance, don’t pass up the ultimate deal of unlimited mileage with one-way truck rentals that can save you plenty of money. Also, seasonal discounts can help you save even more.

Choose well your truck pick-up date

As a rule of thumb, renting a moving truck during the peak moving season (May – September) will cost you more than renting the same moving vehicle during the off-peak season. So, if you have any flexibility at all, you’d be better off getting that truck rental when fewer people are looking to rent a moving vehicle.

Also, it’s a well-known fact that weekends and the beginning and end of each month are peak moving dates because that’s when home rental leases tend to expire most often. So, whenever possible, choose to rent your truck somewhere in the middle of a month, preferably during a weekday too.

Rent a truck of the right size

Avoid losing money by picking the right size truck from the start.

One way to do just that is to visit the website of the moving truck agency you’ve picked and check out their truck sizes comparison charts. If that doesn’t help you much, then contact the rental company directly and speak with one of their experts about choosing the moving vehicle with the correct capacity. When in doubt, it’s always better to rent the larger vehicle.

Avoid penalties and extra charges (surcharges)

Be careful to avoid penalties and extra fees for possible scenarios such as returning the moving vehicle late, returning it with less fuel in the tank than necessary (you should drop off the truck with a full gas tank), or returning the van dirty.

Make sure you’re familiar with all those extra charges and penalties before signing the truck rental agreement.

Moving Trucks Guide

How to load a rental truck

Once you’ve rented a moving vehicle from a reputable truck rental company, it’s time to start thinking about how to load the rental truck. If you’ve never loaded a moving van before, you should definitely read the following safety tips so that the loading task goes safely, without any unforeseen accidents.

Before you begin loading your items into the moving truck, you must make sure you’re ready for that – that is, you’ve already packed most of your smaller belongings into moving boxes and secured the larger household items such as furniture pieces and household appliances, if any. Also, be sure to have reliable helpers during the truck rental loading task to provide the necessary manpower.

And finally, you’ll need to have the required moving equipment to get the job safely: a moving dolly, furniture straps, and furniture blankets.

Here’s the best way to load a rental truck when moving without professional movers:

  • HAVE a preliminary plan which items you are going to load first, and then which ones you’re loading last of all.
  • START loading the biggest and heaviest items first – the heavy appliances and large furniture pieces you’re taking with you. Place them right behind the cab. Use plenty of moving blankets to wrap around those bulky items. Use rope or straps to secure them to the side of the rental truck so that they do not shift during transport.
  • How to load a moving truck
    Loading a moving truck often comes down to good planning.

    POSITION any long items along the length of the moving truck if they fail to fit standing upright or to be placed across the width of the vehicle. Secure those well to the side of the rental van.

  • ALWAYS PLACE the heavier items on the floor and then stack from heavy to light. Save the spaces at the top of the truck for lightweight items such as light furniture items (chairs, for example) or large but not too heavy boxes.
  • USE well the entire storage space inside the rental van – for instance, fill in the spaces under hollow items such as tables or desks.
  • USE the full height of the moving vehicle to prevent the loss of precious cargo space. If you don’t have enough items to fill in the space, then arrange your belongings at the same height to keep them from shifting during the haul.
  • LOAD all boxes and stack them carefully by following the safety rule that the heaviest and strongest containers should remain on the floor while the lighter and less sturdy boxes go on top of them.
  • ARRANGE all household items in a tight manner to prevent dangerous shifts. Whenever possible, use soft and non-breakable items such as bags of clothes to fill in empty spaces. To be on the safe side, you should secure the riskier pieces to the side rails of the truck rental using straps or rope.
  • TRY to distribute the weight of the load evenly from side to side and from front to back.
  • LOAD the essentials boxes last of all so that you can unload them first upon arrival.
  • CLOSE the doors of the rental truck and add a sturdy padlock, just in case.

Click here to see a diagram of how to load a moving truck properly.

How to load a moving truck the right way

Tips for driving a rental truck

Your decision to rent a moving truck from a truck rental company means that you feel confident that you can navigate a big moving vehicle within the state of origin or even across multiple state lines until you reach your destination.

So, if you’ve done it before or if you just know that you are skilled enough to handle that challenging task, then it’s a great idea to be prepared for the relocation trip ahead.

Here are some practical tips for driving a moving truck across the country so that you and your prized belongings can stay safe on the road:

  • DO an initial inspection of the moving vehicle before renting it. If you notice any signs of damage or something that doesn’t seem right, inform the truck rental agency immediately.
  • GET familiar with the basic controls of the rented truck. Be sure to know how to operate the turn signals, windshield wipers, and hand brake.
  • CHECK whether you have loaded the moving truck properly before driving off in the direction of the new home. All loaded items in the back of the vehicle must be secured well so that they don’t shift during transport. Also, the entire load should be adequately balanced to avoid possible accidents on the road.
  • Tips for driving a truck rental across the country
    Follow a number of critical safety tips when driving a moving truck across the country

    INCREASE the speed gradually, without accelerating too abruptly because that will only increase the fuel consumption and could cause the loaded items in the back to shift. Some moving trucks come limited to the safe speed of 75 mph.

  • BRAKE early and never too suddenly or too hard. In most cases, slamming on the brakes can lead to damage to your possessions in the back of the truck and could throw the entire moving vehicle off balance. Make sure you have full control of the rental truck at all times.
  • KEEP a safe distance from the rest of the vehicles on the road. As a rule of thumb, keep at least double the distance from the vehicle in front of you than you keep when driving your own car.
  • BE very careful when changing lanes or merging while driving a rented truck because the moving vehicle will not have a center rearview like your car does. Therefore, you should rely only on the side rearview mirrors and that can be confusing at times.
  • MAKE all turns wider than you would when driving a car because moving trucks require much more space to turn safely than passenger cars do.
  • APPLY the emergency brake every time you park the rental truck and make sure you turn the wheels toward the curb when facing downhill and away from the curb when facing uphill.
  • LOOK OUT for special signs that are intended for cargo trucks. Remember that you’re driving a moving van now, not your own passenger car. There are three types of signs that you should be on the lookout for: signs about overhead clearance, weigh station stops, and lane restrictions. Additionally, pay attention to the speed limit signs as well.

15 Tips for Driving a Moving Truck Cross Country

See also: How to unload a moving truck properly

Posted on April 27, 2020

Joshua Green

Joshua Green is a relocation expert and a moving industry professional, one of the esteemed contributors to MyMovingReviews.com with specialized articles and informative guides which help people organize and execute their moves easily and comfortably. Joshua is a recognized author of two books about moving one of which is Relocating Without Breaking A Sweat - Your Personal Handbook For A Perfect Move. Both books are well received and help thousands of people make the right relocation decisions. He is known to skillfully incorporate his never-ending energy, utmost dedication and raw passion into his works. You can contact Joshua Green at: joshua@mymovingreviews.com | Linkedin

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