No matter how far your new home is located, a residential move tends to give you various options to approach most of the move related issues in order to select the relocation path that will prove beneficial for you on different levels. Moving from one home to another is often considered a stressful period where you will be expected and even forced to make an overwhelming number of decisions that range from what to wear on moving day to which long distance mover to choose.<\/p>\n
Yes, moving is a real test of your decision-making abilities, and if you\u2019ve already weighed up your available options and chosen to move by yourself, then sooner or later the question of how to drive a rental truck when moving cross country will take center stage. And when that happens, you\u2019d better have some good answers.<\/p>\n
Remember that driving a moving truck cross country is anything but a walk in the park, and safety is paramount! If you\u2019re a first time renter, then you must read the following 10 safety tips for driving a rental truck before you embark on that unique relocation adventure.<\/p>\n
SEE ALSO<\/strong>:\u00a0How to rent a moving truck<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The truck rental company is supposed to give you a crash course on driving a moving truck across country, but it\u2019s your duty to examine the vehicle first and learn more about how its basic controls work. Adjust the side-view mirrors, make sure you know how to operate the turn signals, windshield wipers, all interior and exterior lights, parking brake, heater, and so on. Also, learn more what to expect from the rental truck\u2019s fuel consumption and speak again with the rental agent whether or not you will need to purchase moving insurance or not.<\/p>\n Remember: always fasten the seat belt \u2013 it\u2019s the LAW!<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to keep in mind that a moving truck (regardless of its exact capacity) is not your family car. And due to their heavy weight category, rented moving vehicles require much more time to accelerate and stop than a standard automobile. As a result of the longer braking distance, you need to leave enough space between the truck you\u2019re driving and the vehicle just in front of you in case the latter stops suddenly.<\/p>\n Remember: you must never tailgate when driving a rental moving truck.<\/em><\/p>\n READ ALSO<\/strong>: How to load a moving truck<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Backing up with your own car can be sometimes tough but doing it with a huge moving truck can be a real challenge. Do not back up when you can effectively avoid it, so try to always position your rented vehicle in a way so that it will be able to exit forward. However, if you must do it, use your rear-view mirrors extensively, and if possible, ask your passenger friend to get out of the vehicle and give you directions to avoid hitting something.<\/p>\n Remember: whenever you park your moving truck rental, always apply the parking brake.<\/em><\/p>\n Unlike passenger cars, moving trucks don\u2019t have a rear-view mirror that is conveniently centered just above your dashboard. This is why your only eyes behind you are the side-view mirrors whenever you need to change lanes, make turns or complete more complex maneuvers, like parking. As mentioned above, to avoid having to use the truck mirrors while backing up\u00a0 – something you should definitely avoid whenever possible, you should stay away from tight places and look for parking lots that will actually let you drive forward as you exit them.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re asking yourself, \u201cHow hard is it to drive a rental truck?<\/em>\u201d, this think about this \u2013 even turning a corner will be a step out of your comfort zone. Moving trucks need much more space to turn than a standard passenger car so even a slight misjudgment could get you into trouble. You must make your turns way wider than usual (especially right turns!) to avoid hitting a curb or maybe even another vehicle. So, before you even begin to make a turn, make sure you have ample space from the corner and from all the cars next to you.<\/p>\n Although you\u2019re probably too eager to reach your destination and start unpacking ASAP, the thing to remember here is that driving a moving truck cross country is not a race. Rather, it\u2019s all about safety \u2013 yours and that of your belongings safely packed up and loaded in the back. Observe the speed limits at all times as speeding in a huge loaded truck is extremely dangerous. It\u2019s okay to be driving much slower than usual \u2013 just wave \u201cBye-bye\u201d to any vehicles in a great hurry to overtake you. You yourself should refrain from overtaking other cars on hills, curved or narrow roads, or anywhere else where you don\u2019t feel 100% comfortable doing it.<\/p>\n Remember: haste makes waste.<\/em><\/p>\n SEE ALSO<\/strong>: What costly self-move mistakes to avoid?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n You don\u2019t pay much attention to the height clearance signs when driving your car, do you? This time it\u2019s different. Most moving trucks come close to reaching that clearance restriction, and some even surpass it. Make sure you memorize just how tall the moving truck rental is and keep a close watch on those warning signs whenever you approach a low-clearance passage like a tunnel or a bridge.<\/p>\n Remember: do not drive under an underpass until you are absolutely\u00a0sure the rented truck will fit without any problems.<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting to note that some states require rental trucks to stop at weight stations while others don\u2019t. Do consult your move route and look up in advance the states you\u2019ll be passing through and their requirements concerning weigh stations. Doing your homework in advance will save you valuable time and keep you from trouble \u2013 you can get fined for failure to stop at a weigh station when required by law. Get that list from the rental truck driving service to save time or get in touch with each state\u2019s Department of Transportation<\/em><\/a> to find out for sure.<\/p>\n Not only do you need to take into account all the above safety tips for driving a moving truck, but you also must observe the weather conditions and act accordingly. Adverse climatic conditions such as mountainous terrain, rain, snow, ice or strong winds is a sure sign that you need to slow down even more and drive with extreme caution. Your surroundings may change in a matter of seconds so you are expected to be fully alert and cautious at all times.<\/p>\n Remember: follow the rules of the road strictly to avoid accidents while driving a large moving truck.<\/em><\/p>\n We finish our advice on how to drive a moving truck by answering 2 important questions that often worry people who have chosen to move on their own.<\/p>\n Remember: if what you\u2019ve read so far sounds too much for you, then hiring full service movers<\/a> is the way to go. <\/em><\/p>\n1. Get to know your new heavy-weight friend<\/h2>\n
2. More mass means more trouble<\/h2>\n
3. Backing up is your worst enemy<\/h2>\n
4. Side-view mirrors can be your life-savers<\/h2>\n
5. Turns will be trickier than usual<\/h2>\n
6. Your rental truck is not a sports car<\/h2>\n
7. Height clearance is a thing to worry about<\/h2>\n
8. Weigh stations? What are those?<\/h2>\n
9. Obey the rules of the road<\/h2>\n
10. Bonus advice on how to drive a moving truck rental<\/h2>\n
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