Large Moving Truck Driving Tips

Moving to a new place is especially tough if it is not something that you are used to doing. There is the long list of things that need to be done: from registering the change with the post office; to singing off a new lease or purchase; packing and deciding what goes and what stays. The next step which comes close to completing the process is actually moving your belongings to a new residence. For that you have the option to hire a moving company, or take on the move yourself and borrow someone’s truck or rent a moving truck. If you decide to go with the last, I have compiled a group of tips – personal, from friends and the web – to make driving the behemoth of a vehicle much easier and to get you and your belongings to your destination as safe as possible.

Choosing the right truck:

Depending on who you rent from, getting a recommended truck size can be done online after completing a few forms. If that is not an option and you are on the border of deciding whether to go for the larger truck or the smaller, go larger. I would recommend the larger one if you are moving cross country and need to take care of your move in one trip.

Ask for a newer model moving truck. These typically come with auxiliary inputs to plug in your electronics so that you can choose what music you want to listen to on the trip simply by plugging in your mp3 player or phone (having a preset playlist helps.) Fuel is another plus when it comes to getting a newer truck. Various moving truck rental companies have upgraded their fleet of truck to some that are more fuel efficient. This is a great option because not only are they more responsive, they save you money as well.

Driving the truck for the first time:

Give the truck a quick visual inspection before you drive it off the lot. Make sure the lights work; the mirrors work; the fuel gauge is what the contract specifies; and check and adjust your mirrors again. Before driving it anywhere fix your mirrors and take note of the blind spots. These trucks have way too many. To get an idea of what I’m referring to check out this quick video that reveals just how many blind spots a truck of that size carries.

Loading:

Make sure when you load your truck, to get the larger items in first and that they are well secured. Use dollies to move them around and later, ropes to keep them in place. The fewer amounts of things you have rolling around, the better.

The Move:

Use caution. This is one of the best tips when driving one of these large moving vehicles. The best thing is to travel at lower speeds – this gives you enough time to stop in case of an emergency. There are well documented stories where novice large truck drivers have been caught in an accident because they were driving too fast. The outcome was unfortunate, none of the people driving it survived.  

Every time, prior to getting you get in your vehicle, check that your mirrors are where you need them and you have the least amount of blind spots possible.

Be patient: when you map out your journey and are given an approximation online, ignore the approximate time of arrival they have estimated. You are in a larger vehicle and have to travel at lower speeds.

Be aware of the fuel you are using and where the nearest gas station will be. You don’t want to be stuck without fuel in some places. It could be dangerous and put you at risk.

Take breaks to eat and rest if you are traveling long distances. And if you have a driving partner make sure to switch driving periodically (at least every two to four hours). I have found that apples help me stay alert; they may work for you too; if not, there are always energized drinks and coffee.

Keep handy the information of a car accident lawyer in case you are involved in a collision you have someone to call and guide you through the process.

I hope these tips help you and if you have further suggestions feel free to leave a comment below or send me and e-mail.

 

 

 

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