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Maybe there is a little bit of Jack Kerouac in all of us, a need to hit the open road for new destinations. Moving across the country or even across town in a rental truck can be just as adventurous, but it requires some advance planning.
Self-moving is often a cheaper alternative to hiring a moving company and thus, attracts numerous road warriors. Consequently, trucks lease out quickly in the spring and summer, and during the weekends, no matter what the season. So book a truck a few months before your planned move. While making your reservations, which can be made online, depending on the company your rent from, or over the phone, ask for a price quote for the truck size you'll need. The quote should include costs for any deposits, cost of the truck per day, mileage and insurance costs.
If you are planning to store your goods, some rental truck companies may offer one month of free storage if you lease a truck from their company. Be sure that you are provided with a phone number and address of the rental truck company where you will be leaving the truck and storing your goods. Note: Not all rental truck companies, even if they are under the same company name, have storage facilities, so ask before you spin your wheels looking for a place to store your times.
On moving day arrive at the rental truck company early because it can get pretty busy and you may need to get on the road. Have the rental representative explain the contract to you and ask about the insurance policy, and by all means, purchase it. Unlike rental cars where the driver can use a credit card or his/her own auto insurance policy to cover the vehicle, rental trucks do not fall under the same auspices.
Upon completion of all the paperwork, test drive the truck in town for about an hour to determine if there are any oil leaks and if the tires are in good shape. Also check to see if the brakes, spedometer, odometer, lights, windshield wipers, air conditioner and directional signals are fully operational. If you are renting a car tow dolly, check the tires and directional signals as well.
Once you're on the road in ernest, there are some common sense tips that may be useful. Posted speeds for trucks is slower than for cars, so it may be best to drive in the right lane with slower moving traffic. Make sure your rear and side view mirrors are properly adjusted, allow enough distance for safe lane changes. Watch out for low bridges and avoid them. Don't attempt to back up if you are carrying a car hitch, it may jacknife. Find ample space to turn around if you need to back track in the city, such as a big parking lot. Forget about fast food drive thrus. Park the truck by a curb and go inside to get your burger and fries. I know, the manager of the local diner had to back our truck out of a too narrow drive thru. He said it is a common error many novice rental truck drivers make. If you're planning to stop for the night, call hotels ahead of time and ask if they have truck or RV parking. Most importantly, gas up when the fuel gage registers half full. Don't wait like I did until the needle is teetering on empty, in the middle of the desert, to find out that not all gas stations sell diesel fuel, which most of the trucks require.
When you have reached your destination, clean out the truck and make sure the tank is refueled to avoid a hefty penalty. Happy travels!
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