Best Tips to Drive a Moving Truck

Driving a moving truck isn’t easy, and for most, it’s a new experience completely. You may be nervous about your first moving truck adventure, so we put together a list of everything you need to know to make driving a breeze.

Find the right size

Moving trucks range in size from a conventional pickup truck with an 8-foot bed up to a 26-foot moving truck. The 26-foot truck can move five or more rooms at a time and has a cab that seats three, offering a more spacious ride for two adults. If you’re moving with kids or pets, you’ll want to rent an extended cab pick-up truck and trailer combo, because you’ll need a back seat.

Take time to get used to the handling

Keep in mind, even the smaller 12-foot moving truck handles differently than a car. Your moving truck does not handle like a car or a large SUV. It’s tall and wobbly, with very loose steering. Because it’s so heavy, especially loaded with your stuff, it takes longer to stop in a moving truck than in a regular passenger vehicle.

You won’t want to jump right on the highway when you first pick up the van. Drive it around empty from the rental location, maybe even around the parking lot a few times, to get used to the feel. Remember, it will take even longer to accelerate or stop after it’s loaded.

Learn how to brake a moving truck

A loaded moving truck is heavy, which makes it difficult to stop. Couple the momentum of the large truck with all your cargo inside, and you want to avoid stopping short. Always pay attention to the traffic down the road, go slowly, and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. These basic driving tips become even more critical when you are hauling anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 pounds behind you.

Use your mirrors, upgrade your truck

Today’s automotive technology gives us backup cameras and alerts, but you probably won’t find these options in rental moving vans. You often won’t even find a center rear-view mirror because there’s nothing to see. Request a new model truck and you might enjoy a cleaner cab and slightly better gas mileage. Amenities aside, what really matters is that you rent a truck large enough to get your belongings to your new home. Make sure you know how many cars you are taking and whether you’ll need a trailer to haul one of the vehicles, as well. You can save a bundle with a do-it-yourself move, but you’ll want to be prepared for the journey that lies ahead.

Slower traffic, keep right

On our nation’s interstates, it’s common courtesy and a traffic law to keep right, except when passing. In a moving truck, it’s best to stick to the right lane and not pass at all. In some states, trucks may be prohibited from the left lane, and may even have lower speed limits than other vehicles. Regardless of the speed limit, your truck may be equipped with a governor that limits your speed to 75 mph.

How to turn a truck

Remember, a truck makes wide right turns, and can tip over if you turn too fast. To turn safely, come to almost a complete stop. Check your left mirror to make sure you have enough room in the oncoming traffic lane, and stay tight against the curb to turn. If you hit the curb, that’s better than the alternative of hitting another vehicle. Just back up and try again.

Know the max headroom

“Max Headroom” is not just a computer-generated character from the ‘80s. It stands for “maximum headroom” and represents the clearance available for a truck to pass under a bridge, go through a drive-thru, or enter a parking garage. If you spot a sign like this, you’ll need to know the height of your truck at its highest point to make sure you can fit.

Use the right gas

Remember, some rental trucks run on diesel, not regular fuel. Confirm the type of gas before you leave. If you put unleaded fuel into a diesel truck, you could ruin the engine and face a hefty fine.

You can do this

Driving a large rental truck isn’t really as scary as it sounds. Pay attention to the rules of the road even more than usual, give yourself plenty of time to brake, turn slowly, and use your mirrors. And just imagine the sense of accomplishment you’ll have when you reach your destination.