21 Tips to Operate Tool & Truck Rental Center at the Home Depot
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
If you’re planning a move, you might be thinking of renting a moving truck. Moving trucks are much larger than most people are used to driving, and they can seem intimidating. Luckily, it won’t take long to get the hang of driving a moving truck if you drive carefully and pay attention to your surroundings. To help you out, we’ve put together some tips for driving a moving truck, whether you’re traveling a short distance or driving a moving truck across country.
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Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
- Not only will checking your lights and turn signals keep you and other travellers safe on the road, but it might also save you the cost of a ticket.
- Use a gauge to check the air pressure of each tire before you leave. Unscrew the valve cap on the tire, press the gauge onto the valve stem, and check the reading before replacing the valve cap.
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
3. Check for existing damage to the interior and exterior of the truck. You don’t want to be blamed for any scratches or dents that were already on the truck, so go over it carefully and make sure the rental company acknowledges that the damage was already there.
- You may want to make a list or take pictures of any damaged areas to protect yourself.
- You may have to readjust the mirrors every time you switch drivers.
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- The rental company should be able to give you information on the truck’s gas mileage. Use this information to calculate approximately how much fuel you will need for your journey.
- For instance, if your truck averages 10 mpg-US (4.3 km/l) and you’re travelling 700 miles (1,100 km) you’ll need 70 gallons (260 l) of fuel.
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
6. Release the emergency brake before you start driving. The moving truck is likely parked with its emergency brake engaged. To release this, press the button on the end of the brake lever, then lower the handle.
- Most emergency brakes are operated by hand and are located near the steering column or the gear shifter.
- Some emergency brakes are foot-operated and will be located near the driver’s left leg. If this is the case, press firmly on the brake then remove your foot to disengage the brake.
- If you’re unfamiliar with driving a manual vehicle, double-check with the rental company to ensure your truck will be an automatic.
- If you’ll be driving on steep mountains, you may need to occasionally shift the truck into low gear so the truck has enough power to make it up the slope.
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Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
9. Slow the truck gradually when you need to stop. You should never slam on the brakes in a moving truck. If you slam on the brakes, your belongings in the back could shift. This can throw the truck off-balance and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. Instead, carefully ease onto the brakes, giving yourself plenty of time to stop.
- If you have an emergency, such as a flat tire, stay calm and gradually slow the truck, then pull over as soon as you can do so safely.
- There is no center rearview mirror on a moving truck, so you’ll need to adjust to using the side mirrors to monitor your surroundings.
- A normal rule of thumb is to stay at least 2 seconds behind the car in front of you, so when you’re driving a moving truck, you should double that to about 4 seconds.
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Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
12. Go about 10 mph (16 km/h) under the speed limit in bad weather. You never want to go too fast in a moving truck, but it’s even more important to watch your speed if roads are wet or icy. Take your time to ensure you and your belongings reach your destination safely.
- There should be a sticker in the cab of the truck reminding you of how much overhead clearance you’ll need. Compare this to any signs you see before you drive under low bridges or get into a drive-thru line.
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
14. Plan your route in advance. Use a map or a GPS system to choose your route before you leave. If you can, try to avoid any dramatic elevation changes, such as drives through the mountains. You may also want to avoid driving straight through large cities early in the morning or in the late afternoon when traffic will be the heaviest.
- Mark any rest areas along the route in case you need to stop.
- If you need to stop overnight, look for hotels along the way that having parking available to large vehicles.
15. Try to find drive-through parking so you don’t have to back up. Since there is no center rearview mirror in a moving truck, backing up is extremely difficult. Try to find parking spots which you can pull all the way through so you can just drive forward when you’re ready to leave.
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Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
16. Get someone to help you if you do need to back up while parking. Have the person stand off to one side so that you can clearly see them in your mirror, then ask them to direct you to make sure you don’t back over something you can’t see.
- Discuss what hand signals you will use before you start backing up. For instance, you may agree that an open hand means go and a closed fist means stop.
- Even if it seems like the truck is on flat elevation, you still need to engage the emergency brake.
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
19. Turn the wheels into the curb if you park downhill. If you have to park so that the front of the car is angled downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front tires are cut in towards the curb to keep the truck from rolling forwards.
Tool & truck rental center at the home depot
21. More tips
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List every driver who will be travelling with you in case you decide to take turns driving.
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Rent the smallest truck you’ll need to hold your belongings, since bigger trucks are more difficult to drive.
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Most rental companies have locations in major cities, meaning you can pick your truck up in one state and drop it off in another.
- Don’t forget to plan for the extra fuel costs of driving a large moving truck.
- Go ahead and get the insurance from the moving company. If anything happens, you’ll be glad you did.
- Take breaks every 2-3 hours so you don’t get fatigued.
- Try to bring someone else with you so you can take turns driving.