Even if you are a confident driver who has owned a car for many years, the reality is that you may still struggle to operate a moving truck. The bulky size of the vehicle itself, coupled with the collective weight of all of the belongings you will be transporting in it, can make this type of truck difficult to manoeuvre. If you have rented a moving truck for an upcoming house move, here are some tips which should help to make your journey to your new home safe and stress-free.

Plan your route carefully

If you're travelling in a tall, bulky moving truck, you won't necessarily be able to take any route you like to your new home. Driving along one which features things such as low-level bridges and narrow rural roads could result in an accident which will not only prevent you from reaching your destination on time but could also result in damage to your belongings, and even put you at risk of injury.

When selecting a route, check the height restrictions of any flyovers on it, so that you can avoid getting jammed underneath one. If possible, try to choose a route that is free from excessively steep inclines and sharp turns, as even experienced operators of large vehicles can struggle with manoeuvring hefty moving trucks up hills or around sharp bends; as a novice, you are likely to find such challenges very stressful and are more likely to make an error which could result in an accident.

Additionally, do your best to select a quiet route, which avoids high-traffic zones (such as city centres and motorways). This will allow you to drive at a comfortable pace and avoid getting too close to (and potentially hitting) other vehicles. It will also ensure that any mistakes you make when driving will be less likely to result in a serious collision with another road user.

Use the best packing supplies you can afford

Do not scrimp when it comes to buying packing supplies for the items you'll be transporting in the truck, as your choice of packing materials could affect the distribution of weight in the vehicle's storage container during your journey.

Using weak, single-walled cardboard boxes for heavy items (such as a large collection of books, for example), could lead to the boxes collapsing whilst the truck in transit, and the items inside it then being hurled around the storage area. This could put the truck off-balance, which may make it harder to maintain control of the vehicle when you have to make a sharp turn, brake abruptly or drive up a steep incline. As such, it's best to purchase plenty of double or triple-walled boxes and wrap them with high-quality duct tape, to prevent them from bursting open.

If you're transporting large, bulky possessions that won't fit into boxes, and are likely to be thrown around the truck's storage container by the motion of the vehicle (things such as chairs, tables, large appliances and bookcases might fall into this category), make sure to secure them to the walls or floor of the container with thick, high-quality packing straps. Pay attention to their position within the storage container too; ideally, they should be spaced evenly around the edges, to allow for even weight distribution.

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