Three Driving Tips To Help You With Your Box Truck
Posted on: 19 October 2015
Share
When you're preparing for an upcoming move, renting a box truck is a cost-effective option. Instead of going through the expense of hiring a moving crew, it's a satisfying feeling to roll up your sleeves, load your box truck and handle the job with the help of a few friends. Unless you have previous experience driving a box truck, it can require a little adjustment and a lot of vigilance. Although you shouldn't be intimidated about getting behind the wheel, there are elements of driving this type of vehicle that require your attention and consideration. Here are three areas to consider.
Braking Distance
A noticeable change between driving a box truck and your everyday vehicle is that the latter stops much quicker. A box truck's extra weight, especially when you've loaded it with your possessions, means that you'll need considerably longer to stop. This distance depends on factors such as your speed and weight, but in general, it's important to keep a significant distance between your front bumper and the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you. Increase this distance as your speed climbs and in the event of inclement weather that makes the roads slick or slippery.
Mirror Usage
Checking the traffic behind you and observing your blind spots is a whole new game when you're driving a box truck. Whereas you can use your windshield-mounted rear-view mirror effectively when driving your normal vehicle, this mirror isn't a factor in a box truck due to the truck's design. This means that you'll have to ensure your side mirrors are positioned properly. Box trucks often have dual mirrors on each side; the top is for observing what's behind you and the bottom is designed to improve your ability to see your blind spots. Adjusting these mirrors before your trip is vitally important.
Backing Up
Whether you're backing up your home's driveway or navigating the tight lanes of a self-storage facility, it's ideal to use someone to help you navigate the box truck while it's in reverse. Although you can successfully use your mirrors, the job gets much easier when you have someone standing behind you and using hand signals to indicate where to position the vehicle and how to avoid any obstacles that you can't see from the driver's seat. An effective strategy is to roll down your window to keep in verbal contact with the person helping you, instead of solely relying on hand gestures.
To rent a truck, click on this link http://www.delstruckrentals.com/ or do an online search.