Safety Tips for Driving a Rental Box Truck

Renting a box truck for your move is a great way to safely transport your belongings and save money. You’ll be handling the heavy lifting of the move yourself, and you will also be responsible for driving the truck between locations. This can be a tough job even for more experienced drivers. You don’t want to risk damaging the truck, or injuring yourself or your passengers. If you have never driven a box truck before, Empire Rent A Car recommends taking these safety precautions.

Inspect the Truck

Before renting a box truck, do a thorough inspection of the truck. Check the tires, the signals, the lights, and the mirrors, to be sure the truck is in good shape. Take note of any existing interior or exterior damage so that you are not blamed for it later. Often, you can request the newest truck available to reduce the likelihood of any issues.

Road Conditions

If the weather is bad, be prepared to drive more slowly and cautiously. If the roads are wet or icy, you will need to stay a greater distance behind the cars in front of you. Be sure to drive at least 10 mph less than the speed limit and plan for your trip to take longer so that you won’t be rushed.

Brake and Turn Safely

If you get a flat tire or need to brake suddenly for any reason, don’t slam on the brakes as this may cause you to lose control of the truck. Instead, pull the truck over slowly and gradually. When turning, be sure to make wide and slow turns to avoid hitting other vehicles or over-turning the truck.

Driving large box trucks, such as moving trucks or refrigerated/reefer trucks, requires extra caution. At Empire Rent A Car, safety is our number one concern. For more information on our policies and procedures, visit our website or contact us at (800) 750-8782. You can also book a reservation online anytime.