Safety Measures to Take When Driving U-Haul Trucks

You’ve purchased your new home, packed up all your belongings, and loaded up the U-Haul…now it’s time for transport! U-Haul trucks are much larger than your average sedan, which may be your only driving experience to date, but that doesn’t mean you can’t successfully drive it. Check out the tips below to ensure your trip is smooth and all your belongings make it to your destination in one piece!

Turning: You may have seen trucks taking their time and setting themselves up for wide turns, which is highly beneficial for U-Haul trucks as well. Being in a larger vehicle can sometimes make it difficult to have a good feel in terms of distance to the curb, which is why giving yourself enough room is important.

Changing Lanes: Since you won’t have the luxury of a center rearview mirror, you’ll have to depend entirely on your side mirrors when changing lanes. This can be somewhat uncomfortable at first, but there are also blind spot mirrors attached to the sides which somewhat compensate for the lack of the center rearview. It’s also best not to pass other vehicles, especially when driving on narrow or inclining roads. 

Distance/Stopping: Remaining a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you is another important tip to note when driving U-Haul trucks because it takes them longer to stop than smaller vehicles. Braking too abruptly when carrying your belongings in the back can increase the risk of them becoming damaged. It can also result in you losing control of the U-Haul, so it’s best to remain a safe distance from vehicles in front of you and brake early.