Best Moving Truck Rental Companies (2023) (2023)

FAQs

Best Moving Truck Rental Companies (2023)? ›

The best time to rent a moving truck is on a Tuesday in the middle of the month during the winter. This is when you will find the cheapest price for a moving truck rental.

The best time to rent a moving truck is on a Tuesday in the middle of the month during the winter. This is when you will find the cheapest price for a moving truck rental.

Mondays through Thursdays are your best days to secure your U-Haul truck rental when you make your reservation. This is especially important if you're trying to move on a budget.

When it comes to the overall cost of moving, you will typically find that Penske is slightly more expensive than U-Haul. This is because the company maintains a higher quality of trucks. Penske also tends to add its unlimited mileage option to its quotes.

The short answer to this question is that it's cheaper to move on a weekday — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Simply put, most moving companies offer better rates during the week because they aren't as busy then.

So, when is the cheapest time to move? Scheduling your move from late September to April will save you the most money. This window of time avoids peak moving season in the summer as well as the high demand for movers in the fall, up to early September.

Worst Days of the Week to Move

During the weekend: Friday-Sunday, tend to be the worst days for moving. Since most people are off on the weekends, mover's book up fast. You'll typically have to give more notice as well as pay more than if you opted to move during the week.

The best months to move are November and December. This is when moving companies are the slowest, as kids are in school and most people don't want to move during the holidays. Avoid the summer months, as those are the most expensive times to move.

How much should I save before moving? ›

You should generally save between $6,000 and $12,000 before moving out. You'll need this money to find a place to live inside, purchase furniture, cover moving expenses, and pay other bills. You'll also want to have enough money saved up for an emergency fund before moving out.

Penske does not have any hidden mileage or turn-in fees.

A 16 ft. Penske truck will enable you to travel about 12 mpg. With a 33-gallon fuel tank, you can travel up to 396 miles when you fill up this truck.

Remember, the moving company is a business looking to secure you as its customer. It's in its best interest to negotiate with you and make a mutually beneficial deal that satisfies your budget and brings it a loyal new customer.

Although tipping movers is not technically required, it is customary, so we do recommend it. A good rule of thumb is to tip $5 to $10 per person per hour, paid individually rather than as a lump sum. Generally, you will tip the crew members at the end of the move after they have provided their final service.

You tip local movers when they load and unload. On the other hand, you typically give long-distance movers a gratuity only at the end of your move.

Load your heaviest items first. Whether you're a DIY or professional mover, this usually means furniture goes in before boxes, unless you have large, heavy boxed items such as a TV or a floor mirror. Place dressers, chairs, appliances, couches and other large items against the back wall.

Tempting as it may be to put off unpacking boxes, just dive in and take it one box at a time. Unpacking goes faster than packing.

Peak moving season occurs in the summer, with 80% of all moves in the United States occurring between April and September. Why is summer the busiest time of year to move? While there are several reasons, the main factor is that kids are off from school.

What is the busiest month for movers? ›

On average more than 40 million people move each year in the United States. It is estimated that 80% of those moves occur between April and September; this is referred to as peak season. During this time, the demand for movers is very high, especially in June, July, and August, which are the busiest months.

Most Americans move from mid-May through mid-September—or between Memorial Day and Labor Day—which is the peak moving season. However, the best time of the year to move is during the off-season, which is mid-September through April.

According to research on the most popular day to move, some 41 per cent of us choose to move on Fridays, while 17 per cent go for Mondays. An equal amount (13 per cent) opt for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with very few moves at the weekend. And it's obvious why Fridays are the most popular.

Traditionally, the most popular day of the week for moving house is a Friday (with the exception of Friday the 13th – people are surprisingly superstitious!), while weekends are the least popular.

Are You Required to Tip Movers? In short, no. There is no industry standard for tipping. “Tipping is not required, but greatly appreciated by the movers,” says Hilary Reynolds with All My Sons Moving and Storage.

What is the cheapest month to move cross-country? Because most people move during summer, the cheapest time to move cross-country is typically from October to April. You can also save money by avoiding holidays, school breaks, and long weekends. Instead, opt for a mid-week move during an off-peak month.

The best days to move into a new home in February 2023 are auspicious dates. Water Day, not Fire Day, is the better option for relocating. If it's a yang day, choose a yin hour, and vice versa. Also, avoid using any shades of red or earth tones when redecorating your new space this month.

2021 saw the most significant increase in moving costs since 2008, and costs are only rising due to inflation. Inflation affects almost every aspect of moving, including gas prices and storage costs, which are steadily rising.

Hate to break it to you, but moving always costs more than you think. The reason? Additional moving expenses such as packing add-ons, closing costs and transportation fees add up during the process. Fortunately, there are ways to plan and budget for these moving costs, if you know what to expect.

Is $2000 enough to move out? ›

Start small, with $1,000 to $2,000 in your emergency fund. You should eventually save an amount equivalent to three to six months of living expenses before moving out, so you can handle unanticipated expenses, such as medical bills, insurance deductibles, and vacations.

If you have $5,000 set aside to move out, you don't necessarily have to worry about moving on a tight budget. Regardless, you should still make sure you are spending your money wisely. Keep reading for more information on how much it costs to move and how you can save money while moving!

A popular rule of thumb says your income should be around 3 times your rent. So, if you're looking for a place that costs $1,000 per month, you may need to earn at least $3,000 per month.

Penske Logistics is among fleets that have installed both forward- and driver-facing cameras, and the company now has 3,000 cameras in use. What's more, it has seen significant safety improvements since implementing the technology in 2018.

You can cancel your reservation anytime with no fees attached.

Fleet InSite applies GPS and cellular technology to quickly and easily locate vehicles, on-demand. Fleet managers can locate, or "ping", a vehicle and access its location history including the date, time, speed, latitude/longitude, travel direction and address for each time it has been pinged.

For a quick, easy-to-remember rule of thumb, remember that the lower the mileage, the better. For used trucks with gas engines, try to keep the mileage under 100,000 miles. Used trucks with a diesel engine can go a good deal further since diesel engines are easier to maintain than gasoline.

Although it may have been well maintained, the purchase of a vehicle with over 200,000 miles on the odometer might lead to significant maintenance costs. At this point, the car is likely nearing the end of its useful life, and you may soon need to either invest a significant sum in repairs or replace it entirely.

If a truck driver adheres to federal and laws (dependent on state and interstate), they will average about 55 to 60 miles per hour; this means that most truck drivers average around 605 to 650 miles per working day—although mileage varies depending on the route, traffic, and weather conditions.

Diesel is more efficient in the larger vehicles. Putting unleaded fuel into a diesel engine will put a quick halt to your move. Be aware at the fuel pump and save yourself a headache out on the road by filling your Penske rental truck with diesel when it specifies to do so.

How many miles per gallon does a 26ft Penske truck get? ›

Nearly full load by weight. Uphill on long grades, pedal floored, 30 to 40 mph, as little as 1.8 mpg. “Coasting”** downhill, the instant-read dash display reported 198 mpg. I think driving efficiently on flat terrain could yield 11.2 mpg average, hills cost extra.

Take U-Haul's 15′ truck for example; the “10 MPG” estimate is listed directly on the page. Combine that number with the 40 gallon tank and you can expect to get about 400 miles for every fill-up.

Truck sizes that rental companies recommend

16-22 ft. 22-26 ft. As you can see, these ranges aren't exact and sometimes the sizes overlap.

According to Edwards' data, 75 percent of truck owners use their truck for towing one time a year or less (meaning, never). Nearly 70 percent of truck owners go off-road one time a year or less.

When is the cheapest time of year to move? October-April: This is what we in the moving industry call the “Off Season”. Many moving companies will lower their rates when fall and winter come rolling in. This is because the demand for movers is lower during these times.

According to Budget, the 26 ft. truck rental can hold up to 12,000 pounds, including 500 medium boxes or one to 15 medium furniture items. The 26 ft. Large Truck has towing and loading ramp capabilities as well.

Queen – Cargo Van, 10′ and up moving trucks, and 5'x8′ cargo trailers and up. King – 10′ and up moving trucks, and a 6'x12′ cargo trailer. California King – 10′ and up moving trucks, and a 6'x12′ cargo trailer.

Yes, you can make money from trucking, if you get it right. The average net profit margin of a trucking company averages between 2.5% and 6%. That means it can be a profitable business and an industry that you can make a decent living from, provided you get into the trucking business with your eyes wide open.

The median age of over-the-road truck drivers is 46 while the median age of a private fleet driver is 57. Both of which are well older than the average age (42) of U.S. workers as a whole. To compound the problem, ATA also lists the average age of a new driver training to enter the trucking industry is 35.

Is being a long haul trucker worth it? ›

Long-haul drivers see consistent pay raises over time as well as bonuses. In fact, most drivers make more than college graduates! Long-haul truck driving is also one of the few industries today that guarantees equal pay, making it a great career option for women.