Your company can save a significant amount of money by using moving truck rentals instead of hiring professional moving services. But in order to make the move as easy as possible, and protect all of the items that are being moved, you should be sure that you have the essential supplies before you start.

Most moving truck rental companies give quotes that only include the price of the truck. You will have to pay extra for supplies for moving truck rental, but they can make your move a lot easier. Supplies you will probably need include:

1. Moving and lifting aids;

2. Furniture pads;

3. And boxes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Rent or purchase moving and lifting aids for rental moving trucks

Moving and lifting aids such as hand trucks, straps, gloves and furniture slides can make a huge difference when you are using a moving truck. They save time and help prevent injuries to the people who are doing the moving. These supplies are essential for any moving van rental.

I recommend: U-Haul International sells a wide range of moving and lifting aids to go along with its truck rentals for moving. Supplies that are for sale on the company's website include furniture slides, carpet protectors and forearm forklift moving straps. If you are looking to get a hand truck or dolly, check out Sunbelt Rentals.

Purchase furniture pads for moving truck rentals

Furniture pads are a great way to keep large or valuable items from getting scratched, dented or damaged during the move. Moving trucks often have inside bars or rails that you can use to secure the furniture and the pad so that it will not shift or fall during transport. Sometimes you are able to rent furniture pads when you rent a moving truck, but most likely, you will have to buy them.

I recommend: Dial-A-Box sells premium grade furniture pads that measure 72 inches by 80 inches. Volume pricing is available if you are purchasing furniture pads by the dozen. Movers Supply House has a good selection of lightweight to heavyweight furniture pads, available individually or by the dozen.

Buy boxes to use in moving trucks

The right boxes will go a long way toward making your move easy and problem free. Whether you have a round-trip or on-way moving truck rental, you will want to have boxes that will stack nicely in the back of the moving truck and protect all of your company's items without crushing them.

I recommend: Penske Truck Rental stocks small, medium, large and wardrobe boxes. Additionally, you don't have to worry about buying too many because unused boxes can be returned to Penske for a full refund. Budget Truck Rental sells bundles of boxes in several different sizes, as well as inserts for glasses and dishes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing supplies from moving truck rental companies, ask about a AAA discount. Many companies will give you 10% off your purchase.

Whether you need to transport products, relocate your whole business, or make a last-minute delivery, a rental truck can get the job done. Truck rental companies offer both short-term and long-term rentals for small business, depending on your needs. When selecting a rental company, find out about:

1. A collision damage waiver
2. Personal accident insurance
3. Supplemental liability protection
4. Personal effects protection

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Go with business truck renting specialists

Even if you only rent a truck once a year, you need a reliable, safe vehicle from a trustworthy company that rents for business purposes.

I recommend: Enterprise Truck Rental provides more than short and long-term truck rentals. They also offer seasonal, crunch or capacity rentals, a free Special Delivery service, and invoicing timed specifically to fit your needs. Ryder offers a wide range of truck rental services for business. Check their lineup of different types of trucks available, and a list of truck rental benefits and special programs (like preferred customer status and special billing).

Look for regular-rental rewards

If you need rental trucks on regular basis, use a company that offers savings on frequent business rentals and other perks.

I recommend: At Budget Truck Rental, frequent renters who qualify for a Budget commercial account get preferred rates, direct billing and fast rentals/returns. Penske Business Rental offers 50,000-plus vehicles, more than 1,500 nationwide locations and the Rental Express program after your first rental.

Think about leasing

If your trucking needs are extensive, leasing might be an attractive solution. Whether you need a single truck, commercial trucks or a fleet of vehicles, truck leasing, commercial truck leasing and fleet leasing solutions may be the right choice for your business.

I recommend: Ryder truck leasing offers a range of solutions for small business.

Find the right specialty truck for your needs

Sometimes, a standard truck isn't enough to get the job done. Look for companies that rent 'specialty trucks' -- bucket trucks, material handlers, digger-derricks or cable placing units.

I recommend: Penske Utility Vehicles is an excellent source for all things utility-truck-oriented, representing the major chassis and aerial device manufacturers. Penske offers 24/7 emergency roadside service on rentals for anywhere from a day to a year – and beyond.

Consider a truck-rental alternative

Some companies allow you to rent space in a truck or trailer (as opposed to renting the entire vehicle), and then the rental company's driver does the driving. This way, you only pay for the space you use, and save money, plus your own employee's time/expenses of lodging/gas/rest stops.

I recommend: Check out U-Pack for their 'You Pack, We Drive' moving alternative. They offer moving storage, free moving quotes, and a large coverage area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take a deduction: If you use your personal truck in your business, you may be able to deduct the costs of operation and maintenance.
• •  Save money: Rent from a company that charges on an 'unlimited mileage', flat-fee basis. Extra miles can add up very quickly, and so can the seemingly cheap add-on mileage fees!
• •  Consider the rental time: If you will need the vehicle for a lengthy, pre-determined amount of time, consider leasing the vehicle, instead of renting it.
• •  Plan with foresight: Ask about the rental company's policy for bad weather and breakdowns.
• •  Remember: The speed limit for trucks in most places is on average 10 miles an hour lower than for passenger cars.
• •  Once you find a good company, keep their info on hand for those times when your own fleet can't handle your deliveries – say, around the holidays – or other truck needs arise.

When you need to move something for your business, you may find that renting a moving truck is the most cost effective way to complete the job. Obviously, when you rent a moving truck, you or your employees will have to do all the packing, lifting, loading and unloading, but a moving truck rental can save you thousands of dollars compared to hiring a professional moving company.

Rental moving trucks are rented out in several different ways. So before you try to determine the pricing and costs of moving truck rental, ask yourself these questions to figure out exactly what you need:

1. Is my move local or long distance?

2. Am I able to return the moving van rental to the location that it was originally rented from?

3. Do I just need a moving truck rental for a quick move in town?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get one-way long-distance moving truck rentals

In a one-way truck rental, you will pick up the moving truck at one location and return it at another. One-way truck rentals are the most convenient way to rent a truck, but they are also the most expensive. For example, a one-way truck rental on a weekday in October from New York City to Boston, including tax and fees, costs around $400 for a 12- to 16-foot truck and $500 for a 22- to 26-foot truck.

I recommend: Penske Truck Rental offers good rates on one-way moving truck rentals for businesses and has 50,000 trucks available for rent from 1,500 locations nationwide. Ryder has more than 30,000 late-model trucks available for rent, including light-duty vans, box vans, medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty straight trucks and tractor trailers.

Get a round-trip moving truck rental

You can save a good deal of money by returning the moving truck to the same location that you picked it up. This so-called round-trip rental is ideal for regional moves. The cost varies by city and truck, but as an example, a round-trip moving truck rental in Providence, Rhode Island, will cost you about $70 to $80 per day with unlimited mileage.

I recommend: TopMovingCompanies.com aims to make it easier to rent a moving truck by allowing you to compare rates for round-trip rentals from several companies. UStorage.com also allows you to compare round-trip rental rates from top moving companies across the country.

Rent moving trucks for one day

If you are only moving a few miles, you might find a one-day rental is the best deal. Rates vary, depending on the city and moving truck rental company. But for example, in San Francisco it will cost you about $20 to $40 per day to rent the truck. The catch is that you have to pay a per mile fee, which can be as high as $1 per mile.

I recommend: U-Haul rents small pickup trucks, vans and moving trucks as large as 26 feet. All moving trucks come with low decks, wide ramps and padded rub rails. Budget Truck Rental has a fleet of trucks that range from small vans to 24-foot trucks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you can plan your move, schedule it for the winter. Fewer people rent moving trucks this time of year, so the costs will be lower. Also, rentals are sometimes less expensive on weekdays.
• •  The person renting the moving truck will have to show a valid driver's licence and leave a deposit.
• •  Many moving truck rental companies offer AAA discounts.

Before you sign an agreement for a moving truck rental, you should take a few moments to understand the key terms of the truck rental industry. After all, a truck rental is a legal contract and if you misunderstand what is required of you, then you could be held liable for damages.

Truck rental key terms basically fall into two categories: truck classifications, such as box truck and stakebed truck, and contractual terms, such as limited damage waiver and CDL. This guide will help you understand both types of terms.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Box truck

The most common type of moving truck rental is a box truck. Your cargo is completely enclosed in a large 'box' that is attached to a cab. Typically, the truck is loaded through a pull-down door on the rear of the truck. Box trucks are rented based on their length, which varies from about 10 feet to more than 26 feet.

I recommend: More information about box trucks is available from the commercial truck rental division of Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Stakebed truck

Unlike a box truck, the cargo area of a stakebed truck does not have a roof and the sides are not completely solid. Also, stakebed trucks often come with removable sides. These features give you greater flexibility when you are loading and transporting large items.

I recommend: Suppose U Drive shows you what a stakebed truck looks like.

Panel van

Panel vans are great for small loads or moves that require maneuvering the rental truck through tight spaces. They are similar to a passenger van, except the windows in the back are replaced with panels.

I recommend: To get more information about panel vans, and to see a picture of one, check out Ryder System.

Limited damage waiver (LDW)

A limited damage waiver, also called a LDW, is a type of insurance that you can purchase for your rental truck. If the truck is lost or damaged, the LDW relieves you of any financial responsibility.

I recommend: To learn more about limited damage waivers and other options for insurance on rental trucks, check out Penske.

Certificate of insurance

A certificate of insurance is proof that your company has an insurance policy that will cover the truck rental. The truck rental company will sometimes require you to provide a copy for its files.

I recommend: Budget Truck Rental provides an example of the guidelines that a certificate of insurance must meet.

CDL

CDL stands for commercial driver's license. When you rent a truck with a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds, the person who is operating the vehicle must have a CDL.

I recommend: The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is an excellent resource for more information about a CDL.