Guide to One-Way Truck Rental

Explore your options and hit the road with one-way rental trucks
By Brenda Lee

Whether you need to relocate a couple of file cabinets or an entire office full of furniture, and whether your move is a small one across town or a larger one across the country, one-way rental trucks are a great alternative to traditional moving companies. In addition to being cost-effective and convenient, one-way moving trucks put the control in your hands, thereby enabling you to work within your own timeframe and at your own pace.

There are a number of things to think about when you're considering one-way truck rental. To be sure you're getting the right one-way rental for the job, you need to know:

1. What you're moving and approximately how much space your load will occupy in a one-way rental van

2. How far you're going, how long the trip will take and the best way to get there

3. Whether you'll need additional products such as boxes or services such as loading help or storage for your one-way truck rentals

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine exactly what you're moving and what one-way rental you'll need Knowing specifically what you're moving is the first step in determining what type of one-way truck rental you'll need. A cabinet or closet full of office supplies probably will fit nicely in a one-way van rental, whereas a large marquee, storage shed or trees would likely fit best on a trailer.

I recommend: If a van will fill your need, U-Haul offers cargo van rentals at competitive prices. For a one-way rental truck, head over to Penske to check out their selection. And if you're unsure and want to consider all of your options, Ryder has a page that gives the lowdown on all of its rental vehicles, from cargo vans to refrigerated trucks to flatbeds.

Consider the distance and time of year you'll be using your one-way rental truck A quick jaunt across town in the fall calls for different criteria than a three-day coast-to-coast trip in the summer. Although the former really doesn't require much more than ensuring the truck type fits your needs, the latter requires considering things such as the age and shape of the vehicle, whether it has a/c or heat and whether access to restaurant/hotel parking will be an issue.

I recommend: No matter the length of your trip, make sure your moving truck rental company offers 24/7 roadside assistance. Not sure exactly where you're going? Budget Truck Rental offers a Where2 GPS navigation system. The time of year will determine whether you need a/c or heat. Penske offers a valuable list of safe driving tips for anyone who is new to driving a truck rental one way.

Decide whether you'll need additional products, services or help with your one-way truck rental Boxes, tape, protective padding, lifts, tiedowns and storage are a few of the many 'extra' products and services many people find themselves needing with one-way truck rentals. Whether you get the goods from your chosen truck rental company or elsewhere, make sure to plan ahead so that you're well prepared on moving day.

I recommend: Find a variety of boxes, tape and miscellaneous packing materials at BoxKits.com. Need storage either before or after the move? Public Storage and Self Storage are both great options. And if you need the storage to come to you, explore your options with PODS.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

'You load, we drive' is a trend in the moving industry, where the customer does everything but the driving. It's touted as a safe, cost-effective option to doing it all yourself. An online search will yield a few of the more popular companies offering such a service so you can compare them to a one-way truck rental.
An enclosed one-way rental truck can get unbearably hot in the summertime. Consider what you're moving and its ability to withstand heat when making your plans.

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