Box Truck Rentals - Packing And Moving Tips To Keep You Safe
If you need to move a great deal of products from your business to a warehouse or a new facility, then you can rent a box truck from a company like Del's Truck Rentals for assistance. This can save you money, but you will need to make sure that you do things correctly during the move to prevent injuries. Keep reading to learn a few tips that will help to keep you injury free and also keep your items safe.
Pack Boxes Correctly
The first step in making sure that you can safely move items is packing boxes correctly. Purchase the sturdiest boxes you can to prevent issues with items falling through the bottom. If you are moving fairly heavy items, then think about purchasing double walled boxes, since these boxes have two traditional box walls on each side. Not only can these boxes hold a good deal of weight, but they are crush resistant if you need to stack boxes on top of one another. If you choose to purchase regular singe walled boxes, then make sure that they contain many flutes or s-shaped constructions in between the walls. Between 39 and 50 flutes per foot will help the box to retain strength, so make sure the box label says that it contains flutes within this range. Also, look at edge crush test results when picking out boxes. A crush number around 42 or above is best to make sure that 80 pounds or more can be stacked up on each box.
Once you have the right boxes, you should pack each one so that you can comfortably lift the box. You probably can lift items that are well over 50 pounds. However, carrying this type of weight a long distance will be quite tiring. Think about cutting this amount in half and packing boxes so they are at most 20 to 25 pounds. To help with the weight, think about renting or buying a platform or floor scale. Place the box on the scale and pack the box until it reaches the 20 to 25 pound mark. Always lift boxes by bending your legs instead of your back to reduce injury concerns.
Get The Right Hand Truck
If you do not intend on moving boxes individually into your box truck, then you will need a device like a hand truck to help you move stacked boxes. However, the wrong kind of truck can be quite jarring to your boxes and your body as you roll it around. This is usually the case when you rent a truck that has solid rubber wheels that do not absorb shock when passing over curbs and uneven surfaces. To avoid this problem, make sure that the truck has air-filled wheels when you rent it. These wheels are usually called pneumatic or balloon cushion tires.
Also, think about looking for hand trucks with features like wheel stops and braking systems. This is wise if you need to move boxes on and off a truck that is secured on a hill.
Drive the Truck Cautiously
If you decide to drive the box truck yourself after it is completely packed up, then you will need to understand that you will need to drive carefully. Make sure that all bridges, underpasses, drive throughs, and other areas are high enough for the top of the truck to pass under without any damage. This may not be an issue if you rent a smaller or standard sized truck with a cargo space that is around eight feet high, but issues may arise if you are driving a bigger truck. Make sure to ask about the height of the truck when you rent it and also read clearance signs carefully. Not only will clearance issues cause damage to the truck, but you can cause a substantial accident as well.
You should also understand that you will need to brake far more quickly when driving a moving truck than you would if you were driving a regular vehicle. It will take much longer for the truck to stop due to the weight in the back of it. Consider keeping the truck at least five or six car lengths from the vehicles in front of it and also start braking about two times as quickly as you would if you were driving a regular car.