Consumer Tips

Make Back-to-School Better with Budget

Union Plus Professional Moving Team

July 28, 2017

Moving the kids to school is never easy. Advance planning, including reserving a rental truck, is key to making the move easier. Budget Truck Rental offers these simple guidelines to help make the back-to-school move more efficient, less stressful and safer:

1. Pack like a pro. Students today are taking more than clothes and school supplies to campus; they're packing computers, printers, gaming systems and other electronics. Budget Truck Rental encourages customers to pack electronics in their original boxes, if available. If not, a strong box should be used and the components should be generously wrapped with plastic cushioning wrap. Packing peanuts or any shredded materials can get into the device and cause damage. Use caution with larger televisions. Many newer TVs need to be transported standing up or they could be damaged. The screen should also be protected. Whether boxes are filled with hangers, power strips/surge protectors, extra-long sheets or shower necessities, they should always be full. If there is space at the top and the box is already heavy, some light weight filler like plastic cushioning wrap, packing peanuts or crumpled paper should be added. Otherwise, if there is empty space at the top, stacking on top will cause the box to crush and tilt. Boxes should be labeled on the sides, not the tops, which may be covered by other boxes. In addition, Budget Truck Rental offers a wide variety of products to make moving easier. These include furniture pads and dollies, boxes, tape, plastic cushioning wrap and rope.
    
2. Plan your truck needs ahead of time. To ensure truck availability, reservations should be made as far in advance as possible. Truck availability is best mid-week (Sunday through Thursday) and mid-month. Hand trucks and moving pads can help make moving easier and protect possessions. Budget Truck Rental locations have these available for rent.
    
3. Plan your travel route. Trucks are prohibited on some roads. Budget Truck Rental recommends planning the proper route ahead of time to avoid police citations for driving on roads where trucks are prohibited or getting stuck beneath an overpass. Budget Truck Rental is the first and only major consumer truck rental company to offer Global Positioning System (GPS) units that include routes designated for trucks. With guidance by Garmin® , where2 offers Budget Truck Rental customers an array of navigation features, including truck routes and local points of interest such as ATMs, hotels, restaurants and gas stations, a simple user interface, high-quality maps, audible turn-by-turn directions spoken in multiple languages and Bluetooth hands-free calling capability.
    
4. Drive safely. Customers should take time to adjust the rental truck's mirrors. Caution should be used when backing up the truck and renters should never back up with towing equipment. Budget Truck Rental recommends that customers use extra caution on sharp turns. Trucks are longer and wider and need more turning area than cars. Renters should always use the turn signal and allow greater distance (at least five vehicle lengths) between the truck and the vehicle ahead. Customers should watch for overhead clearances, allow for at least 14 feet of overhead clearance, and beware of low canopies, overpasses, bridges, drive-through lanes, tree branches, parking garages and signs prohibiting truck traffic.

Budget Truck Rental's fleet features cargo vans, 10-foot, 16-foot and 24-foot trucks with ramps or lift gates and is one of the cleanest and best-maintained rental truck fleets on the road. Every vehicle undergoes a 10-point quality inspection to ensure proper fluid levels, tire pressure and other necessary elements for a reliable, safe rental. All Budget trucks feature automatic transmissions and have free 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.