Home Depot Moving Truck Rental vs. Uhaul: How They Compare

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You may have noticed Penske trucks in the back or front of your local Home Depot. Now, in addition to brokering Penske rentals, some Home Depots actually maintain their own branded moving trucks.

Naturally, we had to take a closer look and see how Home Depot stacks up against another major brand: U-Haul. While U-Haul advertises its moving truck prices “as low as $19.95,” Home Depot has a very different way of structuring its rental rates. This can make it tricky to determine the cheapest solution for your move. 

We recently rented a Home Depot box truck for the same move we used a U-Haul for — a small, short-and-to-the-point move, about 8 miles of driving total. Here’s what we found about how Home Depot compares to U-Haul and other moving truck rental companies. Happy reading!


Home Depot Moving Truck Rental Prices

a parked home depot moving truck

If you rent a Penske truck through Home Depot, you are subject to Penske’s rental fee structure. This isn’t the case, however, with a Home Depot model truck which is priced as follows:

  • $29.00 for 75 minutes
  • $21.00 for every additional hour
  • $139.00 per day (regardless of number of hours)
  • $973.00 per week

Home Depot’s pricing works a bit differently than moving truck rental companies like U-Haul, Penske, and Budget. Those are generally comprised of:

  • Starting Price: Your daily base price ($19.95/day for U-Haul)
  • Mileage Fee: How much you pay for each mile you drive
  • Insurance (optional)

They also slap on a few small fees, such as: 

  • Vehicle Licensing Fee: 
  • Recovery Fee
  • Environmental Fee

This all adds up to your total price — plus tax and gas, of course.


Home Depot Moving Truck Rental Pros & Cons 

So, with all this in mind, how does Home Depot stack up against traditional moving truck companies?

Pros Cons
  • No mileage fee whatsoever
  • No other sizes but 515 cu. ft.
  • Can rent hourly
  • Same location drop-off only

These are the primary differences between Home Depot and every other major moving truck rental company — plus the fact that Home Depot has no insurance packages available. While this means you may not be covered in case of damage to your items, this can also mean a cheaper final price tag. The truck is still covered by your own auto insurance, and proof of which is required to rent the truck in the first place.

Perhaps the biggest pro is the fact that there’s no mileage fee whatsoever!

 

“A 12-foot moving truck can generally fit one to two rooms, or a one-bedroom apartment…[s]o a Home Depot moving truck is probably perfect for a one-bedroom apartment or a minimally furnished two-bedroom apartment/home.”

 

When you compare this to U-Haul’s pricing policy, it’s kind of a big deal. U-Haul’s mileage fee is usually around $1.00 per mile. This means if you have a 100-mile round trip, then you’re going to spend around $100.00 on the mileage fee, plus the day rate ($19.95) and insurance ($20.00). When all is said and done, it adds up to about the same as Home Depot’s package price for one day ($139) for their box truck.

One benefit of Home Depot is that the Home Depot Rental Center is usually open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. That means you have 14 hours to get the most out of their day rate, which caps at $139.00 per day. If you use all that time, you’re paying about $9.93 per hour for those 14 hours, which isn’t a bad deal — but that’s assuming your local Rental Center is open that late. 

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

Home Depot vs Uhaul Truck Rental: Which Is Cheaper?

Assuming you rent a U-Haul truck for an entire day, you begin to save dollars with Home Depot for every mile over 100. But since Home Depot also rents for 75 minutes and hourly from there, it’s also worth taking a look at how much time your move will take. Weigh your final U-Haul estimate (you can get a quick quote on their website) against Home Depot’s estimated hourly total rate to see what the difference is for your unique situation. 

The difficulty with making this comparison is that U-Haul charges by the mile and Home Depot charges by the hour. And, while it’s quite easy to estimate the number of miles if you know where you’re going, it’s just as easy to underestimate the length of time a move takes.

Let’s take our 8-mile move with U-Haul and compare it to Home Depot.

U-Haul Home Depot
Estimated Time  N/A 1:15
Estimated Miles 8 mi N/A
Actual Final Bill (including gas and tax) $52.40 $32.42

If our move with Home Depot had gone past the 75-minute mark by an hour (which is possible if traffic or weather had been worse), we would have been paying $21.00 more and our bill would’ve looked like the following:

U-Haul Home Depot
Estimated Time  N/A 2:15
Estimated Miles 8 mi N/A
Actual Final Bill $52.40 ($32.42 + $21.00) $53.42

Now the final price tags are just about neck and neck!

Let’s estimate what a half-day, 30-mile round trip might cost for a small apartment. This would be an extra 22 miles ($22.00 at $1.00 a mile) on the U-Haul truck, plus an estimated additional 3 hours ($63.00 at $21.00 for each extra hour) for the Home Depot truck.

U-Haul Home Depot
Estimated Time  N/A 4:15
Estimated Miles 30 N/A
Final Bill ($52.40 + $22.00) $74.00 ($32.42 + $63.00)

$95.42

As you can see, U-Haul starts to pull ahead here.

Now let’s say you’re moving from Tampa, FL to Sarasota, FL, and make a round trip. That’s 120 miles, or 2.5 hours of driving.

U-Haul Home Depot
Estimated Time N/A 6:00
Estimated Miles 120 N/A
Final Bill ($52.40 + $112.00) = $164.00 $139.00 (Day rate)

Home Depot is beginning to look pretty good here.

Remember, however, that Home Depot doesn’t offer one-way moves. You have to drop the truck back off at the same Home Depot you rented it from. 

 

“The Home Depot in my area doesn’t offer any insurance plans…[i]nstead, they take your insurance information, and your own car insurance provider is placed on the hook…be sure to take pictures of your truck before and after the rental!”

 

But let’s say you were making a move from Tampa to Punta Gorda, a distance of about 110 miles. It’s not very likely someone would want to make the round trip back just to return the Home Depot truck, but it might be worth it if you had to drive back to pick up your second car, for example. That’s about 220 miles round trip, which translates to around 3.5 hours of driving. It might take 4 to 4.5 hours to load and unload a small apartment, but if you hit some snags, it could take up to 11 hours altogether

U-Haul Home Depot
Estimated Time N/A 11:00
Estimated Miles 220 mi N/A
Final Bill ($52.40 + $212.00) = $264.00 $139.00 (Day rate)

In this unlikely situation, you would save a boatload with Home Depot.

Moving Help

It’s worth noting that professional movers can become a key asset when choosing a time-sensitive moving solution. Since Home Depot is all about the hourly rate, having movers expedite the move can shave some time off of that final bill. But not only that, they can use their Tetris skills to pack the truck way more efficiently than most of us mere mortals ever could, which means fewer trips back and forth.

This article will help you determine how many movers you’ll need to hire. Once you’ve calculated the magic number, you can get a free quote here.

Home Depot Moving Truck Size

the options for Home Depot's moving trucks
homedepot.com

Although they do rent a couple different pick-ups and a cargo van, Home Depot only offers their brand of box truck in one size — 515 cubic feet. This is slightly larger than Penske’s 12-footer and slightly smaller than U-Haul’s 15-footer. That’s it. No other box truck sizes.

A 12-foot moving truck can generally fit one to two rooms, or a one-bedroom apartment. A 15-foot truck can accommodate a one-to-two-bedroom apartment or house. So a Home Depot moving truck is probably perfect for a one-bedroom apartment or a minimally furnished two-bedroom apartment/home. Of course, you can always make multiple trips, as long as time permits.

If you’re interested in Home Depot’s other branded trucks, here’s the lineup for the rest of their local-move vehicles:

  • Cargo Van: 277.7 cu. ft. of cargo volume is not too shabby. 
  • T250 Flatbed: This truck is promoted as having a whopping ten-foot-long bed. This could fit oversized 10-foot sheets of plywood or a 10-foot-long couch.
  • F250 Pickup: Our local Home Depot carries one regular F250 with an 8-foot bed. This is a pretty standard size, but you should check your nearest store to see what they have since it may differ and things change. Sometimes, for instance, they carry an F250 flatbed version with sides that fold down like the T250, which is good for moving lumber, pallets, and things like that.

Home Depot box truck insurance

The Home Depot in my area doesn’t offer any insurance plans of any kind for their box truck. No liability, no damage protection, no personal liability, no injury protection.

Instead, they take your insurance information, and your own car insurance provider is placed on the hook. So definitely be sure to take pictures of your truck before and after the rental!

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

Other Things to Know Before Renting a Home Depot Box Truck

Reserving your Home Depot box truck

To rent your truck you will need the following.

  • A $150 deposit may be required. Credit cards are accepted. No cash.
  • A valid driver’s license and proof of insurance are required at pick-up.
  • Customers are responsible for the refueling of the vehicle
  • Vehicles must be returned to the same pick-up location.

As far as I can tell, it doesn’t appear that you can reserve a Home Depot moving truck online. Like the tools in their Rental Center, they’re rented on a first-come-first-served basis. However, this isn’t the case for their Penske trucks.

Out of the five Home Depots in our area, “0” box trucks were showing as available online. Despite this, I’ve seen at least one Home Depot moving truck at our nearest store many, many times. So I decided to just show up. And, lo and behold, despite what was advertised online, the box truck was dutifully waiting there for me in the early morning.

 

“Perhaps the biggest pro is the fact that there’s no mileage fee [for Home Depot’s moving trucks] whatsoever…U-Haul’s mileage fee is usually around $1.00 per mile.”

 

Moral of the story? You can’t trust what you see online or expect to reserve your truck ahead of time. Your best bet is to call the tool rental department in advance to make sure a truck is available, or show up first thing in the morning.

U-Haul trucks, on the other hand, can be reserved easily online. If you only have one day to move your stuff and you’ve booked labor to help you, plan to pick up the truck as soon as the Rental Center opens — or reserve a U-Haul or Penske truck if you want to play it safe (especially during the busy summertime moving season).

Home Depot Moving Truck MPG

Vehicle make, model, and year may vary by location, which means that not all Home Depot box trucks are created equal. You can at least expect the fuel efficiency of a U-Haul truck (since U-Hauls aren’t exactly jaw-droppingly efficient), but chances are it will be better than a U-Haul. Home Depot trucks are a newer thing, so the trucks themselves are likely to be fairly new.

a photo of the location of the gas tank fuel inlet on a Home Depot moving truck
The location of my model’s fuel tank inlet

The truck I rented was a new Ford Transit 350 HD, and it was quite fuel-efficient. It even had a little MPG indicator on the dash that tells you how you’re doing. Mine got 12 miles to the gallon. I drove 8 miles and only spent $1.39 to top it off when I was done.

It also had this nice complimentary dolly rental in the back. Score!

Refueling Your Home Depot Moving Truck

If your truck is not topped off upon return — that is, if it’s 1/32nd less than full — Home Depot may automatically charge a $15.00 convenience fee to refuel. Top it off, snap a pic, and keep your gas receipt! The Tool Rental associate will ask to see the receipt, which should pardon you for any fuel you used to get from the gas station to Home Depot.


Home Depot vs UHaul: Which Is a Better Deal?

We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again: U-Haul wins the short-distance race against virtually all of its competitors. So, if you need a truck for a quick in-town move, U-Haul’s pricing is really hard to beat — unless you can load, drive, and unload a small apartment and drop off your truck in under 75 minutes, which I’m not sure is humanly possible.

But if you’re only moving a few pieces of large furniture and that’s it, or if you have lots of miles to drive and don’t mind dropping off the truck where you picked it up, then Home Depot becomes a very nice alternative. Whichever solution you choose, good luck with your move!

The Facts (and Myths) About Safely Transporting Your Flat Screen TV

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My friend Arnie is the kind of person who does everything full-tilt. So it was no surprise when he told me he was getting a massive new flatscreen TV for his Super Bowl party. But there was a problem. He had no idea how he was going to get that beast all the way home from the store in one piece.

“Can I lay it down flat in my truck?” he asked. “Or is the liquid plasma stuff inside the screen gonna get all messed up and totally destroy my new baby?”

If you’re planning on getting a new flatscreen TV during all the great Black Friday deals, you might be wondering the same. It’s a question I get all the time. The short answer? “No, you can’t lay it down. And no, the plasma won’t mess up your TV.” 

The long answer is below, along with some other tips about getting your new TV home in one piece.


Transporting Flat Screens: Opinions vs. Facts

a man looks at different types of TVs in a store

Here are a few common opinions I found about moving a flatscreen TV, from typically credible places:

  • “Never lay a TV flat when transporting it. I speak from experience.” (avforums)
  • “There’s no real issue with transporting LCD’s laying down. They don’t have a pane of glass like plasmas do.” (MacForums)
  • “Manufacturers recommend storing the TV upright, rather than flat or on its side (Techwalla)

While there’s definitely an agreement that transporting flatscreen TVs horizontally can lead to damage, there’s some anecdotal advice that says this only applies to certain types of televisions. But is that really true?

First, let’s look at the two basic types of flat screens.

  1. Plasma screens consist of a double layer of glass holding millions of tiny cells containing microscopic fluorescent ‘lamps’ that produce an image. It’s a similar sort of technology that light bulbs use. Older models of flat screens are more likely to be this plasma type.
  2. LCD (liquid crystal display) screens contain millions of pixels, made of sub-pixels that are like windows with shades that let in different amounts of red, green, or blue light. These produce light in varying percentages to form the picture we see.

(Note: A third type, the LED (light-emitting diode) display, is basically an LCD screen, but with LED backlighting.)

If you want to read up on some finer points between TV types, here’s a handy guide.

 

“Whether you’re picking up a used flat screen TV or buying one new, be sure to set it vertically in your vehicle, right side up, with sufficient padding on all sides to keep it firmly and safely in place.”

 

So, despite what my pal Arnie was afraid of, there’s nothing inside either type of TV that’s going to get ruined, or settle at the bottom of your screen. As long as it remains properly vertical, your TV will be just fine no matter how many years it stands on your table, hangs on your wall, or sits in the moving truck if you’re moving long distance.

But, when it comes to keeping your flat screen safe, it doesn’t really matter which type it is. Both are susceptible to damage if transported or stored improperly. 

But why is it bad to lay a flatscreen TV down flat? a broken tv that's cracked down the center

Because flatscreen TVs are designed to sit upright. More specifically, your TV is constructed to fully support that screen when it is vertical, but not at all when it’s horizontal. If you lay your TV down, the absence of support in the middle of the screen can cause cracking or distortion around the edges if left that way over time. 

It’s fine to lay your TV down temporarily — like to attach accessories or clean it — but if you drive down the road with your TV laid flat you’re risking serious damage. A few bumps and jolts are all it takes for that screen to start sagging in the middle and cracking or warping under its own weight. 

This is why glass-delivery trucks have those vertical racks on the sides, and why we movers always load mirrors and picture frames vertically.

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

Transport your flatscreen TV the right way

Whether you’re picking up a used flatscreen TV or buying one new, be sure to set it vertically in your vehicle, right side up, with sufficient padding on all sides to keep it firmly and safely in place.

If you are buying a used flat screen from someone who doesn’t have the original packaging anymore, take the time to protect it properly. A few thick blankets might work in a pinch, but if you can, packing your TV like it’s a mirror applies just as well.

Your TV, your wallet, and all your friends at your Super Bowl party will be glad you did.

The 8 Best Movers in Los Angeles According to Real Customers

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Are you about to move to the L.A. area? Or maybe you’re leaving the City of Angels for new adventures? In either case, I understand how overwhelming the process of packing up and shipping out can be.

As someone who spent years working in moving and storage, I know that who you choose to help you with your move can make all the difference. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if you’re picking the right Los Angeles moving company.

So without further ado, I give you this curated list of HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers (as of Spring 2023). This list is based on real customer reviews. You’ll find companies of all sizes, from well-recognized names to mom-and-pop shops, each with its own strengths and personality.

The 2023 8 Best Los Angeles Movers

Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc.

rigo's moving

Price: $113/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (1,160 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Movers with a truck
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

Rigo's moving
Rigo’s Moving & Storage

Rigo’s is the #1 rated mover on this list and for a reason: they have completed more jobs on HireAHelper than any other moving company. They have a robust FAQs section, which displays their commitment to both customers and employees, and I appreciate that they transparently explain what to expect before and on moving day — this extra touch may seem small, but it speaks to their thoughtfulness and service standards.

What Real Customers Said:

Treating customer valuables like their own: Santiago & Benito are a great team. More attention to detail than I expected. Handled my property as if it was their own. If you’re hiring Rigos ask for these two amazing men.

Satisfaction from beginning to end: Fantastic work! Friendly, communicative, efficient, and ready to tackle the job, which was unloading a 16-foot moving truck into a two-bedroom apartment up a flight of stairs. Appreciated the confirmation call beforehand and all their heavy lifting.”


BC Moving Labor

bc moving labor logo

Price: $140/hour for two movers (after 2 hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (529 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Refund up to one unused hour over their minimum
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
bc moving labor
BC Moving Labor

Why I Love Them

Having opened its doors in 2016, BC Moving Labor is somehow “new” to the scene compared to others on this list, which goes to show how much valuable experience exists in the LA area. BC says they’re especially proud that they are fully family-owned and operated, which is reflected in their reviews: honesty, care, trustworthiness, professionalism, and hard work. (5 out of 5 stars after over 500 reviews is crazy!)

What Real Customers Said:

Expert puzzle solvers: They were amazing! I just stood there scratching my head at how Bernard could fit things together like a perfect puzzle. They got all my stuff into one large POD!! It didn’t look possible to me. I would highly recommend.”

Pro PODS packers: “These guys are awesome! I’ve dealt with a lot of movers and they were the best yet. Really smart with their packing of my pod, super nice and hardworking. They definitely surpassed my expectations and I would recommend them to anyone. Believe all the good reviews!!”


See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 


Excellent Movers

excellent movers logo

Price: $125/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (484 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 15% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

While Excellent Movers provides no-frills, standard moving services, I appreciate their call out that no job is too small, which is a relief to all you apartment-dwellers out there. Even if you just need professional assistance getting a new sofa into your office, unloading heavy boxes at a storage unit, or unpacking for an event, Excellent Movers is happy to help. 

What Real Customers Said:

Challenge accepted and accomplished: Daniel was great to work with! He communicated very well, was on time and he and his workers did an excellent job. They worked very hard to get our ABF trailer filled, even though it was a challenging load. I would definitely recommend them and I would use them again.”

Stress-relieving rockstars: Thank you so much to Daniel and his crew! Moving is always stressful, but I have to say this is definitely the easiest move I’ve ever done. The scheduling process was super simple, Daniel contacted me the next day to confirm, and the day of the move they showed up early and jumped right in. They took great care of everything, and even went above and beyond to find a solution when an item wasn’t going to fit in the stairs or elevator. Will totally be using them in the future! These guys are rockstars, thanks again!”


Patriot One Movers

patriot one movers

Price: $129/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (654 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Same-day requests at normal rates
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Refund for any unused time over their minimum
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
patriot one movers
Patriot One Movers

Why I Love Them

With more than 13 years of experience, Patriot One Movers is the only business on this list with all 5-star reviews — a lofty accomplishment that shouldn’t be overlooked. They also hold the longest daily hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., which can come in handy for long moving days and urgent communications. Not to mention, they may be able to do a same-day request at normal rates! 

When people review Patriot One’s customer reviews, you often find recurring themes of professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness. 

What Real Customers Said: 

Earning repeat customers: First time working with these guys they were early and came prepared [and] brought tools and their own dolly etc. Worked quickly and efficiently. They were amazing! I’m using them again the following weekend for the second part of my move. 100% would recommend them to anyone.”

Words of praise from a seasoned mover: “This was my 14th move in the last 10 ten years, and Patriot One was THE best movers I’ve had. I was late arriving to my new home, and Frank was very accommodating and understanding of the situation. He was prompt and helpful when arriving the next morning, stayed with our truck because we had to park in a “no-parking zone”; he really put us at ease! The two movers he brought were the NICEST guys. They made sure everything was EXACTLY where I wanted it (even humored me by moving the rug and couch to the perfect spot). I can’t say enough good things about them. I really felt like my things were in great hands and treated with care and respect. You can feel confident with them and quickly check-off an item on your moving to-do list.”


Lucky Movers

lucky movers logo

 Price: $89/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (774 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.
lucky movers los angeles
Lucky Movers in Los Angeles

Why I Love Them

Lucky is the only company on this list that encourages customers to “call, email or text us” after booking a job. This friendly, open communication provides reassurance — especially for customers who are new to moving!

I also enjoyed their personality in their FAQs — from sharing that they enjoy the “workout” aspect of moving, to training their crew members to “pack a (PODS) or truck like playing the Tetris game.” Lucky Movers has a standout voice and seems to have a culture that embraces fun. 

What Real Customers Said: 

Flexible around the holidays: Ivan and Jose at Lucky Movers were awesome! They were patient with us as we had 2 moving date changes, and stuck with us on our Christmas Eve move. On time, careful with our belongings, polite, efficient, they were the whole package! We can definitely recommend Lucky Movers to anyone who has an upcoming move planned!”

Strong communication: Highly recommend these guys to help you move. They were great about keeping me in the loop as to when they’d arrive at my house, and got there when they said. Were careful with my stuff, and got my POD loaded in no time. Definitely will use them again.”


We the States Moving

We the states logo

Price: $75/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (437 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time, no guaranteed availability beyond the prebooked time

Why I Love Them

We the States Moving is the most affordable company on this list and the only profile that contains a message in the “About Us” section from the owner, Jon — a thoughtful, personal touch.

Jon brings years of experience in the moving industry and supports a wide range of services, from state-to-state moves, to rearranging furniture in medical offices and spas.

What Real Customers Said:

Professionalism from start to finish: Jon did an incredible job. He figured out a way to pack 2 U-Boxes and we can’t believe he fit everything in there! He was a professional and really knew what he was doing. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the amazing service!!”

Accommodating last-minute arrangements: We the States Moving proved a lifesaver. I was tasked with an impromptu move and needed movers the same day, no scheduling. Well, through Hire A Helper, I found We the States Moving and they answered me promptly. They arrived on time, went right to work, did not slow down, packed and stacked my possessions with great care, and provided me with packing tips for future reference. I am forever grateful for We the States Moving for bailing me out at the last minute. I highly recommend them and would use them again.”


Black Eagle Moving

black eagle moving

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (151 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
Note: No refund for unused time, no same-day requests.
Black Eagle Movers
Black Eagle Movers

Why I Love Them

Black Eagle has been on the scene for fewer than 10 years, but that’s been plenty of time to back up its service commitment. They make it very clear in their FAQs that the customer’s needs for their move are their first priority. 

Black Eagle also highlights that they have two-valued, highly trained teams of movers, emphasizing their commitment to quality and intimate approach.

What Real Customers Said:

Problem-solving on the spot: They arrived as scheduled and managed to find my apartment in a huge maze of a complex by themselves. I showed them what I had and they made a plan of action that went efficiently. I have a large library and ran out of boxes for books the day before, but they improvised a safe and easy way to get them in the container and for the journey. They also wrapped all of my furniture for protection and used far less space in the container than the last movers I used. Friendly, experienced, and fast. Highly recommend, particularly if you are using a container for the move.”

That magic touch: Enrique and his team have a magical power. They can take your pre-move stress levels and make them disappear! Arrived on time, packed everything beautifully, and seemed to make space in my U-Haul appear out of nowhere. I would highly recommend Black Eagle Movers!”


Thunderhorse Moving

thunderhorse movers

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (302 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Movers with a truck
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.
Thunderhorse Movers
Thunderhorse Movers

Why I Love Them

Thunderhorse is one of only two companies on this list that offers movers with a truck (Rigo’s is the other). They also call out their piano-packing expertise — undoubtedly a valuable service to musicians.

With long daily hours (8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week), available trucks, and middle-of-the-road pricing ($100/hr.), Thunderhorse is a well-rounded contender.

What Real Customers Said:

A happy homecoming: I moved here from Oregon and this crew of 3 amazing gentleman got the job done quickly in the worst heat wave. They unloaded a 26 ft U-Haul and a 16 ft. truck in 3 hours!!! They brought my items and boxes to each room we specified. They were polite, communicative, and extremely hardworking. 10/10 service! I would not hesitate to use this company again. I only hope I tipped generously enough for their hard work. I will absolutely recommend them to anyone I know who needs help moving or unloading.”

Going the extra mile: Jorge and team arrived on time and ready to go. They even brought an extra person to help make sure everything would get done as quickly as possible, which I appreciated. They were very fast and worked hard. I would recommend (them)!”


LA Movers for Jobs of All Sizes

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From in-state relocations and long-distance moves to loading trucks and unpacking furniture, HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers span a range of services — as well as pricing — so you should have luck finding help with your move no matter what your budget and needs are. 

Should You Use Salt or Sand on an Icy Driveway?

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Slipping and falling on an icy driveway is bad enough when you’re only holding your car keys. So imagine wiping out while carrying a box full of books or a dresser full of clothes.

As a mover, I’ve seen it. And it’s flippin’ scary.

Winter is one of the cheapest times to move, but with the snow and ice of the season comes the potential for serious injury to you or your movers. Being the forward-thinking person that you are, you might already be contemplating, “should I cover my front walk and driveway with salt or sand?”

To help you make the best choice, here is the rundown on each, and some more information on how to keep your pathways and driveways as slip-free as possible. 


First, Shovel the Area You’re Going To Be Walking On

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s easier to shovel snow than it is to get rid of ice, so it makes good sense to keep your front walk, your driveway, and the sidewalk in front of your house clear and clean.

In other words: Don’t wait until the night before or the morning of your move to start shoveling!

If you live where temperatures can remain below freezing for days on end (if not weeks—hello, Minnesota!), it becomes more important to keep shoveling, multiple times over multiple days if necessary, to keep all that snow from getting packed down and turned into ice.

But what if Mother Nature insists on coating the driveway with snow and ice in the hours leading up to your move? Then it’s time for a quicker cure.

Should I Use Sand or Salt?

To summarize the difference between salt or sand for snow and ice:

Sand simply covers up snow and ice. Salt melts snow and ice.

Which is better depends on how cold it is, and how much you care if it gets into the environment. In either case, the biggest priority is traction. So let’s compare.

The case for sand

Pros:

  • Less toxic
  • Comparatively cheaper
  • Works immediately

Cons:

  • Needs to be reapplied
  • Might not work in extremely cold temperatures
  • Can collect in drainage systems and make it into waterways

Sand is an easy, cheap, and quick solution to your icy problems. Dump out a few bags and spread it around, and you instantly have a safer place to walk. However, since sand provides traction, once it gets ground into the snow or ice it becomes less effective. Considering how many times you or your movers will be walking back and forth on it, you’ll likely have to put more down once or twice during the move. It can also freeze into hazardous clumps in really extreme temperatures. 

 

“Get an idea of how much square footage you’ll need to cover before you run out to grab that salt or sand. If a sales assistant isn’t there to help, you might find how much you need right on the bag.”

 

Keep in mind that there are several different varieties of sand, as well. There is stuff explicitly meant for icy roads and surfaces, which is the best. If you don’t have access to that, sandbox sand will also work well, and certainly better than mason’s sand. In general, the grittier the sand is, the better.

And be sure to clean up after yourself! Sweep up the sand yourself, incentivize your kids, or pay someone else to do the work, but don’t leave it around, otherwise too much will wash away into the drainage systems. Check out the advice at HowToDisposeOf for tips on what to do with that sand once you’re done with it. 

The case for salt

salt or sand

Pros:

  • Gets rid of the ice by melting it away, instead of just covering it up
  • Specifically designed for this process, so there’s a lot of availability and choice
  • No need to reapply it once it’s cleared the ice

Cons:

  • Takes some time to begin working, so you need to apply it hours to a full day in advance
  • Can damage property and lawns, or potentially be harmful to pets
  • Won’t work below certain temperatures

You likely already know that salt gets rid of ice and snow, but you might not be familiar with how it does this. Driveway salt (sometimes called “rock salt”) doesn’t melt ice like a flamethrower would. Instead, when mixed with water, it forms a liquid brine — a fancy name for salt water — which has a lower freezing point than pure water. This brine then lowers the freezing point of the water it comes in contact with, effectively melting it. Although only down to a certain degree; brine that is 20% salt will still freeze below 0˚F.

 

“If you live where temperatures can remain below freezing for days on end…it becomes even more important to keep shoveling, multiple times over multiple days if necessary, to keep all that snow from getting packed down and turned into ice.”

 

However, this melting process takes time. So don’t toss salt around an hour before your movers pull up to your house and expect all the ice to be gone.

In addition, salt can cause damage to your property. It can rust metal, and crack most driveway and pathway surfaces due to repeated freezing/thawing cycles breaking down the integrity of the material. And you should keep animals away from the stuff in general. Not only will driveway salt cause contact burns if it gets in between pets’ paws, but it contains trace amounts of cyanide, which may cause issues for local wildlife as well as your furry friends.

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Don’t like these choices? There are alternatives!

Alternatives to salt would more accurately be called “variations of salt” and have a spectrum of merits. While you can probably find any of these at a store, which one to pick is most dependent on exactly how cold it is where you are.

  • Calcium chloride (CaCl): At around minus 25˚F, it has a lower freezing point than rock salt. It also works more quickly because it gives off heat as it dissolves. However, calcium chloride is corrosive to metal and can leave a slimy residue. It also encourages algae growth which clogs waterways.
  • Magnesium chloride: Somewhat less corrosive than calcium chloride, it will begin to absorb moisture from the air at 32% humidity, speeding up the melting process.
  • Potassium chloride (KCl): Despite its use for executions by lethal injection, is safer for pets and plants than calcium chloride. But with a freezing point of around 12˚F, it is also less effective.
  • Nitrogen-based urea products: Like nitrogen-based fertilizers, this salt is ineffective under 20˚F and will eventually get into the water supply, lakes, and streams.
  • Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA): Can prevent ice down to around minus 27˚F and is much more environmentally friendly than the abovementioned salts — at a much higher price.

Are there any eco-friendly or pet-friendly alternatives?

salt or sand

With all the pros and cons of these salts and chemicals, you may be wondering if there’s an option out there that’s safe for your pets and the environment. 

The good news is that there are many pet-friendly alternatives to rock salt out there. Even better, these also tend to be the ones that are easier on the environment as well. However, if your concern runs really deep, your best bet is to look at the ingredients on any brand that claims to be pet or eco-friendly and research what effects it can have.

Grist has a list of a few alternatives to rock salt in an editorial. GreenMoxie also offers some advice and options. 

But what everyone seems to agree on — including us — is that there’s no better way to keep your driveway and your front walk clear of ice than with a little elbow grease. It’s much better to simply prevent the snowmelt from becoming thick ice in the first place, so grab that shovel and get to work as early and as often as necessary.  

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And a few more tips

  • To reiterate: salt and sand the day before your move, if you can. Clear away any chunks or other bits to help keep it all from refreezing overnight.
  • If you absolutely have to apply salt the morning of your move? The heat from all the foot traffic will help the melting process, but in the meantime, scattering some sand on top wouldn’t hurt.
  • Get an idea of how much square footage you’ll need to cover before you run out to grab that salt or sand. If a sales assistant isn’t there to help, you might find how much you need right on the bag.

Not only will your movers love you for taking the time and effort to make sure their path is clear and safe, but it will undoubtedly make the process much faster than if you hadn’t bothered to get rid of all the ice and snow.

Penske Vs. U-Haul: Is Penske a Cheaper Alternative to U-Haul?

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With the way U-Haul advertises its pricing—“as low as $19.95”—the ubiquitous rental truck brand might seem like your most affordable option at first glance, but how does it really stack up against other rental truck companies like Penske?

We recently rented a Penske truck for the same local move for which we rented a U-Haul, allowing us a rare opportunity for a mostly apples-to-apples comparison.

What happened? Hint: The answer to the question “is Penske more expensive than Uhaul” isn’t super obvious, but we’ve got some tips to figure out which is the better option for your move. 


Penske Vs. U-Haul Price Comparison

Let’s just get down to brass tacks.

For the exact same local move using the smallest size truck, we came to the conclusion that Penske is generally more expensive than U-Haul for short-distance local moves. 

However, when you crunch the numbers:

  • Penske is generally the more affordable choice for local moves over a certain number of miles, as well as
  • Situationally more affordable for long-distance/one-way moves (read on)

In my mid-market region of Tampa, we calculated the magic number where Penske becomes the better option to be 107.7 miles. Sounds specific? That’s because we did a little math based on both Penske’s and U-Haul’s current 2022 mileage fees (more on that later, too).

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Here Are My Penske and Uhaul Bills

I did two identical 8-mile moves with U-Haul and Penske, and I included the most basic insurance coverage you can buy.

Not including gas (which will definitely matter the more you drive), here was the bill:

U:Haul: $44.89 

Penske: $61.17 

 

“Penske trucks average 17% more fuel efficiency than U-Haul for their regular unleaded vehicles, and are up to 23% more efficient than U-Haul with their larger diesel trucks.”

 

Before we REALLY break down these numbers, here’s what our final bills were based on:

  • It was a local move (a total of 8 miles)
  • We rented the smallest rental trucks available (10-foot model for U-Haul, 16-foot for Penske)
  • We bought the cheapest basic insurance options

Note: Wondering why you see a 16-foot Penske up there?

In order to make an accurate comparison for a small move, we tried to rent the 12-ft. Penske box truck, as this is their smallest box truck size (they don’t have a 10-footer like U-Haul does). However, the Penske dealer nearest us only had the 16-ft truck available. However, they claimed it was the same price anyway as the 12-footer ($29.99 per day), so we’re laying out all of the following as if we had rented a 12-foot truck.

 

 


Penske Vs. Uhaul: The Basic Cost Difference in Fees (Local Move)

 Penske 12-Ft. Box Truck (Smallest Size)   U-Haul 10-Ft. Box Truck (Smallest Size) 
Starting Price $29.99* $19.95
Cubic Feet  450 ft3  402 ft3
Mileage Fee  .79 per mile .99 per mile
Vehicle Licensing Recovery Fee $2.50 $0.00 
Environmental Fee $4.00 $1.00
Most Basic Insurance $20.00 $14.00
Total Starting Price (Before Driving) $56.49 $34.95
*Starting prices vary regionally for Penske. The ones you see above are based on the Tampa Bay region pricing, a mid-market. We’ve seen as much as a $20.00 difference (starting at $49.95 for the 12-ft. truck) in places like Buffalo, New York.

 

Note that the difference in the total starting price—the barebones cost before you drive off the lot and start racking up miles—is $21.54. Yes, U-Haul was $21.54 cheaper than Penske… to start with

U-Haul continues to have the price advantage up until a certain point, depending on the mileage cost difference. (That’s because U-Haul’s cost per mile was 20 cents more expensive.) But up to what point does this start to matter?

penske truckWhen does U-Haul’s more expensive mileage fee start to matter?

We calculated when the distance driven in a U-Haul starts to overtake the price savings, which is $0.20/mi. ($0.99/mi. – $0.79/mi.).

So $21.54 ➗ $.20/mi. = 107.7 miles.

I get it, math is hard. But what this means is that once we hit 107.7 miles driven for our move, Penske started to have a competitive advantage price-wise with respect to the MILEAGE RATE (the added fee per mile driven).

But note that this doesn’t even account for any miles per gallon savings. Uh, so what does that mean?

Penske trucks are generally more fuel efficient

Guess what? Penske trucks by and large are more fuel efficient than U-Haul trucks!

This means, for example, if you’re renting the 12-ft. or 16-ft. regular-unleaded Penske trucks—which once again are more fuel efficient than U-Haul’s—you might save over 25% on gas (way more about this later). 

You can imagine how much of a difference it would make if the gas mileage jumps up even just $.20/mi. for U-Haul. In this hypothetical case, it would divide the number of miles you’d need to drive in order to start saving from Penske in half. 

 

“Besides its size, truck availability in your area will heavily affect the price of your Penske truck.”

 

Don’t forget to factor in doing local round-trips

All this being said, our personal rental journey was a very small move. Eight miles total is teeny-tiny! But keep in mind it’s usually not too difficult to rack up more miles than that.

For example, say you’re moving 15 miles away, but need to make three round trips to get everything. Those three roundtrips can add up to at least 90 miles, and that doesn’t even include your little detour to Chick-fil-A for lunch.


Penske Vs. U-Haul Truck Rental Costs

How much are Penske rentals? Well, for starters, average Penske truck rental prices typically go between $30-40.

As of this writing, Penske and U-Haul advertise the following sizes, from smallest to largest.

uhaul trucks
U-Haul truck options – Uhaul.com

 

Penske vs. U-Haul Truck Prices
Penske* U-Haul
Cargo Van – ~$39.95 Pickup Truck – $19.95
12’ Box Truck –  ~$29.95 Cargo Van – $19.95
16’ Box Truck – ~$29.95 10’ Box Truck – $19.95
22’ Box Truck – (Price not advertised) 15’ Box Truck – $29.95
26’ Box Truck – ~$299.99  17’ Box Truck – $39.95
20’ Box Truck – $39.95
26’ Box Truck – $39.95
*All starting prices are based on monitoring one mid-market region.

 

penske truck rental
Penske truck options – Pensketruckrental.com

 

U-Haul offers roughly 2-3 more options than Penske does depend on your location—a pick-up truck and a ~17-ft. box truck. The sizes are different, so an exact comparison is kinda tricky. But we can say that Penske trucks generally have between 1-2 extra feet of truck compared to every U-Haul option, except for the larger 17-ft. U-Haul truck.

Remember, starting prices for rental trucks vary regionally for Penske. Meanwhile, local U-Haul truck costs are typically consistent everywhere.

Yes, we tried, but we couldn’t get a clearer picture of all the Penske truck rental prices for our area… and Penske keeps it vague on purpose.

Penske Truck Prices Vary Daily

Why do Penske prices vary?

Besides its size, truck availability in your area will heavily affect the price of your Penske truck. Most importantly, this means it’s gonna be more expensive in the summertime when everyone is moving. (We’ll break down the logic of this pricing policy in the long-distance section down below.)

When we asked Penske how much the day rate was for their 22-ft. truck, they told us they had none available that day, but they reportedly could be “Sometimes $59.00, sometimes $69.00, sometimes $100.00.”

Well, how much is the biggest Penske truck?

penske truck
Largest Penske truck – Move.org

Upon further digging, the day rate quote for the 26-footer in Buffalo, New York was $299.99! In Columbus, Ohio, it was also $299.99!

 

“…Penske trucks generally have between 1-2 extra feet of truck compared to every U-Haul option, except for the larger 17-ft. U-Haul truck.”

 

It seems $299.99 tends to be the standard pricing across the board for the massive truck size, at least during the busy season. But remember, as people stop moving so much, these larger trucks won’t need to be schlepped around city to city to accommodate the high demand, driving down their price.

Can you rent a Penske truck for more than one day?

If you’re doing an in-town move and dropping off the truck at the same location, you can rent a Penske truck for as many days as the truck is available.

The same per-day rate would apply for each day. The same goes for U-Haul. You can rent your truck for as long as you need, as long as it hasn’t been reserved by someone else.

Note: Make sure you drop off your Penske at the same location if you’re doing a local move. Just as with U-Haul, you may be charged a convenience fee or more (this can vary by location, as there is no universal rule).

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MovingPlace can save up to 40% compared to traditional interstate moving companies. Click here to learn how.


Penske’s Trailer Rental Options

Penske offers just two trailers, and they’re both for towing vehicles, not stuff.

If you’re moving and need to tote your car along, you might be wondering which you should choose.

In terms of functionality, they both get the job done in their own way. Also, there is a notable difference between Penske and U-Haul’s trailers: no hitch installation is necessary with Penske! But unlike U-Haul, there are no utility trailers, cargo trailers, or motorcycle trailers for rent from Penske.

Here’s how the two Penske trailer options compare.

Penske Tow Dolly

penske tow dolly
Penske tow dolly – adamsrs.com

A tow dolly operates by having the front wheels of the vehicle strapped onto the hitched dolly, while the back wheels of the vehicle are pulled along the road. 

  • A tow dolly cannot be safely reversed, so you’re committed to forward motion only
  • A tow dolly cannot safely or easily tow four-wheel or rear-wheel drive cars

Note: If you’re using a tow dolly and your vehicle is rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, the drive shaft must be disconnected—otherwise your transmission may be badly damaged! 

For a full “tow-dolly” instructional, watch the video below. 

 

Penske Car Carrier

Penske car carrier
Penske car carrier – digitalcorvettes.com

A car carrier carries all four of the vehicle’s tires on its bed. 

  • A car carrier can be reversed
  • A car carrier safely tows any vehicle within its size/weight restrictions

 

Here are the technical specs of both of these trailer options, per Penske’s website.

Since Penske doesn’t allow the towing of non-Penske trailers, carriers, or dollies, and because their hitches are specifically engineered for their own proprietary equipment, you have to rent a Penske truck if you rent a Penske tow dolly or car carrier. This would also mean that “4 down towing” (that is, four wheels down) isn’t an option with Penske because they don’t have the equipment for it (that said, 4 down towing isn’t as safe, anyway).

If you’re looking to rent a trailer for your OWN vehicle to tow, your better bet is U-Haul. With U-Haul, however, you still need to make sure you have the proper hitch on your vehicle, so if you don’t have one, you’ll need to include hitch installation in your budget, which can be pricey!


Penske Vs. U-Haul Mileage and Gas Fees

In general, for U-Haul, the added price per mile for in-town fees (i.e., local moves) seems to be region-specific, while Penske’s is always the same.

U-Haul

We’ve seen U-Haul’s mileage fees as low as $0.79 (e.g., Buffalo, New York), and as high as $1.19 (e.g., Portland, Oregon). U-Haul’s mileage fees tend to be more expensive than Penske’s mileage fees.

Penske

However, with Penske, at least for now, the mileage fee remains consistent across the country: $0.79 per mile

For shorter moves, U-Haul’s higher mileage fee doesn’t make much of a difference, cost-wise. But once you get up into the 80+ mile range, you can see it really adds up.

Penske Local Move Mileage Fees (the Tacked-on Cost Per Mile)

Check out this chart for our own mid-market move in Tampa Bay:

 Miles Driven   Penske Mileage Fee   U-Haul Mileage Fee 
8 $6.32 $7.92
20 $15.80 $19.8
40 $31.60 $39.60
80 $63.20 $79.20
160 $126.40 $158.40
200 $158.00 $198.00
This chart is based on Penske’s $0.79 mileage fee and U-Haul’s $0.99 mileage fee for the mid-market Tampa Bay region, as of 8/7/2022. 

 

That’s a savings of $40 by using U-Haul!

Now let’s see what it looks like if we do the same thing with the higher Portland, Oregon prices (Penske: $0.79, U-Haul: $1.19):

 Miles Driven   Penske Mileage Fee   U-Haul Mileage Fee 
8 $6.32 $9.52
20 $15.80 $23.80
40 $31.60 $47.60
80 $63.20 $95.20
160 $126.40 $190.40
200 $158.00 $238.00

When mileage fees contribute more to your bill, you’d save a whopping $80 by choosing Penske!

With a price differential this big, this is where you begin to see substantial savings from Penske on a longer mileage move with same-location drop-off. Not to mention the added miles per gallon (MPG) gas savings.

How do Penske’s gas fees work?

gas pump

Gas fees simply refer to any costs associated with how much gas needs to be in the tank when you return the truck.

Penske estimates how many miles you will go and charges you for estimated gas usage ahead of time.

For example: For same-location drop-offs (i.e., local moves), the $0.79 per mile fee is tallied up after you return the vehicle. For us, they included 50 miles already baked into our rental quote. From there, however many miles you go under or over this number will be credited or debited from your final bill.

So if the quote seems more than expected, this could be because they automatically estimated a 50 miles minimum. There is, however, no actual minimum mileage fee! Keep this in mind if you collect local move quotes from other truck companies, such as U-Haul or Budget.

 

“…you have to rent a Penske truck if you rent a Penske tow dolly or car carrier(i)f you’re looking to rent a trailer for your OWN vehicle to tow, your better bet is U-Haul.”

 

Do I have to fill my Penske truck with extra gas?

Regardless of how much you use, you are expected to return your truck with the gas tank filled to where it was when you picked it up.

But a word to the wise: All of these trucks have pretty enormous gas tanks, so don’t overfill! This could cost you. Bring the gas gauge up to full, and stop there. It might be best to fill based on the miles you drove. Just take a look at the gauge! Otherwise, it could cost you another $20 or more to top it off. This is actually what happened to us! We drove 8 miles and spent $17 in gas topping it off (oops!).

Click here to learn more about how to save gas money on your Penske truck.

How much mileage do Penske trucks get?

penske mileage

Penske trucks are actually well-known for their fuel efficiency. Compared to U-Haul, Penske gas mileage stacks up quite well.

Penske trucks average 17% more fuel efficiency than U-Haul for their regular unleaded vehicles, and are up to 23% more efficient than U-Haul with their larger diesel trucks

This is another factor that works in the consumer’s favor for medium to long same-location moves (meaning you pick up and drop off the truck at the same location). The downside is that the two largest Penske trucks are diesel, and diesel gas prices are on the rise. So, a clear picture of actual savings becomes difficult, since U-Haul has no diesel trucks—here, it’s apples to oranges.

Sources: https://www.uhaul.com/Truck-Rentals/15ft-Moving-Truck/https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/one-way-fleet/12-foot-truck/

 

Does regular unleaded vs. diesel matter?

It depends on the economy!

At the time of this writing, diesel fuel price per gallon is slightly over $1.00 more than regular unleaded in our neck of the woods (Central Florida). In the 2000s they were basically neck and neck, whereas, in the 1980s and 1990s, diesel was up to 50% cheaper. But since gas prices are so volatile right now in 2022, prices could still change at any moment.

It’s important to check your local gas prices before moving day, as the more miles you rack up, the more dough you might save… or lose! If you want to know an exact cost difference, weigh the price of diesel against the vehicle’s MPG (mileage per gallon) to get a true comparison.

U-Haul (Unleaded) Vs. Penske (Sometimes Diesel)

U-Haul has no diesel trucks, while only Penske’s two largest trucks use diesel (as of this writing). This theoretically could matter for your final truck cost.

diesel fuel penske

For example, let’s say you travel 40 miles for your move in a 20-ft. U-Haul truck (which gets 10 miles to the gallon). You would need four gallons of regular unleaded gas, totaling $15.56 in unleaded fuel.

Now, let’s say you drive the same 40 mi. in Penske’s 22-ft diesel truck, which gets 13 mpg. This is 40 ÷ 13 = 3.08 gallons needed.

3.08/gal. x $4.99 per gallon = $15.36 in diesel fuel. 

So even at the current, absurdly high rate of diesel fuel, you still miraculously save about $0.05 per gallon because of Penske’s decent MPG. This means absolutely nothing to a short- to medium-distance move. But if diesel ever goes back down (or up!), it could still make a difference there.

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One-way Drive: U-Haul Vs. Penske Long-Distance Moving

penske truck long distance move

We’ve talked a lot about local moving with Penske vs U-Haul. Now let’s dive into long-distance moving for a bit.

Long-Distance Move Mileage Fees (i.e., the Tacked-on Cost Per Mile)

If you’re driving a rental truck “one-way” (meaning you’re leaving it somewhere different than you picked it up), rental truck companies almost always charge a different mileage fee for that.

Here are Penske and U-Haul’s long-distance mileage fees:

Penske: None!

U-Haul: $0.40/mile for anything beyond the expected mileage that U-Haul declares is necessary

Does Penske truly have unlimited miles? 

Yes.

Sure, with U-Haul, there’s no limit to the number of miles you’re allowed to drive either—but you have to pay for each mile. But Penske’s huge selling point is that you get “free” unlimited miles with one-way (i.e., long-distance) rentals.

What this actually means is this: You get a quote, and that quote includes an estimated number of days you get the truck that’s based on what you told them you are gonna use the truck for. Within that time frame, you can drive as many miles as you want!

As long as you bring it back to the designated location on time, the price stays the same. Indeed, if you are on your way from Florida to California, you may want to take the scenic route and treat it like a road trip, if you’ve got the time. 

 

“When we asked (Penske) how much the day-rate was for their 22-ft. truck, they told us they had none available that day, but they could be ‘Sometimes $59.00, sometimes $69.00, sometimes $100.00.'”

 

Watch out though! For every day you go beyond the agreed-upon contract, an additional $100.00/day will be charged, so make sure in advance of your move that you can stick to the estimated number of days. With U-Haul, you’ll be charged $0.40/mile for anything beyond the expected mileage that U-Haul declares is necessary for your move.

But wait, what’s the standard cost of a long-distance Penske move?

Penske

Sure, you get unlimited miles, but what’s your total quote actually based on? We called Penske to get some information on long-distance moves, since there is virtually no pricing information on their website.

Well, the bad news is that there is no standard pricing for Penske long-distance moves; it’s based on unique factors every single time.

Besides the distance between places, Penske explained to me how big of a factor TRUCK AVAILABILITY is during your quoting.

Why does Penske’s truck availability impact a long-distance quote so much?

Penske passes along the cost of truck fleet transportation to its customers.

For instance, at the time of this writing, a trip from Tampa to L.A. in 2022 would cost over $3,000, because there are too many Penske trucks in Los Angeles right now, and they need to get moved to other areas of the country (it would cost Penske more money if they were to drive those trucks back across the country where they’re needed).

On the other hand, a trip from Tampa to Chicago would only cost about $600 (with a AAA discount) right now, because they need more trucks in Chicago.

AAA PenskeUltimately, due to supply and demand, there simply is no fixed rate that you can count on for long-distance moves. It’s all happenstance. In short, you just have to call and get a quote.

Huge Protip: Penske’s AAA discount can save you up to $200 on long-distance moves, so it’s worth it to become a AAA member if you aren’t one already because currently, this discount alone will more than cover the cost of your annual membership (which currently ranges from $59.99 to $119.99).

The Big U-Haul Vs. Penske Long-distance Cost Takeaway

You ultimately need to tally up these four main factors when deciding on taking a U-Haul or a Penske truck for a long drive:

  • Current avg. gas prices (it will change along your route)
  • MPG for your truck size of choice (Penske is almost always better than U-Haul here)
  • The type of fuel required (unleaded or diesel)
  • The estimated number of miles you’re going to drive

Only if you know that stuff will you actually know the expected costs between a long-distance Penske and U-Haul trip.


Other Major Cost Factors

There are other variables besides truck size, local vs. long distance, and gas that will impact your final Penske bill.

Penske Insurance Vs. U-Haul Insurance Breakdown

U-Haul offers two insurance packages, whereas Penske offers four levels of insurance. (We broke down U-Haul’s insurance here; see the chart below for a quick-and-dirty version.)

Do I HAVE to buy rental truck insurance?

No. Both Penske and U-Haul have an opt-out (of insurance) waiver option, which would still leave you with the aforementioned “basic insurance price,” but might also leave you feeling like you’re taking a risk.

Luckily, both companies have a few different insurance packages if you’re worried about cost. Keep in mind that depending on your specific move, some situations may actually require insurance.

 

“Penske advertises that if your truck were to suddenly break down on the side of the road, they’d come and rescue you for free.”

 

For example, if you’re an established moving company in need of an extra truck for the day, there’s a chance your business insurance doesn’t include rentals and therefore you won’t have a choice to opt-out. And in general, an individual’s auto insurance plan likely doesn’t cover moving truck rentals.

What are the different Penske and Uhaul insurance options?

The pricing below was quoted to us based on our single-day in-town move in Tampa Bay with the smallest-size box truck available.

Here are U-Haul’s insurance policies:

 U-Haul Policy  Included in Coverage Price
Safemove®  Up to $80,000, with some exclusions; covers medical/life for you and your passengers, damage to truck and belongings  $14.00
Safemove®

Plus

Above Safemove® benefits plus exclusion- free damage to truck and $1,000,000 in supplemental liability coverage $28.00

Compare these to Penske:

 Penske Policy  Included in Coverage Price
Basic Penske equipment damage $20.00
Standard Penske equipment damage, third party and injury claims (up to $1,000,000) $44.18
Value Penske equipment damage, third party and injury claims, cargo damage $49.76
Plus  Penske equipment damage, third party and injury claims, cargo damage, personal accident injury (PAI)  $53.55
Source: https://www.pensketruckrental.com/renting-from-penske/coverage/#coverage-01 

How do insurance coverage for tow dollies and car carriers work?

Penske’s Basic $20.00 plan covers “Penske equipment damage” which covers, well, Penske equipment—the towing equipment and the truck.

But, if you’re towing a car and you get the “Plus” insurance, you still aren’t fully insured because… guess what? Now you have a car trailing behind, which is neither “Penske equipment” nor traditional “cargo.”

 

“…there is no standard pricing for Penske long-distance moves; it’s based on unique factors every single time.”

 

In addition to their four listed policies, Penske also offers TWI (towing insurance). This is to insure your car for towing, and it covers any collisions resulting in damage to the towed vehicle. We were verbally told this policy would cost about $120.00 or more for a long-distance move (from one city to another). If you’re doing a local move with a same-location drop-off, TWI is just $7.50 per day.

Does “Penske Roadside Insurance” cost money?

The short answer is no. Penske advertises that if your truck were to suddenly break down on the side of the road, they’d come and rescue you for free.

But if it turns out there was damage to the truck (such as an accident), then you will probably be on the hook for damages if you didn’t opt for insurance—possibly even if it wasn’t your fault. Still, if a tire blows out or the engine overheats—things that are largely out of your control—Penske has a network of emergency roadside assistance companies and 22,000 qualified service vendors to get you back up and running.

Penske Cleaning, Damage and Other Turn-in Fees

Good news! Penske doesn’t have any standard hidden mileage or turn-in fees.

They make it pretty clear with their vehicle return checklist what you should and shouldn’t do. Out of common courtesy, we know you wouldn’t leave your fast food wrappers lying about anyway, but it’s important to know there are potential fees that may be incurred for vehicle uncleanliness. Overall, as long as the vehicle is returned clean, on time, filled with gas, and without damage, you are in the clear.

Penske Vs. U-Haul: Supplies and Equipment

penske mover dolly hand truckPenske’s business model seems to involve fewer official brick-and-mortar stores and more authorized dealers compared to U-Haul. You may have seen a few Penskes at Home Depot for instance, as Home Depot is one of Penske’s rental partners.

 

“…U-Haul doesn’t offer any military, business, student, or partnership discounts.”

 

This means if you rent your truck via Home Depot, it is there that you will probably want to rent any moving equipment such as dollies and purchase any materials such as boxes, tape, blankets, markers, etc. If you rent your truck from a different dealer (as we did), it’s up to them what they carry in terms of rentals and materials for purchase. To be sure, it will certainly vary from location to location (our location was an auto mechanic shop and carried no moving supplies), so you’ll have to check your local dealership yourself.

You can always purchase materials from the Penske website here.

U-Haul Vs. Penske Moving Labor

U-Haul, it would seem, simply refers you to moving companies using the U-Haul website. Penske, on the other hand, is partnered with a single company that connects people to people who supply the laborers in your area.

In all transparency … 

Are movers actually worth it?

If you’re on the fence about getting some help moving, here are some reasons to consider hiring movers:

  • Primarily, they really know how to pack a truck. They are essentially Tetris Masters. One efficiently packed and properly loaded truck can hold up to three improperly packed trucks. This saves trips, which in turn saves money. And try as you might, most homeowners typically don’t know how to load as efficiently as movers
  • They can make a move easy (well, easier). A good moving crew is Johnny-on-the-spot, in and out and wasting no time
  • They’re insured (if you hire qualified movers). When you think about it, you yourself aren’t insured to move your things. It’s a bit of a silly thought, but it’s true (although homeowners insurance may potentially cover damage as long as it happens on the insured property, not in transit). On the other hand, most of your items are actually covered when you hire movers in case of damage or loss

In short, movers take the stress off you and save you time and money, and who wouldn’t want that?

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 


Penske Vs. U-Haul: Other Things You Should Know

Believe it or not, there are still other useful things to know!

Can I pay for a Penske truck with cash?

You can pay for Penske in cash at final billing, but you’ll need a credit card to secure the reservation beforehand. You’ll pay cash at the time of pick-up, but no matter what, you need a card (the same goes for U-Haul). Also, Penske doesn’t accept cash payments over $5,000.

Deposits

Even though we were given a quote on the phone for $70, we had to put down a chunky deposit to rent a Penske truck.

In our personal experience, they put a hold on our card for $242.40. This included a deposit of $150, plus Penske’s estimate of what our costs would ultimately be. For some reason, this amounted to $92.40, which is not what our quote was originally.

However, they credited us $181.23 when we returned the truck. So the final bill came to just $61.17, which is about what we expected to pay. At the end of the day, it all squared up, but why the initial deposit was so much is not exactly clear. U-Haul requires a deposit of just $100, which, unlike Penske, includes your estimate.

Are there Penske discounts? Can you haggle with Penske?

Haggling is not for everybody, but if that’s your thing, you’re welcome to give it a try. A lot of us (myself included) just want transparency and consistency with no funny business.

Penske HireAHelper Discount
Get a discount when you use both HireAHelper and Penske (click image).

Below is a thorough list of ways to save more money with Penske discounts. Something to keep in mind is that U-Haul doesn’t offer any military, business, student, or partnership discounts.

Source: https://www.pensketruckrental.com/search/?q=discounts  

 

Are the wheel wells different in Penske trucks vs. Uhaul trucks?

Wheel well inside of a U-Haul truck

While U-Haul has wheel wells, Penske has none.

Okay, but what are wheel wells anyway, and why should you care? Wheel wells are simply where the wheels come up inside the back of the truck. Wheel wells aren’t by any means a deal breaker, but they can be a mild nuisance. They really only cause difficulty if you’ve packed the truck up to the wheel wells only to find that your next item happens to (unluckily) be a couple mattresses, a dresser, or something bulky that doesn’t quite fit in between or on top of them, creating an unlevel packing surface. It’s a bit of a first-world problem for movers. 

Are Penske trucks nicer than Uhaul trucks?

In my opinion, Penske trucks are a notch above U-Haul trucks. But I mean, a truck is a truck, so does it really matter? They both have cold A/C and AM/FM radio with aux input, and both companies keep their trucks clean and regularly maintained for the road. That’s about all most people ask for.


The Final Bill: My Total Rental Cost (Including Mileage Fees and Everything)

For two identical 8-mile moves with U-Haul and Penske, we ended up spending $44.89 on our U-Haul truck and $61.17 with our Penske truck, not including gas. This also includes the most basic insurance coverage you can get.

Note: During the time we researched this, U-Haul appeared to lower their local mileage fee from $1.19 to $0.99 for a period of time, which would have doubled the original savings for moves over 53.85 mi. with a Penske truck! Subtle shifts just like this are huge, so be sure to verify mileage fees before you choose one company over the other.

In addition to mileage fees, these ended up being the biggest factors regarding the price of a Penske rental truck move:

  • Fuel efficiency: U-Haul trucks get 10 mi. to the gallon, whereas Penske’s trucks get 13 mi. to the gallon. This means you’re saving on gas by opting for Penske, which can add up for a long-distance move
  • Insurance: Penske’s insurance options tend to be more expensive than U-Haul’s
  • Availability: When it comes to the bigger truck sizes, you may run into availability issues, which will bump up the price for Penske trucks

Bottom Line: Penske Vs. U-Haul

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to U-Haul, you’ll find Penske’s mileage rate and fuel efficiency competitive for in-town moves once you hit a certain mile count, and the savings only get better the more miles you rack up. However, if you’re moving something like 12 miles away and you’re making just one trip, U-Haul is probably the way to go.

5 Ways To (Possibly) Get Customers To Tip You More

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People all over the internet are constantly asking, “How much should I tip my movers?”

Sometimes, my customers would ask me directly what a standard tip would be. Call me crazy, but I would give them two different amounts: one a little below what I thought was average for that job, and another that was higher. I’d tell them that would be the normal range for a tip corresponding to the job we were doing for them.

Then I’d challenge my crew to make the customer want to give them that higher amount.

Customers might have a general idea of what they’ll tip their movers, but for some of them, it doesn’t take much to make them want to give more (or less). The following are a few ways (aside from generally being great movers, naturally) to give yourself and your crew a shot at a happier customer.


1. Show up early, but just a little!

Customers universally stress about two things on move day:

  1. Being all ready and having the movers not show.
  2. Having the movers show and not being ready.

(Some customers stress about both, simultaneously.)

Calling each customer the day before their move is a no-brainer, and so is showing up on time. You can do one better though, by showing up five or ten minutes early — but let them know over the phone you’d be happy to wait a few minutes until they are ready for you to get rolling, if they’d like.

If they aren’t quite ready, they’ll appreciate the gesture. If they are ready, they’ll say so. Either way, the show will be off to a positive start.

Protip: While It may seem harmless to tell the customer you are ready whenever they are, this sometimes leaves you sitting in your truck for half an hour while the customer slowly finishes breakfast. Try phrasing it along the lines of, “We’re happy to wait five or ten minutes.” This gives them a bit of breathing room without opening up the door to your schedule being destroyed for the day.

2. After you arrive, go over your game plan with the customer

mover with customer

Once you’ve done your walk-through, let your customer know exactly what’s coming. This is huge!

Make sure to tell them things like:

  • Which rooms you’ll be tackling first
  • What you’ll be taking apart
  • Where you’ll be staging stuff
  • If you might have to remove any doors or stairwell light fixtures to keep the risk of damage to a minimum
  • What the timeframe goals everyone should be trying to hit are

Also worth mentioning is if one mover is going to be mostly on the truck doing the loading; communicate that to the customer so they don’t start wondering why their move is short a worker who’s just hanging out outside all morning.

Protip: You also need to let them know what you need from them.

This could mean keeping their kids and pets from getting stepped on, making sure hallways and staircases are clear, and generally being available in case any issues arise (not that they should expect any problems). Also, if it applies, let them know you’ll be taking thirty minutes for lunch and ask them if there is a specific timeframe that might be convenient for you to do so; they may need and appreciate the chance to run a quick errand.

The point here is to give them a sense that you know what you are doing beyond just hauling everything out the door.

3. Give them their own space you won’t touch

On moving day, customers can be as busy as their movers.

You might overhear them canceling utilities, cleaning the bathtub, wrapping things up with the landlord, and all while working remotely. Make things a bit easier for them by suggesting ahead of time that, if necessary, they designate a room that the movers know to leave alone.

Alternatively, ask them if they could use some kitchen counter space to keep any paperwork, notebooks, pen and paper, phone chargers and any other miscellaneous things they’d like to keep handy. Anything in that designated space can be recognized as stuff the movers should ignore and not put on the truck.

4. Keep your own stuff out of their house

messy house
Don’t do this.

I know it makes sense to leave your Gatorade in an easy-to-grab place as you haul stuff in or out of the house. When things heat up, you may be tempted to shed that sweatshirt before you finish packing the kitchen. Or if it’s raining, maybe you just want to keep a towel handy, to keep your hands dry.

We work best when we’re safe, but let’s not confuse that with overly comfortable. Leaving drinks, shirts and towels lying around the customer’s home might not make a welcome impression, especially if the whole crew is doing it. Who knows? They may not care. But in either case, they likely won’t say. Try and keep all of your items on the truck.

If the customer offers you and your crew drinks, gratefully accept and then either leave them where the customer put them out for you, or bring them out to the truck.

Protip: Tape, shrink wrap and hand trucks are a different story — sort of. If you need them, keep them handy. But as soon as you’re finished with them, get them out. If there’s equipment all over the place, it’s a subconscious stressor for the customer at minimum.

5. Look every bit the pro you are

movers

Very early in my career, I got a tongue-lashing from the owner of the moving company I was working for.

My crime? Wearing jeans on the job.

He said I looked like some random guy they just picked up off the street who he gave a t-shirt to wear. And quite frankly, he was right.

You may have made a great impression over the phone. You may have looked sharp when you went to their house to give them an estimate. But when the entire crew shows up on move day, how you look matters. And if this is your crew, investing in uniforms is a big step toward becoming a “real” business. Hey, I know you don’t need a tongue-lashing from me, so I won’t bother with the style details; you know what to do.

Protip: I should also mention that how you talk matters too. Err on the side of politeness first use “Mr.” and “Ms.” or “sir” and “ma’am” first, and only change if they ask you to call them otherwise. 


At the end of the day, just do the job safely and correctly

furniture pads packed neatly in a moving truck

Impressing your customer with these extra touches might help make them feel generous when everything is on or off the truck, but at the end of the day, how well you do your job remains the biggest factor in scoring a nice tip from your customer. (After all, being super polite won’t negate the fact that half their stuff is damaged.)

Keep in mind there will always be customers who will tip you by buying lunch instead of simply giving you cash. There will also be those who won’t offer you a thing. It’s not the greatest feeling; I’ve been there more times than I care to remember. But that’s part of the job, unfortunately.

But for those customers who are inclined to tip you, and just haven’t decided how much, every little thing you can do to impress and instill confidence will help your crew feel well compensated for their 5-star move.

What To Do if Your Movers Don’t Show Up

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It’s moving day, and the movers you hired are on the way… you hope?

If you’re ready to go, in between all the scrambling, you’re likely peeking out the window every ten seconds hoping to see your crew’s truck cresting over the horizon.

But ready to go or not, you’re at the mercy of your movers’ arrival time window. (All movers or move shipments typically arrive within a block of time that’s known as your “arrival window.”)

Yet what if your arrival window comes and goes and fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five minutes pass, and your movers still haven’t shown up?

First, call your movers directly!

calling movers

If you hired your local movers directly…

You have their number, right? You should call them and check if your crew is on the way, or if they are simply tied up. (If they aren’t answering, keep reading.)

If you hired your movers through HireAHelper…

You still have the option of calling them directly, which if you’ve already been in contact with them leading up to moving day, will seem natural. (And even if you hadn’t been, go for it!) 

However, if they aren’t answering or you don’t have their number, just call HireAHelper (1-800-995-5003). They will attempt to contact your movers for however long it takes to get you an updated ETA. And if your movers don’t show up or anything else is wrong, they’ll automatically go through the process of fixing it for you (more on that later).

If you hired your movers through a managed moving service…

If you hired a crew through a full-service moving service like MovingStaffers, MovingPlace, or if you’re using a vintage van line company, there typically is a ton of communication leading up to moving day. Even still, if something isn’t going right, these companies generally have a traditional customer service line that you should use right about now.

 

MovingStaffers

(800) 658-7292

 

MovingPlace

(800) 876-6839

 

Allied (Domestic)

(800) 689-8684

 

North American Vanlines (Domestic)

(800) 348-2111

 

Mayflower

(877) 720-4066

 

Pretty simple, right? Except this is where things can get… interesting.

If your movers STILL don’t arrive within an arrival window…

In my experience as a professional crew leader, there are generally three outcomes that happen if you can’t get ahold of your local moving crew.

  1. Your crew is on their way! If they’re nice, they’ll apologize for being late. They may also offer any of a range of excuses – traffic, truck problems, someone late to work – but, as long as they’re on the way, that’s better than the next outcome.
  2. Your crew “misscheduled” you! They’ll tell you (if they’re honest) that they forgot to put you on their schedule or they misplaced your request. Since their crews are all out on other jobs now, there’s nothing they can do except suggest you call someone else (or refer you back to HireAHelper to automatically begin the process of finding replacements). This is almost as inconvenient as the next outcome. 
  3. Your crew ghosted you! They never answer. No-show. Or maybe they do, but they say they don’t know who you are, never heard of you, and you must have called some other moving company. No idea what you’re talking about, sorry! Good luck  — “click.”

Now it’s your move (pun intended).

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What to do if your movers are simply running late…

moversYou may or may not believe the movers’ reasons as to why they’re late, but if they say they are on the way, ask them for a specific ETA. And if they don’t have one, make the person on the other end of the line explain in clear terms what they do know is going to happen and when.

As a former mover and operations manager, I can attest that unforeseen things do happen sometimes. We’re all imperfect human beings, and what we should want as a result is for everyone to know what’s going on. 

If a crew really is on the way, whoever you’re speaking to won’t want to lose you, and by extension, lose a job for their workers. Plus, if they have a public-facing profile somewhere, they definitely don’t want a bad review, let alone a “no-show” permanently stamped onto their HireAHelper profile page! 

What if I’m coordinating between two or more services?

If you are trying to coordinate your move between your movers and a service such as a moving container company, you need to call the other company’s customer service number ASAP.

 

PODS

(877) 770-7637

 

1-800-PACK-RAT

(800) 722-5728

 

Protip: A mover may negotiate a discount with you if things get out of hand, schedule-wise. (Trust me, the nicer you are, the more likely this is.) If you hired your movers through HireAHelper, they may automatically refund you a portion of your bill for the inconvenience, though typically this is a case-by-case scenario. 

What to do if your movers are not going to show up…

If you find yourself in a worst-case scenario, it will be tough to put both of your functioning neurons together to come up with a plan. But last-minute mover possibilities do exist.

Call a mover marketplace ASAP!

An interconnected network of local movers is your most time-efficient next step.

Companies like HireAHelper maintain a living list of vetted professional movers, and they know all of their schedules.

Even if you didn’t book your movers through HireAHelper, call them (800-995-5003). They have a process in place for cancellations, mover replacements, and no-shows, and they may be able to find you last-minute movers. (This process is free with or without an order, but there may be different costs and/or policies associated with your new movers, so you may have to weigh the value.)

Otherwise, your best bet is to find a mover the same way you probably did the first time: Google “movers near me” and call every number you can find. Good luck.

Think you might have been scammed? 

Unfortunately, scams are a relatively common thing in the wild world of unmoderated moves. Especially if you pre-paid any amount of money, this might be a possibility. If you’re beginning to worry you might have been scammed, here’s what you can do to fight back


Here’s how to avoid mover issues in the future

It may not be of any use right now, but there are a few key things to make sure of in order to avoid a difficult moving day scenario in the future.

  1.  Look up your moving company online ahead of moving day. Especially make sure to look up where their office is physically located, and ideally, find out what their previous customers have said about them through their online reviews.
  2.  Create a rapport. In your pre-move interactions, be interested in your movers, both as professionals and as people. Nothing goes further than genuine investment and appreciation of their process, and it definitely will keep your moving day closer to the top of their minds.
  3.  Be willing to ask very specific questions. What type of equipment would they be supplying? Is there something you have that you’re worried they might not be able to move? Tell them about it. Make sure you understand the limits of their coverage against damage. The answers you get will tell you a lot, not just about their service but also about them as a company.
  4.  After you’ve booked your move, call to confirm a day or two ahead of time. Many, if not all, movers will actually do this themselves; but if something slips through the cracks, that call isn’t going to come, and neither will your movers. Making the call yourself is a good way to double-check everyone is on the same page.
  5.  Don’t book movers who aren’t vetted. You can actually look up a mover’s business license if they are driving a vehicle. But simply getting movers who want to uphold their reputation on a network of professional movers like those listed on HireAHelper is a great way to lower the chance of something going wrong. 

Rental Trucks and Weigh Stations: Do You Need To Pull Over in a U-Haul?

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If you’re planning on moving yourself across state lines with a rental truck, you may be wondering if have to get your U-Haul (or Budget or Penske) weighed when you drive past a weigh station. Weigh stations exist to make sure trucks aren’t too heavy for the road surfaces and bridges they are rolling over, and well, that is a case-by-case situation.

Here’s everything you need to know when you’re driving by a weight station.

Do I have to pull into a weigh station with a rental truck? 

The answer is: it depends on how much your truck weighs and where you currently are (more below). This may feel like something complex or unusual, but it’s really not. 

If you aren’t sure if you need to stop at that weigh station up ahead, go ahead and pull in. If your truck needs to be weighed, they’ll weigh it (for free). And if your truck doesn’t need to be weighed, they’ll just wave you on through. Piece of cake! It usually doesn’t take that long. 

 

“…those weigh station folks know at a glance if a truck needs to stop. If you blow by a weigh station in a big enough truck…you can be chased down and fined, even if your truck is not overweight.”

 

And trust me, it’s more embarrassing to miss a weigh station than it is to get quickly waved through one.

How are you supposed to know how much your rental truck weighs?

weigh station

Ideally, before you hit the road, there is one thing you’ll want to know: the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of your truck.

The GVW equals the maximum allowable weight of the truck plus the weight of all your stuff in the back. The GVW should be written somewhere on the side of your truck. 

Note that there also exists a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), which refers to the maximum weight a truck or trailer can safely carry. (In other words, it’s the GVW minus the weight of the truck.) While most weigh stations are concerned with your truck’s GVW, there are some that enforce their rules around a vehicle’s GVWR.

If this all sounds confusing, just pull in.

How much does my specific Uhaul/Penske/Budget truck weigh?

moving truck weigh station

You’ll typically find the GVW written on the side of your truck, but here are the average numbers for trucks from some popular rental companies. (Your specific truck, depending on make, model, and year, might weigh a little less or a little more than the figure indicated, but it shouldn’t be more than the printed GVW in any way that really matters.)

U-Haul

Truck size (feet) – GVW (weight while empty/max. load allowable in lbs.)

  • 10’ – 8600 lbs. (5,790/2,810)
  • 15’ – 14,500 lbs. (8,115/6,385)
  • 17’ – 14,500 lbs. (8,340/6,160)
  • 20’ – 14,500 lbs. (8,800/5,700)
  • 26’ – 25,999 lbs. (12,990/13,009)

Penske

Truck size (feet) – GVW (weight while empty/max. load allowable in lbs.)

  • 12’ box – 9,900 lbs. (6,800/3,100)
  • 16’ box – 12,500 lbs. (8,200/4,300)
  • 22’ – 26,000 lbs. (14,000/11,999)
  • 26’ – 26,000 lbs. (16,000/10,000)

Budget

Truck size (feet) – (weight while empty/max. load allowable in lbs.)

  • 12’ – 10,050 lbs. (6,440/3,610)
  • 16’ – 12,500 lbs. (8,040/4,460)
  • 26’ – 26,000 lbs. (16,000/10,000)

(You can expect similar estimates for companies like Ryder, Enterprise, and others.)

What are the chances I really need to pull over?

There’s a moderate chance you’ll have to pull over, if only because some states require it.

Some states just make it easy and require any truck over 16,000 lbs. to stop. And several states require all trucks with as little as a GVW over 10,000 pounds to be weighed.

All that said, the smallest U-Haul and Penske trucks barely avoid crossing that specific threshold, even with a maxed-out load limit. Meanwhile, the smallest Budget is just a hair over this limit with a maxed-out load.

Realistically, for states that don’t flat-out enforce it, mandatory stopping in a weigh station doesn’t start coming into play until you get to at least a mid-sized truck with a decent-sized load. (But never just assume!)

Is my stuff really that dangerously heavy on the road?

rental truck weigh station

Your belongings almost certainly won’t make your truck too heavy for the highway, but the truck itself can only safely handle so much stuff. (Trust me, your movers will understand this.)  Still, unless you have more books than a library or more dumbbells than Gold’s Gym, you likely won’t have to worry about overloading your U-Haul.

You may, however, see signs showing weight limits for local roads and bridges, so it is a great idea to know at least approximately how much your truck and all your stuff weigh before disaster strikes.

(Protip: Speaking of disasters, keep in mind how tall your truck is too, for the bridges and overpasses you may encounter on those local roads. Personally, I like to put it on a Post-it note by the steering wheel.)

A truck’s size is a reliable indicator of its GVW, and those weigh station folks know at a glance if a truck needs to stop. If you blow by a weigh station in a big enough truck and someone notices, you can be chased down and fined, even if your truck is not overweight.

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Which states force you to pull over and get weighed? 

Some states don’t recognize rental moving trucks as commercial vehicles, and thus don’t have weighing requirements for U-Hauls. But again, some do.

Check the rules and laws below for the states you’ll be rolling through. (Scroll or swipe right.) Remember, there’s no need to sweat it! If you aren’t sure, just pull in!

State Rental required to stop? Extra Info
Alabama

https://www.dot.state.al.us/

No However: “Law Enforcement may require a truck be weighed.”
Alaska

dot.ask@alaska.gov

No “If the vehicle is not being used in commerce (furthering a business) then it does not need to stop at the weigh stations.” via Alaska DOT
Arizona

https://apps.azdot.gov/contact_adot/

Yes Because some commercial companies use rental trucks, we ask that you stop at the weigh stations. They will ask what you are carrying and send you on your way,” via AZ DOT
Arkansas Yes “If the truck is one ton or larger it must pull through a station in Arkansas. 99% of the time it will be given a green light bypass and will not be required to stop,” via Arkansas Highway Patrol
California

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/cvef/weigh-stations

Yes A rental truck is a motor truck, according to CVC Section 410, and must stop at the weigh stations.”
Colorado

https://csp.colorado.gov/sections/units/port-of-entry/vehicles-required-to-clear-port-of-entry

No Only commercial vehicles (“motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property”) over 16,000 lbs. empty weight or over a 26,000 lbs. GVW are required to stop.
Connecticut No  N/A
Delaware Yes “(Only) if you have a hauling permit to travel through DE (are you) not required to stop at weigh stations.”
Florida

https://www.fdot.gov/mcsaw/motorcarrierqa.shtm

Yes “All trucks traveling along state-maintained highways are expected to stop at every Weigh Station and Agricultural Inspection Station along the way to their destination.”
Georgia Yes If the vehicle or combination is 10,001 lbs. GVWR or actual gross weight or over, you must pull into all open weight and inspection stations. Signs, lighted arrows, or enforcement personnel will guide you.”
Hawaii Yes “All vehicles over 10,000 lbs. are required to report to the weigh station when the station is opened and upon signal,” via Hawaii Motor Carrier Safety
Idaho No “If the U-Haul is operating commercially then the answer is yes. If (it’s for) personal use, weigh stations are not required,” via ITP
Illinois Maybe “All vehicles weighing 16,000 pounds or more gross weight must stop at any official weighing station,” via www.ilsos.gov
Indiana Yes  N/A
Iowa Yes* All trucks over 10,000 lbs. GVW
Kansas Yes “Kansas law and the weigh station sign instruct all trucks to stop. They are several commercial entities that rent trucks to operate under the law. It is easiest to go through and be waved on than to be chased down and brought back,” via Kansas Transportation Division
Kentucky Yes*  N/A
Louisiana No “(Not) if it’s a personal item move/personal rental.,” via Louisiana State Police
Maine

https://www.maine.gov/mdot/

Yes “Even if you are not in commerce, you still must stop at any open weigh station if your vehicle’s GVW or GVWR exceeds 10,000 pounds,” via Maine DOT
Maryland Yes “Maryland does require U-Haul trucks (and other rental trucks) to stop at weigh stations when they are open. All Maryland signs at weigh stations simply read, ‘All Vehicles Over 5 Tons Must Stop.’ No type of vehicle specified as long as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Actual Weight, or Combination Weight exceeds 10,000 pounds, you must stop at the weigh stations in Maryland when they are open,” via MdDOT
Massachusetts

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/highway-division

No  N/A
Michigan Yes “A driver or owner of a truck or truck tractor, a truck or truck tractor with other vehicles in combination, or any special mobile equipment who fails to stop at or bypasses any scales or weighing station is responsible for a civil infraction,”  via MSP
Minnesota Yes If the rental truck is rated at 10,001 lbs. or greater”
Mississippi No  N/A
Missouri Maybe “All commercial vehicles, except those licensed for 18,000 pounds or less, are required to stop at an official weigh station. Others may be required to stop if directed by a peace officer or commercial vehicle officer/inspector,” via Missouri Dept. of Transportation
Montana Yes All trucks must stop at weigh stations
Nebraska Yes* Trucks over 10,000 lbs. GVW must stop
Nevada No The state of Nevada does not have ports of entry or official weigh stations.”
New Hampshire No Trucks “…not being used in commerce = Do not stop,” via NH State Police
New Jersey Yes “If your rental vehicle has a weight of 10,001 lbs. or more in New Jersey, then it must stop at a weigh station,” via NJDOT
New Mexico No  Only vehicles engaged in commerce are required to stop
New York No “(Trucks) not hauling commercial goods (do not need to stop),” via traffictickets.com/newyork
North Carolina Yes “Any person operating a vehicle or combination of vehicles having a GVWR of 10,0001 pounds or more…must enter a permanent weigh station or temporary inspection or weigh site as directed by duly erected signs or an electronic transponder for the purpose of being electronically screened for compliance, or weighed, or inspected,” via NCDPS/§ 20-118
North Dakota Yes “All vehicles over 10,000 lbs. GVW,” via nd.gov
Ohio No Only commercial vehicles are required to stop
Oklahoma Usually At Ports of Entry which are located inbound on I-35 from Kansas and Texas and on I-40 inbound from Arkansas and Texas, trucks are screened for weight, licensing and other requirements on the mainline and trucks must follow directions on the message boards. You may or may not be directed to pull in.  At interior weigh stations trucks must stop when the weigh station is open. Those stations are on U.S. 271 north and southbound south of Hugo, U.S.69 southbound south of Durant, I-35 southbound near Davis, I-40 east and westbound at El Reno, I-35 northbound near Tonkawa and at Boise City in the panhandle,” via OCC TR Enforcement
Oregon No No stop is required “when a homeowner is moving personal property.”
Pennsylvania Yes All trucks must stop
Rhode Island No N/A 
South Carolina No, BUT Department officials can order any truck that appears overweight to be weighed on the nearest scale
South Dakota Yes Any truck over 8,000 lbs. GVW
Tennessee Yes Rental trucks are required to stop at weigh stations,” via Tenn. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security
Texas No “Not unless they are involved in a commercial enterprise such as moving property for other people for hire,” via Texas Dept. of Public Safety
Utah Yes* N/A
Vermont Yes “They require all trucks to stop at the details. If they don’t need you to stop they will wave you on,” VIA Vermont DMV
Virginia Yes Operators of trucks which have a registered gross weight in excess of 7,500 pounds are required by law to drive their vehicles onto scales for weight inspection as directed by either a police officer or regulatory highway signs,” via Virginia Code

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title24/agency20/chapter81/section250/ 

Washington No Only commercial vehicles are required to stop
West Virginia No, BUT You may be asked to pull over and be weighed by an enforcement officer
Wisconsin Yes Any truck over four tons must stop. Transportation rule 312.03(2) states, “…the Department chooses not to require operators of trucks having a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less to stop at open weigh stations unless directed to do so by a traffic officer.”
Wyoming No You aren’t required to stop if you’re driving a U-Haul (or other rental truck) with your own property,” via WyDOT

Stay on the Safe Side

The info above represents the information we were given directly by various state officials or information we researched ourselves. It should be understood, however, that laws can change. And so does technology; many states are developing or have already implemented the use of portable scales, allowing state officials to weigh any vehicle anywhere.

They may weigh your truck. They may just wave you through. Either way, you’ll be on your way, with thoughts only of what lies ahead as you roll on toward your new home. 

Just please, remember how tall your truck is!

How Many Movers Do You Actually Need? A Guide Based on 5 Real-Life Moves

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Planning on hiring moving labor for your move? 

Moving labor is typically charged by the hour, so if you’ve ever tried to book labor-only movers, you know pretty much the first thing they ask you is, “how many movers do you need?”

While it might seem daunting to realistically know the answer, have no fear! I spoke with several of my friends about their recent moves and straight-up asked them how much labor help they ultimately required. Because while moving size charts are great, there’s nothing like talking to someone who’s been through it themselves to tell it like it is.


How long do movers take to finish?

Generally, it can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours on average to move a house. That’s a huge spread!

The number of hours YOU will end up needing depends on how many movers you hire, how much stuff you have, and whether your move involves any special circumstances, like moving specialty items or navigating stairs.

Here are some things to consider when booking moving labor:

  • Consider the factors that could make your SPECIFIC move a pain. It’s pointless to rely on typical moving labor estimates if your apartment is on the eighth floor with no elevator, or you own five baby grand pianos
  • Keep in mind that for the sake of operational efficiency, it’s standard for moving companies to maintain a minimum of two movers for two hours, so that’s the lowest amount of labor you’ll be able to reserve. But that’s okay! You very likely won’t need less than this anyway
  • The general consensus seems to be: It takes longer to load than it does to unload. As you’ll see below, it usually took about an hour less for my friends to unload than it did to load up. Since you no longer have to worry about things like stacking boxes or arranging the furniture inside the truck, unloading is kind of like riding your bike downhill versus uphill

Why hire more movers when you could hire them for longer hours? 

You’ll see some recommendations below for booking up to four (or more) movers at a time. While this might not seem cost-effective at first glance, it’s definitely time-effective, which should ultimately lead to a smaller moving bill at the end of the day.

This is because not surprisingly, even superhumanly strong moving professionals get tired after a while. Making sure you have enough helpers keeps the whole team from losing steam.

How Many People Do You Need to Help You Move? Here’s What My Friends Recommend

 

Studio/Small Apartment

  • Square feet: Up to 800
  • Recommendations:
    • Loading time: 2 movers for 2 hours
    • Unloading time: 2 movers for 2 hours

When a former colleague of mine decided to move out of her 800-square-foot Tampa apartment into a new one closer to work, she couldn’t believe how fast the actual move went after weeks of preparing for it. 

As mentioned above, the minimum amount of moving labor she could hire was two movers for two hours, but she felt this was perfect for the size of her apartment. The only hiccup was that she forgot to tell the movers her apartment was upstairs — which most movers charge extra for — so her final bill was a little higher than she expected. 

When collecting quotes, make sure you don’t forget to let your movers know if there will be stairs involved! (HireAHelper automatically accounts for this during your online booking.)

 

2-3 Bedroom Apartment

  • Square feet: 800–1200 square feet
  • Recommendations:
    • Loading time: 2 movers for 3 hours
    • Unloading time: 2 movers for 2 hours

When my bestie moved from Big Bear, California back to her home in Los Angeles in order to be closer to family, she and her husband decided to go the budget-friendly route of hiring a U-Haul for the day. 

Her 1,100-square-foot cabin had what she calls “two-and-a-half” bedrooms, the half bedroom being a hard-to-classify, den-like room that eventually became a storage room. While packing took over a week, the move itself was accomplished over the course of a very long day. 

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

She hired two movers who loaded everything into their moving truck in three hours that morning. Unloading was definitely faster, especially since she was moving in temporarily with her parents and only had to unload her stuff into a storage unit, which took about two hours

 

2-3 Bedroom House

moving labor guide

  • Square feet: 1,000–1,500
  • Recommendations:
    • Loading time: 3 movers for 4 hours
    • Unloading time: 3 movers for 3 hours

Recently, my cousin stayed with us in our guest room for a bit after selling her 1,250-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home. 

She decided to opt for a portable storage container since she would need to keep most of her things in storage for a few months, and she wanted to save herself time unloading and reloading her stuff. She did all of the packing herself and hired a few friends to help her finish loading her container on moving day. 

 

“Think about other houses… Do you typically have more or less stuff than they do? Do you have an attic, garage, or basement filled with exercise equipment, tools, or holiday decorations? All of this factors into your moving labor calculations.”

 

While they weren’t professional packers and loaders per se, they were incredibly proficient (read: buff) and boasted some mad Tetris skills, so she’s confident they were fairly up-to-par with the pros. They had her container loaded in just four hours. Months later, when it was time for her to unload her items into her new apartment, it took about three hours to unload everything from her container. 

 

3-4 Bedroom House

  • Square feet: 1,500–2,000
  • Recommendations:
    • Loading time: 4 movers for 4 hours
    • Unloading time: 4 movers for 3 hours

Some old friends of ours moved from Oregon to Florida using a full-service moving company, as they were not about to drive a rental truck with their three little ones across the country. 

Their 1,700-square-foot home took about 4 hours to load with the help of their four-person moving team. Their loaders even helped with some last-minute packing. After racing across the country in their minivan to beat their movers to their new city, they quickly found a 3-bedroom home in just the nick of time so they could avoid being charged storage fees. 

There were only three movers this time to help them unload the truck, and it took about 4 hours. If there had been a fourth mover, it most assuredly would have taken less time.

 

4+ Bedroom House

  • Square feet: 2,000–3,000+ 
  • Recommendations:
    • Loading time: 4+ movers for 5 hours
    • Unloading time: 4+ movers for 4 hours

After getting remarried last year, a family friend decided it was finally time to move out of his 3,200-square-foot Tampa Bay home, a place he had shared with his previous wife for nearly twenty years before she passed away. The kids were all grown, and Florida real estate prices are insane right now, so it was a great time to cash in. 

His home was not only enormous — 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms — but it was also filled with stuff he had collected for decades. Months before the move, as soon as he listed his home for sale, our friend and his new wife began the “Great Purge”. But once they had sold and donated everything they needed to, they still had a decent amount of stuff on their hands. 

 

“It’s pointless to rely on typical moving labor estimates if your apartment is on the eighth floor with no elevator, or you own five baby grand pianos.”

 

They hired a local full-service moving company for their move and a team of four was tasked with loading and unloading their items. It ended up taking the whole day (about 8 hours) to complete the move. 

Something to keep in mind: our friend is a musician and collects guitars and other instruments. The movers didn’t feel comfortable moving these valuables, so he ended up having to take them in his own vehicle. Definitely make sure to let your moving help know ahead of time if you have any collectibles or other specialty items.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What about drive time?

It counts.

Regardless if you’re hiring moving company for labor-only OR if the company is driving their own truck, if both ends of the move are happening on the same day, incorporate the drive time into the hourly cost AND combine both estimations.

If you’re worried that might cost a fortune, the good news is that hiring movers by the hour for both your load and unload (the good ol’ Hybrid move!) is still incredibly cost- and time-effective, especially relative to full-service van lines or other huge moving companies. If you’re at all worried and want to know how to keep your costs down, you can chat with someone for free and they’ll quickly figure out what your situation might cost you.

Now it’s your turn: calculate your moving labor needs

HireAHelper.com

Admittedly, the examples above are all anecdotes from people I know. But the actual data from tens of thousands of moves match up with these estimates pretty well, as those who have been in the moving business for over a decade will tell you.

To make your own moving labor estimate as accurate as possible, you’ll need to keep the following in mind: 

  • How much stuff do you honestly have? Think about other houses you’ve visited. Do you typically have more or less stuff than they do? Do you have an attic, garage, or basement filled with exercise equipment, tools, or holiday decorations? All of this factors into your moving labor calculations. (Note: My friends above had a pretty average amount of stuff for the most part.)
  • What’s your mode of transport? If you’re moving with a portable container and take full advantage, you’ll likely load some of your items in advance of your move. In this case, you’ll want to shave off some loading time when estimating your moving labor needs
  • Does your move have any unique needs? If your movers have to specially handle unique items, or carry your stuff up or down stairs, or walk a city block to get to the moving truck, you’ll need to add some time to your move
  • Will you need help with packing or unpacking? Nearly all of my friends below did the packing themselves, although a couple of them had their pros help with some last-minute boxing on moving day. If you need any packing help on top of loading and unloading, make sure to keep this in mind

While this guide isn’t accurate down to the minute or a legally binding guarantee or anything like that, it should definitely give you a realistic idea of how much labor you might need for your home. With all this in mind, you can use your new moving labor estimate to calculate the cost of your move pretty quickly!

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