Hello, my name is Roy. For many years, I drove a 1976 Ford estate car around Sydney. The car had belonged to my grandpa. It was passed down to me when I had just passed my driving test at the age of 18. That was in 1986 and the car was already in a pretty bad condition then. Fast forward to 2006 and I was now aged 38 and still driving the same car around. Sometimes the car wouldn't start, white smoke came out of the exhaust and the gearbox made a terrible sound. I did my best to patch it up, but eventually, I had to scrap the car and buy a new one. I decided to start a blog to encourage others to service their cars.
If you're moving from one home to another or need to transport some business equipment, you can typically rent a pickup or cargo truck as easily as you rent a car. However, because rental trucks are often used for heavy-duty hauling and for moving items, and not just for transportation, you want to ensure you know everything involved in their rental. Note a few questions to ask when renting a truck, so you don't overlook anything and are sure to get one that fits your needs.
Limitations on cargo
Don't assume that renting a truck means that you can put anything and everything into the back; a rental agency may have restrictions against items like gravel, hazardous materials, or rubbish and other such waste. There may also be restrictions on the size of something you can put in the back of a pickup truck so that it doesn't block your view out the back window. If you're hauling anything bulky or anything other than standard household or business items, ask about these restrictions.
Towing limitations
The weight limit of something you want to tow with a truck is not the only concern to consider; the ball hitch of the truck needs to be compatible with the frame of a trailer, and some towed items may be so long that they produce too much drag for a smaller truck. If you need your truck rental to tow anything behind it, note the measurements of the towed item, type of trailer frame, weight and all other details so you know you're getting the right truck for your towing needs.
Insurance
A truck rental agency will have damage insurance, but it's good to ask what's covered in this policy. This may include damage to the body of the truck, but not the bed of a pickup or the interior of a cargo truck. Damage to the hitch or the frame of a trailer that comes with the truck may also not be covered. It's good to know this, as you may want to get additional insurance to protect you in case you overload the truck or otherwise cause damage.
License requirements
This is especially important if you're renting a truck in another country, such as when moving or visiting a business customer. The rental agency may require an international driver's license and for the driver to be of a particular age, so it's always good to know about these requirements ahead of time.
Share11 July 2017
