Safety Tips for Every Stage of Your DIY Moving Journey

A DIY move requires a little extra planning with many factors to consider, including how to rent a truck, choosing the right truck, how to load your truck, where to stop along the way and where to return your truck once you reach your destination. And lucky for you, Penske Truck Rental already thought of (almost) everything for you.

Wherever your moving journey is taking you, these tips will help you to navigate safely, efficiently and with ease.

Loading Your Truck

Knowing how to load your rental truck properly is an oft-overlooked key to a successful move.

The experts at Penske Truck Rental recommend organizing your heaviest possessions in an “I” formation in the truck, balancing the weight evenly and using tie-downs to lock items into place so they don’t slide around.

Valuable items, paperwork and items you need to access easily should be kept with you in the cab.

Miscellaneous smaller items and boxes can be placed in the gaps around the large, heavy items to fill out the rest of the truck.

Stopping for the Night

If your trip requires multiple days of driving, you’ll need to plan your overnight lodging around locations that provide safe accommodations to park your truck.

Check with hotels or Airbnbs ahead of time to confirm there is dedicated space to park your vehicle overnight prior to booking. The parking area should be well-lit and not too close to the road to help avoid theft or accidental collisions.

Secure the vehicle properly before leaving it for the night. This step is crucial to protecting your belongings. The back door of each truck has a latch that must be secured, and we recommend adding a padlock for more security. Don’t forget to lock the doors to the cab as well.

Returning Your Truck

Once you’ve successfully completed your move, there is one final step before you are home free: returning your rental truck.

We recommend planning your trip accordingly and mapping out where you’ll return your truck before you leave, so you don’t have to stress about it at the last minute. Click here to find a list of Penske Rental locations.

Roadside Assistance

Penske's 24/7 Roadside Assistance is available around the clock, 365 days a year.

Contact Penske for roadside assistance with your Penske equipment, such as a flat tire on your truck, mechanical problems, fluid leakage, etc.

We'll work with our service network to get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.

Call 1-800-526-0798 or submit a request through the Penske Truck Rental app.

Other Things to Consider Before Starting Your Journey

• Confirm that you’re using the correct fuel for your vehicle.
• Check to see what weather you may encounter on your route.
• Always adjust your mirrors prior to hitting the road.
• Know your vehicle’s height to avoid any low clearance mishaps.
• Read up on local, state and federal rules or municipal, provincial and federal rules
• Secure the vehicle properly when not in use.
• Download the Penske app for more information and assistance.

Check out 10 Rental Driving Tips for more great information and read these Penske Rental FAQs for answers to additional questions.