Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes we get a call on a Friday afternoon from a potential customer asking we have a truck for the weekend weekend. We do whatever we can to help our customers, but sometimes we can’t make it work as we simply do not have a truck available.

Unfortunately, some customers believe that waiting till the last minute will get you a better price – this isn’t the case. At Rent It Truck Hire, our quotes are always consistent, so delaying your booking could lead to frustration.

To avoid this happening to you, it’s essential that customers look to hire a truck at least 48 hours prior to your move. The earlier the booking, the better the chance you can reserve a vehicle.

For stress-free truck hire, contact our super friendly team at Rent It Truck Hire now on 1300 556 393 or complete our online quote form.

Maneuvering a truck is a completely different than a car, and it can take some time to adjust. When hopping into your truck for the first time, take the time to familiarise yourself with all the features before driving. This will ensure you will know where everything is located, when you are out in the traffic.

We do have some good news though – our Pantechs are straightforward to drive and we often have customers tell us that they enjoy driving them.

Other truck driving tips that we recommend to all customers, include:

• Allow time for our staff to explain the handling characteristics of the vehicle to you
• Before driving, be sure to adjust your seat so your feet can reach the truck pedals comfortably.

• Adjust your side mirrors.
• Keep a greater distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, as you will need longer and a greater distance to stop than your ordinary car. This is amplified when you have a full truck load.

·       To state the obvious, your truck is much bigger than your car. Be mindful of the extra girth and height.

• Drive to the conditions, keep under the speed limit and take corners slower.
  • When cornering and operating in cramped spaces, use your mirrors to help ensure safer navigation

• Always be aware of your surroundings when reversing. Mirrors alone are not enough. We also encourage someone to guide you in.
• Lock the rear doors properly  before departing
• Be cautious when switching lanes and know where your blindspots are

Load your items into the truck securely.

Your utilities – Phone, Internet and Electricity

• Notify your utility company of the date you’ll be exiting from leaving your current address
• Arrange for electricity to be activated at your new location
• Advise your internet provider and arrange for reactivation at your new address
• Ensure your mobile phone service provider is aware of your updated contact details
• If you have pay TV, have your details updated and arrange for reconnection.

Postal Services

• For any companies that regularly send you mail, update them with your new address, or have them email you instead.
• Visit an Australia Post to get your mail redirected to your new address

Government Agencies

• Centrelink
• Transport Department (for your driver’s licence)
• Other public institutions such as libraries
• Medicare
• Australian Electoral Commission
• Australian Taxation Office
• If you have pets, be sure to have the contact details of their microchip record updated

Compile a Full List of All Household Items

When moving interstate, it’s important that you can transport all of your possessions in a single journey.

It’s a good time to do some spring cleaning and consider:

• Which items are you going to be moving?
• Which items won’t come with you and will be discarded or placed into storage?

Get Insured

When relocating, your belongings can be in transit for an extended period of time, potentially placing them at a greater risk of damage. It’s a good idea to consider moving insurance to help ease the financial burden if something does go wrong.

Moving insurance will protect you in the in the event of:

• your hire truck becomes damaged following an accident and the driver of the other vehicle is deemed responsible
• your hire driver operating your vehicle and is responsible.

Packing

Packing your household belongings can be both time consuming and daunting, particularly if you have a  lot of items you’re needing to pack, but it can be a made easier if you plan ahead. Beginning a few weeks prior to the date of your move is the perfect time to start. One of the first things you’ll need to do is find or buy some suitable packing boxes.

You’ll also need plenty of tape to close boxes and secure your items. Good choices for moving house boxes include:

Shipping Tape –is best for a typical packing box. It’s cheap to buy and strong enough to secure your box and valuables.

Masking Tape – try to avoid it unless you are using it to label your boxes.

Duct Tape –ideal tape for securing your heavier possessions or for fastening your belongings in place.

Filament Tape – this tape has similar qualities to shipping tape but it features a plastic lining which helps to prevent tearing. Filament tape is also suitable for securing heavy items.

General Tips for Packing

• Older, soft fabrics, including used bed linen and unwanted clothing, are a great way to secure and protect your valuables from damage while in transit
• Consider placing electrical cables into their own separate bags and label them accordingly. Electronic cables are notorious for getting tangled – use rubber bands to secure them individually.
• Always place padded fabrics between fragile items like TVs and valuable furniture.
• Fill your bags and suitcases as this will save on the number of boxes you need to use.
• Give your home a spring clean – not only will you make some extra cash in the sale of any unwanted goods, it will also make your move easier.

Travelling with Pets

If you are travelling with pets, there are some special laws that you must abide by. Be mindful of your pets health and wellbeing by considering the following:

• Your pets should be secured in the vehicle with a restraint.
• Keep a favourite item or toy with them in the truck to help any anxiety.
• Make regular stops to allow them to run about, have a drink and relieve themselves.
• If your pet rarely travels in a vehicle, get them used to shorter trips in the weeks prior.
• For big interstate moves, it may worth considering having your pet flown directly to your destination.

To avoid injuries when completing a DIY removal, you should always use the correct technique when lifting heavy objects. If you don’t, the risks are pretty high and include a range of health problems, including back problems and muscle injuries.

We always recommend:

• Keep your feet are approximately a shoulder’s length apart
• Keep your back straight and tighten your stomach muscles
• Bend your knees and crouch down
• Keep your eyes focused in front of you
• Grip the object firmly with both hands
• Use the strength of your legs to lift – not your upper body.
• Take your time – don’t rush!

When placing the object on the floor, do the reverse of what you did to lift it. Keep your back straight and object close to you, slowly lower yourself using the strength in your legs. The below image is a useful image of how to put all the above tips together.

Take a common sense approach

• When moving heavy objects, select a clear passage that has no obstructions that you have to avoid and can potentially trip on.
• Always Inspect the item to determine where you can safely hold onto it before picking it up.
• Secure loose objects such as TV cords with a rubber band or some sort of tie.
• Ensure that the weight of the object is evenly distributed.
• Break up the weight when you can – a if you’re looking to move a chest of drawers, remove the drawers and shift them on their own.

It’s important that all your possessions are loaded and unloaded off the truck safely and correctly. Doing it correctly will ensure your possessions survive the move but also reduce the risk of injury to yourself. Below are some tips to help make the process safe and hassle free:

• Park the truck as close as possible to where you will to where you are picking up and dropping off your possessions.
• Make sure the tailgate loader is dry (not slippery) and free from debris before loading an item onto it

• Use Rent It Truck Hire’s complementary dolly to shift larger items
• Start by unloading your biggest items first
• Position large items like bed mattresses, benches, tables, desks and chairs sideways against the interior walls. Also secure them with rope.
• All bulky items should sit on the floor with the lighter objects on top
• Long, fragile items, like lamps should sit against the sides
• Wherever possible, disassemble all furniture items to limit chances of breakage
• Use furniture pads for items that are sensitive and / or scratch easily eg timber
• Cover all upholstered furniture, including your couch, with plastic covering
• Wrap all of your small and / or fragile objects eg glasses
• Ensure all your electrical appliances are in boxes with suitable padding
• Try to fill gaps between packages with smaller, boxed items or padded materials eg old clothing and rugs
• Keep yourself safe by wearing clothes and (closed in) shoes that are comfortable and which you are relaxed about getting a little dirty.
• Always have at least one other person to help you throughout the move.