Where can I get actual moving rental truck?
Question:
I will need to put 7 rooms of "stuff" into a U-Haul-type van at the end of next month, and I can't do it alone w/o taking all day. I'd much rather pay some folks than to inconvienence my friends, but I have no idea where I can get hired hands (preferably bonded, etc., rather than "I got some buddies free that day
Answer:
_I'd call around to some moving companies, particularly
non-national/local, and ask them.
For example, when we had to move a 1200+lb computer up to our office
from the delivery truck we called a piano mover and they sent some
guys over and did it (I think that was Death Wish Piano Movers), but
it wasn't on their truck which I think is your point.
I bet even if they won't do it themselves they can make some
suggestions, they must sometimes have overflow and/or rush work and
need extra hands.
_I don't remember which company it was (this was back in 1991) but we
once hired movers to load an 18' rental truck. My wife called a local
moving company, and they sent three guys out in a car on moving day.
Not only did they easily move everything we owned, they packed the
truck much better than I would have.
Including their hourly rate for carting stuff and for the driving time
to and from their office, and a tip, I think I paid them about $300,
maybe a bit more.
_You're a mighty optimistic guy; don't forget that the speed limit for
trucks is still 55 in many places, and any traffic cop looking for
actual hazards ought to be keeping a special eye out for rental trucks
("honest officer, I learned how to drive one of these things reading
net news, I'm a virtual pro"). Having made that trip several time in vehicles usually nicer than a
rental truck, please allow me to point out that it is two more *hard*
days, and this time of year things are pretty damn warm between Dallas
and LA. Houston to El Paso is one long hard day, and El Paso to
LA is another long hard day. I expect it's about the same if you
start in Dallas. There's also some big hills in Colorado (it
isn't really on your route, but your optimism is already tending
towards lunacy, so who knows) that you ought to avoid (the
altitude is tough on carbureted engines, and the descent is
tough on your brakes, especially if the truck's got an automatic
transmission). You'll probably also find yourself saying (like I did
the first time I did this) ", there goes the Grand Canyon, I
really wish I could stop to see that, , there goes Sunset Crater,
I really wish I could stop to see that, etc.". Skip the Petrified
Forest, though; all they have are signs telling you how wonderful
it was before tourists just like you came and STOLE it all. I
think you'll be plenty tired if you take three days to get to
Dallas, rest one, then take three more days to get to LA.
_And if traveling I-40 (Kenny, I hope that rig has a working air
conditioner and a good engine), in the middle of Arizona there is a long
and fairly steep grade, both sides of Flagstaff.
I did San Francisco <-> Fort Smith Ark. and Los Angeles <-> D.C. drives
several times in a variety of vehicles , and all the time trying to make
as many miles as I could. David speaks truly. Trying to go from Dallas
to LA are two extremely hard and soul-robbing days, even when I was
young and loved to drive.
My tips:
-- make and keep a list of 800 numbers for hotel chains
-- if at all possible, try to be off the road at the hottest
time of day: 10 am - 4 pm. Drive at night if you can.
-- wear sunscreen (Kenny, I don't know whether you might find
this funny, but God made no human skin immune to the
type of sun you get driving on I-40) and invest in a
good pair of sunglasses
-- try to time it so that you avoid large cities at rush hour
-- eat only at chain restaurants
-- sleep in a motel, not in the truck at rest stops
-- everyone on the road is a jerk, and when you drive a big
truck, it takes a long time to slow down, let alone
stop
-- bring two coolers: one in front with you to ice down the
sodas, and the other in the back icing down the beer for
when you stop for the night.
-- cruise control, a tape/CD player, and a small dictation tape
recorder all go a long way to improving your quality of
life.
-- in the south part of the country, most highway cautionary
signs are there for a reason (as opposed to the random
placement found here in the northeast). If a sign in
Texas or Arizona says that the curve is dangerous,
believe it.
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