Making the Move to College
More than 15 million students enter classes at colleges and universities across the nation each fall, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Many students will be moving their belongings a considerable distance from their hometown. Since starting or returning to college is often a stressful experience, students should do everything possible to make the move itself hassle-free. Penske Truck Rental, AAA's truck rental partner, offers the following tips to help make moving easy...
- Assess your moving needs and select the proper truck size by using the free Penske Moving Guide. Call Penske and they'll help you calculate, room by room, the truck size, packing equipment and moving accessories (such as boxes and furniture pads) that will best meet your household's needs. Log on to Penske's Web site at www.pensketruckrental.com and use our Truck Wizard to calculate the right truck size for your moving needs.
- Get together with a couple of fellow students to share costs and take turns with the driving on long trips. Helping each other will also speed up the loading and unloading process.
- Make sure the rental company you choose has 24-hour emergency road service along your route. Penske provides road service 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
- Reserve your truck and moving supplies as soon as possible to assure availability of the truck and supplies needed. Be sure to pick up your supplies in advance to avoid a last-minute packing frenzy.
- Pack stereo equipment, TV's and computers in original cartons, or use strong packing paper or bubble wrap.
- Be sure to bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back. Don't overload yourself when you load or unload the truck.
- When loading the truck, put the heaviest items on first. If contending with several flights of stairs at your destination, you may want to unload enough items to enable you to move the heaviest items into your residence first, before you're extremely tired.
- Pick up your rental truck the day or evening before moving day so you can take some time to familiarize yourself with the operation and handling of the vehicle. This will allow you to get an early start on loading the next morning.
Penske offers AAA members a savings of 12% on one-way truck rental rates and moving accessories, plus unlimited free mileage. A 10% savings is offered on local rentals rates and moving accessories.
Do-it-yourself movers can pick up a free moving guide at any local AAA office. Contact Penske at 877-AAA-7924 or www.pensketruckrental.com to reserve a truck or van.
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