Is It Hard Driving A 26 Foot Truck – Discover These Facts!

For as long as humans live and make changes, we will always move from place to place. It could be just moving to a new part of town or traveling across the country to a new home. In any case, you will most likely need a moving truck to keep things smooth.

If you have a driver’s license, you can save money by opting for a DIY move. But first, you have to make sure you are prepared before climbing behind the wheel of a moving rental truck.

Driving a moving truck can be a bit intimidating for inexperienced drivers. The bigger the truck, the bigger the hurdle.

For instance, most inexperienced drivers will be more likely to drive a 10 foot truck or even 16 footer than a 26-foot truck. Which begs the question, how hard can it be to drive a 26-foot truck? This article will answer this question and many others concerning 26-foot trucks.

Is it Hard to Drive a 26 foot Uhaul?

While it definitely feels different from smaller vehicles, it’s not hard. This cargo truck rides quite gently enough that you’d almost feel as though it were not 26-feet long. Once you are able to conquer your first time driving a 26-foot truck, other times will most likely be a walk in the park.

Can You Drive a 26 foot Box Truck Across the States?

Yes, you can. You simply need a valid driver’s license to drive such a truck across state lines. If the truck weighs more than 26,000 pounds (GVWR), you will need a CDL license to drive it across state lines. You will also need federal registration for your truck.

Can Anyone Drive a Uhaul?

Basically, anyone who is licensed to drive can drive a 26-foot long moving truck. All they need to carry on is to have everything that they need (correct documentation and basic route information) and be confident and comfortable behind the wheel.

A 26 Foot Truck

It’s a box truck measuring 26 ft. (7.9 m) in length and weighing 26,000 GVW, it falls under Class 6 gross vehicle weight rating.

Its dimension (LWH) is 26’ x 8’ 1” x 8’ 1” (1,698 cubic feet). With nearly 1,700 cubic feet of cargo space, it can hail up to 10,000 lbs.

Their rear doors roll up like garage doors. Major moving companies and transportation companies with large moving fleet such as popular 26 Penske fleet, Budget moving, Uhaul have these wonderful automobiles!

Why do some drivers fear it may be difficult to drive a 26-foot truck?

It’s due to how intimidating the box truck can be, especially to inexperienced drivers or drivers who are only used to driving much smaller vehicles. Compared to everyday passenger care, a 26-foot moving truck is more technical to maneuver in traffic.

Driving 26 foot moving truck across country vs local

Compared to moving locally, moving across the country is a much bigger undertaking, one that shouldn’t be embarked on lightly. And driving a 26-truck all the way is an even bigger challenge.

How To Make It Easy?

Just follow basic rules and you will be fine.

1. Use side-view mirrors

The thing with driving a 26-foot truck is that the rear-view mirror is not centered above the dashboard as you have in passenger cars. Box trucks have blind spots just behind the vehicles. You will need to depend on side-view mirrors.

2. Be careful when turning and stopping

As a result of the weight, the 26-foot moving truck requires more time to accelerate, maneuver, and come to a halt. Always leave just enough space between yourself and the vehicles in front of you, just in case.

3. Keep to the rules of the road

While you may not need a special license to drive a 26-foot truck, you must make sure you follow all the rules of the road. It’s important for your safety.

Other things you can do include but are not limited to plotting your trip and taking note of your truck’s height.

FAQ About Driving 26 Footer!

The following are frequently asked questions about renting or/and driving a 26-foot truck.

Do you need a license to drive a 26-foot truck?

Yeah, like with all vehicles, you would need your driver’s license if you want to get the moving truck on the road.

Now, the license you would need will depend on the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of your box truck. You will need only the normal driver’s license to drive the box truck if it has a GVWR of 26,000 lbs or less. Go here to discover what is the biggest truck you can drive without a CDL for more information!

If the GVWR is, however, 26,0001 lbs. or more, you will require at least a class B Commercial Driver’s License(CDL) to drive your 26 footer. Read more details here!

How much can you fit in a 26-foot moving truck?

Offering nearly 1,700 cubic feet of cargo space and a max loading capacity of up to 10,000 lbs, the 26-foot box can carry a lot of loads.

Give or take, the moving truck can fit around  500 medium boxes or about 15 medium furniture items. What’s more, the truck comes fitted with a towing ramp as well as a loading ramp.

Does a 26 ft U-Haul have to stop at weigh stations?

It depends. So, the answer is yes and no. According to U-Haul, you most likely won’t be required to pull up as a weigh station when driving a 26-foot truck as your move won’t be considered a commercial one. So, the answer is no in this case.

Several states in the United States, however, demand non-commercial tricks that exceed certain weight limits to stop at weigh stations.

The limit is typically above 10,000 lbs. In which case a 26-foot box truck will have to stop at weigh stations. The answer is yes in this scenario.

How many miles per gallon does a 26 ft U-Haul truck get?

With a 60-gallon fuel tank (using Unleaded fuel), a 26-foot U-Haul gets an average of 10 miles per gallon (mpg). A full tank will cover 600 miles of road.

This can help you plan your trip when moving across the country, stopping where you need to refill your tank before it runs out. Read more about box trucking MPG here!

How heavy is this popular truck?

When empty, a 26-foot truck weighs about 16,000 lb. The weight of any truck may vary slightly, depending on each manufacturer’s specifications. However, the maximum weight allowable for this truck is 26,000 lb. This maximum weight is called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).