No CDL needed for this truck. Though I only have experience pulling a trailer, I’ll be pulling a Nissan note on the back of the Penske 26ft. Any advice for a novice?
Posted May 25, 2022, 5:40 PM UTC
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Look out for the 11’8” bridge
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Do you see those often? I’m going from Texas->Connecticut
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Noted
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Are you using Google Maps?
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Especially the Merritt in CT, unless you want to meet the many fine members of the local constabulary.
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Mandatory infographic for CT highways
Make sure to stay off the Merritt. The other 3 you are good end to end.
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Do NOT attempt to go through any drive thrus.
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But if you do, make sure a bystander is filming
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This is the way
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And have a SWIFT sticker placed on your truck beforehand
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I've seen this happen. It is both tragic and hilarious every time.
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I started as a driver/mover and one day my buddy who was driving figured we could take our 13” C6500 through a certain Wendy’s drive thru. The look on the employees’ faces were priceless.
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The only annoyance is having to shut down in order to hear the speaker.
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Actually, certain Wendy's do not have a canopy or height limit. Used to take a Hino through the one on the Berlin Turnpike a couple of times a week.
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I know this to be true. I myself have been through one. If you know where they are it’s a nice treat.
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use all available space. this means for example when taking a right hand turn, dont worry about staying in the right most lane. you can straddle the line between the turn lane and the lane over to the left. just dont leave enough room for a car to pass you on your right. also when making the turn, dont worry about pulling into the right hand lane of the road your turning on. if there are three lanes on the road you are turning on, use as much room as you need so you dont hit the curb. Your truck is longer then you are used to, think about this on EVERY turn and curve. "use all available space" goes through my mind on EVERY turn i take.
Don't worry about causing the 4 wheelers to wait for you. They will get pissed and make alot of noise. Fuck em.
The MOST important thing is safety. First is people's safety (yours and thiers). Second is damage to property (your truck and all other things). If you can get from point A to B safely, you have won. It doesnt matter how ugly or slowly you do it.
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Much appreciated!
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- Get the optional insurance. Your car insurance DOES NOT cover rental trucks. 2) Be mindful of the truck’s height. There are plenty of people who have crashed into overhangs/gas station/drive thrus and such because they forgot they had a big box behind them. 3) Stay in the slow lane as much as possible. 4) Obey the steep incline warnings for trucks. This weighs a lot more than your standard vehicle and you don’t want to burn up your brakes. If the sign says trucks 35 mph, then that’s the speed you should be at. 5) Figure your travel time at 50 to 55 miles per hour on freeway driving. 6) Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you. No tailgating at speed. These don’t stop as quick as a car. 7) Plan your lane changes as far ahead as possible. Since you are going to be towing a car, this needs to be a top priority. Lane ending ahead? Move over as soon as you safely can. Other drivers don’t want to be stuck behind you, so they won’t be as accommodating to let you merge at the last minute. 8) Drive as smooth and steady as you can.
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Thank you! All noted
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Full insurance, capisce? Do not leave without having complete full insurance. And what the Ohio guy said.
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Been on the fence about the insurance they offer. I plan to have a dash cam setup. If it isn’t my fault, do I still get fucked?
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Yes. Unless you can afford a top notch law office.
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Don't hit shit.
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Careful about fishtail
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OP, this is really important.
If it the car/trailer start to fishtail do NOT just stamp on the brakes. Generally wherever possible, you want to gently accelerate out of it and then slow down once it is under control - this acceleration 'pulls' the trailer out of it whereas panic braking can cause a jackknife.
Just take it slow, take every corner extra wide, and be very vigilant as to what height the truck is and what height any bridges or tunnels are.
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If it the car/trailer start to fishtail do NOT just stamp on the brakes. Generally wherever possible, you want to gently accelerate out of it and then slow down once it is under control - this acceleration 'pulls' the trailer out of it whereas panic braking can cause a jackknife.
I hope I never need to use this advice. If I do, I'll think of you. That goes against what I would do in the situation.
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[deleted]
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Watch the scales. Some will want you to roll across, some don’t, it depends on the state you’re in. If it’s closed, adios. If it’s open, follow the signs and the arrows, and just to cover your ass, roll over a CAT scale for $12.50.
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Didn’t know they stopped moving trucks
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Some states do. It depends. Maryland wants everyone 5t and bigger to pull over, which means small moving trucks are fine but large ones need to scale. Though if you don't have a CDL I'd imagine they penalty isn't that big, since they don't expect non cdl holders to know how to drive.
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The silly thing is that it’s inconsistent asf. Each state is different, and a no-CDL penske truck is exactly 26000 lbs GVWR and I think probably 36000 lbs GCWR.
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25,995lbs.
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In NY if your over 3 ton you need to pull into any open inspection point, so your company's 3500 work truck, gotta pull in
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You're technically supposed to but I don't think I ever have
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It's amazing to me in a trucker forum people give this answer this way. There are states where pulling in a rig like this will get you yelled at. Some you need to. It's the driver's responsibility to know which are which and hearing drivers give the wrong answer is concerning.
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I guess I should have said I've literally never moved out of state and I'm 22 so I don't have the most experience driving
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Some signs state rental trucks. They aren't necessarily checking residential usage but they can ask you to open the back to confirm. I have done many moves with the family. 99% of the time they wave me through. 2 times so far they have asked me to park and have inspected the back briefly and looked over the paperwork to confirm a residential move. I can see moving companies or any company really faking a move to skirt the scales. Not sure how they handle overweight but doubtful that a residential move will equate to overweight.
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Watch your overhead clearance, bridges and branches. You can use google maps streetview to case your route and set yourself up for success. Try to avoid tight turn intersections that would force you to encroach on the oncoming lane, too.
I drove in Boston for 7 years. Sometimes it's better to go the long way around to come in on the right side of the street or use the easiest intersections than to try to fight through a spot you technically fit but then there's a tour bus parked in the way.
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Its easier that you think. Take it slow and enjoy the adventure
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No cdl needed if you’re not moving anything for commercial purposes.
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Try backing in a couple of times for fun and entertainment.
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When passing a slower vehicle give yourself more than enough distance before coming back over. You won't be able to see that car you're towing so you want to make sure you don't take off that guys bumper when you come back over. Also his entire field of vision will be the back of your truck until you're at least 200 ft away from him.
Also the bigger the vehicle, the stupider the drivers around you are. It's a fact. You can either spend your trip expecting everyone to do the right thing and get pissed off when they aren't, or just expect them to be stupid and account for it and then be happy when they aren't. The latter is much less stressful.
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This. I've also found the heavier my load the more people will cut me off 😂 oh you've got 32 ton of dirt on...let me just slip in here and slow the hell down for ya 🤬
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Make sure to take Notes...
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Take wide turns and leave yourself plenty of braking distance.
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I did this when I moved to Florida from New York before I got a cdl. It’s not that hard just don’t switch lanes fast and always check your mirrors. Go slow through toll booths and every time you stop for fuel check the straps and connections to the truck.
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Oh! If it takes diesel, that goes in the SILVER cap.
You’ll also be filling up DEF, this comes from a blue gun with a blue hose with a small end. This goes into the BLUE cap and nowhere else. Mess it up and the truck’s stranded until just about the whole fuel system gets replaced.
As for height… your penske truck is a 12’6” high vehicle.
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Mess it up and the truck’s stranded until just about the whole fuel system gets replaced.
Not if the truck isn't run. If anything goes into the wrong hole, don't run it, call Penske for a tow.
Best one I've seen someone to date is washer fluid in the DEF tank. "Hey, blue cap, blue juice!"
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stay out of the high elevations with it as it will go about 15mph climbing... also there is a trick to these. to get it to change down a gear tap the brake pedal.
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Do not hang out in the left lane, if someone is passing you on the right, you're in the wrong lane. Know you're clearance. Before you put it in reverse , get out and look (GOAL). Try not to bite curbs with the sidewall, you could blow a tire. Secure your load inside the truck best you can, if it shifts while you're driving, you'll feel it and it ain't a good feeling. Plan where you park to leave easy...it's better to back in than back out if pulling through isn't an option.
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Don't hit anything
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Go slow.
Swing wide.
Confirm if it takes gasoline or diesel.
Last time I used a 26' penske it was a diesel burner but definitely double check and also what side it is on. Don't be that guy reversing at the fuel island or regular pumps.
Penske does have gasoline 26 ft, but usually are Ford F-650.
The vast majority are diesel. But if you're not used to pumping diesel because you don't drive trucks often, it's best to verify before pumping.