DIY
How to drive a moving truck: clearance, braking, turns, and backing up
A loaded moving truck takes longer to stop and to speed up, so plan on wider turns, longer gaps, and a known roof height. Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand, and these rules come from what U-Haul, Penske, and Budget publish.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 29 September 2026
Overhead clearance each brand prints for its trucks, read 28 Sep 2026. "Not printed" means check the sticker in the cab.
| Truck | Clearance | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| U-Haul 9' cargo van | 8 ft | 2 |
| U-Haul 10' truck | 9 ft | 2 |
| U-Haul 15' truck | 11 ft | 3 |
| U-Haul 20' truck | 11 ft | 3 |
| U-Haul 26' truck | 12 ft | 3 |
| Penske cargo van | Not printed | 2 |
| Penske 12' truck | Not printed | 2 |
| Penske 16' truck | Not printed | 2 |
| Penske 22' truck | Not printed | 3 |
| Penske 26' truck | Not printed | 3 |
| Budget cargo van | 8'9" | 2 |
| Budget 12' truck | 9 ft | 2 |
| Budget 16' truck | 11 ft | 2 |
| Budget 26' truck | 13 ft | 3 |
Before you pull out
a loaded truck takes longer to stop and to speed up
Read the posted height before you leave the lot. Overhead clearance is printed in the cab on the A-pillar, sun visor, or instrument panel, and on the front left of the box. Penske shows height on the front corner of the box and inside the windshield. Every size up to 26 ft can be driven on a regular licence, per the brands. Match the truck to the job with the size chart so you are not guessing.
Leave the lot slowly. U-Haul says a loaded truck takes longer to stop and to speed up, so leave the lot slowly and feel the brakes before you merge. If you are towing, stay at or below 55 mph and remember a trailer adds 8 to 20 feet. See towing rules before you hitch. Park first in a large space such as a big retail lot while you learn the mirrors.
Space and braking
keep about five car lengths ahead on local roads and double that on highways
Leave a long gap in front. U-Haul says keep about five car lengths ahead on local roads and double that on highways. When fully loaded, allow twice the braking time you would need empty. Penske says ease off the accelerator early before a stop so the cargo does not shift. A hard stop is how a stacked dresser learns to fly, so build the gap before you need it.
Do not drive at the truck's top speed. Penske says avoid driving at the truck's governed maximum speed. Most trucks have no rear-view mirror, so you rely on side mirrors to judge the gap before you move over. If the load is tall, read how to load a moving truck so weight sits low and stops stay predictable.
Turns and lanes
On left turns, do not pull too far into the intersection.
Take wide turns, especially to the right. U-Haul says take wide turns, especially right turns. On left turns, do not pull too far into the intersection. Give the box room on the outside of the turn so the rear does not clip the curb. Most trucks have no rear-view mirror, so glance at the side mirrors through the whole turn. Stay in your lane once the truck is straight again.
Pass only when you have to. U-Haul says avoid passing uphill, on curves, or on narrow roads. The truck is slower to speed up when it is loaded, so a short gap in the next lane is not enough. Wait until you can see the pass finish in the side mirrors before you move back. If a trailer is on the hitch, that extra 8 to 20 feet needs to clear too.
Height, the thing that bites
If a low obstruction has no posted height, stop and get out to check.
Know the height printed for your size. A U-Haul cargo van is 8 ft, a 10 ft truck is 9 ft, the 15 and 20 ft trucks are 11 ft, and the 26 ft truck is 12 ft. A Budget 16 ft truck is 11 ft, and a Budget 26 ft truck is 13 ft. Compare that height with every bridge, limb, and canopy. These are the clearances printed by the brands on our size pages.
Stop if a low bar has no posted height. U-Haul says avoid drive-thrus and parking garages. If a low obstruction has no posted height, stop and get out to check. Penske notes that trucks need more overhead and side clearance for low bridges, tree limbs, and canopies. The height is also on the front left of the box, or on the front corner and inside the windshield. Trust the posted number over a guess.
Parking and backing up
back up with the windows down, tap the horn, and have someone outside guide you
Pick a space you can drive through. Penske says look for drive-through parking spaces so you do not have to back up. U-Haul says park in large spaces such as big retail lots, and always set the parking brake. On a hill, Penske says turn the wheels away from the curb facing uphill and toward it facing downhill. A trailer adds 8 to 20 feet. Use the DIY calculator while you pick a size.
Back up with a person outside. U-Haul says back up with the windows down, tap the horn, and have someone outside guide you. Most trucks have no rear-view mirror, so the side mirrors are only part of the picture. Go slow, stop if you lose sight of your guide, and pull forward to reset rather than forcing a crooked line. Use an open lot for the first try.
Before you hire
Four checks before a deposit
Written estimate after a look
Interstate movers must give the booklet and a written estimate after a survey or a full description. A $499 ad is not an estimate.
FMCSA Protect Your MoveLegal name matches SAFER
USDOT on the paper, the truck doors, and the census. A different name is the walk.
USDOT / Companies House lookupWalk from cash and blank paper
FTC: unregistered interstate, huge deposit, cash only, or a blank contract. Photograph and leave.
FTC: hiring a mover110% on a COD non-binding job
Pay up to 110% plus agreed extras and they must hand over the load. Not a cap on extras you signed.
US interstate rules
Reviewed 29 September 2026 by Anthony Bale. Numbers on this page carry their own dates.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- Can I drive a moving truck on a regular licence?
- Every size up to 26 ft can be driven on a regular licence, per the brands. That is the rule those brands publish for their trucks. It covers the sizes they list, from the cargo van through the 26 ft truck.
- How far ahead should I stay?
- U-Haul says keep about five car lengths ahead on local roads and double that on highways. When fully loaded, allow twice the braking time you would need empty. Penske says ease off the accelerator early before a stop so the cargo does not shift.
- How fast should I tow?
- U-Haul says tow at or below 55 mph. A trailer adds 8 to 20 feet. Pass only when you have to, and avoid passing uphill, on curves, or on narrow roads.
- Where do I find the truck height?
- U-Haul posts overhead clearance in the cab, on the A-pillar, sun visor, or instrument panel, and on the front left of the box. Penske shows the height on the front corner of the box and inside the windshield. If a low obstruction has no posted height, stop and get out to check.
- How should I back the truck up?
- U-Haul says back up with the windows down, tap the horn, and have someone outside guide you. Most trucks have no rear-view mirror, so you rely on side mirrors. Penske says look for drive-through parking spaces so you do not have to back up.
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About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
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