Uhaul Story

U Haul Perhaps I Should Say “I Haul” U Haul

With our company we get most of our business on weekends. On most weekends we have to rent trucks and vans, sometimes up to fifteen for the weekend. To do so we had to go and pick up the trucks and bring them to our warehouse and then empty them and return them at the end of the contract. That cost us a bundle in time and dollars to have guys run them back and forth.

It was decided that we had enough property that we should be a dealer ourselves. We do still have to run some trucks and vans back and forth but many also stay with us for the week. It became a good business decision.

What I have also found out is that U-Haul does a good job in maintaining their trucks and give good emergency service.

Our Trucks and Vans

Most of the vehicles we rent are vans and 14′ small trucks. On occasion we need larger trucks but then we also like to have more experience drivers to use them. The smaller trucks are all automatic and are as easy to drive as a regular car and have what they call Gentle-Ride Suspension.

With the trucks we must remember there is overhead. One of our guys learned that the hard way.

Most of the vehicles have manual windows and door locks. The pick up is good even with full loads. It’s a treat for our guys to use a rental rather than our own trucks and vans because they do have good A/C and heater systems. They also know they will get a vehicle with a radio that works. We try and keep the guys listening to the traffic channels on AM radio but every time we get them back they are on and FM music station. Perhaps they change the station when they are on their way home.

The seat belts have always been in good condition and I feel safe driving these vehicles. The seats are roomy enough for three big guys across.

A slide out ramp that is fairly wide can be extended from the back of the truck. Lights inside the box is also helpful. Something that always seemed to be out of order on our own trucks. Though we don’t use it often, we have used the U-haul for trailering and the suspension seems strong enough to do the job without veering back and forth across the road.

Service Too

Recently we locked a set of keys in the cab of one of the trucks. A phone call to their 1-800 number got the process started for getting the truck out of an isolated location. They made all the calls to the locksmith and made call backs to be sure the locksmith contacted us and that he finally arrived and had us on the road again. We will be charged for the service because it was our problem. the good thing is that U-Haul did all the work and paid the bill. They will charge us (the business) in the future.

U-Haul only needed the numbers that are posted on the outside of the truck to look it all up. Our papers were locked inside so they were useless.

Closing

We have found that using the U-Haul trucks on many trips doesn’t cost a whole lot more than our owning, maintaining and insuring our own vehicles. Over the years we have deleted a few vehicles from our own fleet and now use U-Haul exclusively for the small truck. I didn’t mention the large mirrors that make driving so much easier. I can also see more of myself.