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At the beginning of August, I packed up my life (and my cat, Blanche) and drove 1,550 miles across the country in a 16-foot Penske moving truck. I hired movers to load and unload the truck at both ends, but everything in between — the driving, the planning, the overnight stops — was up to me.
If you want the backstory on why I chose to drive a truck myself instead of using a pod or hiring full-service movers, you can read that here.
But once I knew I’d be behind the wheel, I realized I couldn’t find all the information I wanted in one place. How do you plan a safe route? How do you keep your stuff (and yourself) safe? How do you even drive a big truck for days on end?
So here’s my attempt to put it all together. These are the things I learned — both from research and lived experience — that made my trip smoother, safer, and surprisingly empowering.
1. Choose Your Truck Carefully
- Brand matters. I rented from Penske because I’d read too many horror stories about U-Hauls being stolen or broken into. Theft can happen with any brand, of course, but Penske felt more reliable.
- Size up (a little). I chose a 16-foot truck, which ended up being too big, but better too much space than not enough. A half-empty truck can be secured with a rope or by packing it low, from wall to wall.
- Book early. I reserved mine two months in advance and was automatically given a week rental window because of the distance — plenty of time to load, drive, and unload without rushing.
2. Map a Realistic Route
- Plan with fatigue in mind. I divided my drive into three days: moderate miles the first day, the longest push on day two, and a very short final stretch (because I knew I’d be over it by then).
- Avoid big cities for overnights. Trucks attract attention, and theft is more common in busy areas. I chose suburban hotels outside of major cities.
- Always allow more time than you think. Driving a truck is slower, and stopping for breaks, gas, and meals takes longer than in a car.
3. Book Hotels in Advance
- Pick safe-feeling spots. I combed through reviews and looked for phrases like “quiet,” “safe,” and “well-lit.”
- Stay pet-friendly. Luckily, most hotels now accommodate pets — Blanche was welcome everywhere we stayed.
- Reserve ahead. I was tempted not to, but having reservations motivated me to push through and gave me peace of mind that I had a bed waiting.
4. Invest in Theft Prevention
Moving trucks don’t come with locks — shocking, right? I bought:
- A heavy-duty padlock for the back (specific to the Penske latch) – linking the exact one I bought (2.5-inch).
- A steering wheel lock — easy to use, and a visible deterrent when I ran into gas stations.
- A vibration-sensor alarm that screeched if the truck was tampered with.
I also read tips about backing the truck against a wall or shrubs to block access to the door, but in practice, I often had little control over parking. The alarm gave me peace of mind when I couldn’t park ideally.
5. Drive Smart (and Slow)
- Go under the speed limit. I stuck to about 10mph below, where I felt in control.
- Stop at half a tank. In my truck, that was about four hours of driving. It gave me regular breaks to stretch, snack, and refocus.
- Do walk-arounds. At every gas stop, I circled the truck to check for anything off.
6. Pack the Cab Like a Survival Kit
The truck cab was roomier than I expected, but it filled up fast. My setup included:
- Two small coolers — one for drinks, one for snacks/meds.
- A tote bag of essentials — tissues, eye drops, chargers, external batteries, sunglasses, lotion, pain meds, essential oils.
- Comfort items — under-eye gels and an ice facial roller in the mornings (lifesaver!).
- Entertainment — I brought a Bluetooth speaker since the truck only had radio, plus plenty of podcasts and playlists.
7. Traveling With a Cat
Bringing Blanche added challenges, but we made it work:
- Carrier always. I never let her roam in the cab — too risky if a door opened unexpectedly.
- Hotel setup. I carried in her litter box, food, and toys in one trip using a collapsible wagon.
- Watch the doors. I noticed the passenger door sometimes unlocked on its own, so I always double-checked it since her carrier was on that side.
8. Take Advantage of After-Hours Drop-Off
When I reached my new city, the movers were (very) late, but I was able to drop the truck off after hours. I just unloaded everything, parked in the designated spot, and slipped the keys into a dropbox. Highly recommend choosing a location that offers this.
9. Final Thoughts: You Can Do This
I was nervous — honestly, scared — about this trip. Driving a moving truck felt intimidating, and I worried about theft, fatigue, or something going wrong. But step by step, I figured it out. Each day behind the wheel felt easier, and when I finally dropped off the truck, I couldn’t believe how doable it had been.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was empowering. I drove 1,550 miles in a moving truck, kept myself and my cat safe, and got all of my belongings to a new city in one piece.
So if you’re staring down a big move and wondering if you can handle it: you can. Go slow, plan smart, stay safe — and know that when it’s all said and done, you’ll feel like you’ve leveled up in life.
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