Truck Rental Woe

[ultrarunner]

The last few years renting a box or stake with lift gate for a day has proved difficult.

Today is the third time in 2 years a rental yard cancelled my reservation… the Penske truck has mechanical issues… last time it was the U-haul was not returned as scheduled and before that a local cancelled unable to provide truck reserved as no longer in inventory.

How do you guys run efficiently with unreliable providers?

I have medical equipment to pick up and would cover about 240 miles round trip…

I don’t want to use my truck and closed trailer because I’m unwilling to spend a morning of my time buying 4 new trailer tires for my car hauler today.

 

[MossRoad]

The last few years renting a box or stake with lift gate for a day has proved difficult.

Today is the third time in 2 years a rental yard cancelled my reservation… the Penske truck has mechanical issues… last time it was the U-haul was not returned as scheduled and before that a local cancelled unable to provide truck reserved as no longer in inventory.

How do you guys run efficiently with unreliable providers?

I have medical equipment to pick up and would cover about 240 miles round trip…

I don’t want to use my truck and closed trailer because I’m unwilling to spend a morning of my time buying 4 new trailer tires for my car hauler today.

I'm surprised your employer doesn't own a truck.

My last employer owned their own truck for just such things, as they had 7-8 remote distribution offices that needed visits fairly often. They also had a couple pickup trucks with caps for picking up supplies, plowing the snow, etc... (plus a whole fleet of newspaper delivery trucks that weren't being used 3/4 of the day). My current employer has our fleet of service trucks and we frequently pick up supplies. They also have a box truck with lift to pick up and distribute supplies amongst their properties. And pickups for grounds maintenance.

On a personal level, we've used u-haul at least a dozen times with 2 college kids moving every year or two, then grad school, then marriage, then houses, etc.... never had a problem with them with advanced registration. From 2 axle trailers to the 26' trucks. Granted, sometimes we had to pick them up 20 miles away, but most were within 30 minutes of our locations.

We found the 2 axle trailers to be the best value, as long as you own a tow vehicle.

 

[not2old]

The last few years renting a box or stake with lift gate for a day has proved difficult.

Today is the third time in 2 years a rental yard cancelled my reservation… the Penske truck has mechanical issues… last time it was the U-haul was not returned as scheduled and before that a local cancelled unable to provide truck reserved as no longer in inventory.

How do you guys run efficiently with unreliable providers?

I have medical equipment to pick up and would cover about 240 miles round trip…

I don’t want to use my truck and closed trailer because I’m unwilling to spend a morning of my time buying 4 new trailer tires for my car hauler today.

If you already have a trailer and tow vehicle, I would think that one morning, getting it prepared, would be more economical of your time than finding a rental each time you need it.

 

[ultrarunner]

The difference is the truck rental is on the clock hours and expense paid for by the hospital…

The hospital will not pay me to rent my truck and trailer…

The half day getting tires would be on my day off and not on the clock.

Sometimes an employee needs to stand firm… plus the hospital always pays the damage waiver when the hospital is renting any type of equipment.

I have used my 4x6 box trailer for short hauls for the hospital… special disposal or things like picking up a concrete planer.

I’m not insured to haul a hundred thousand dollars in operating room tables except as an employee using company provided means…

It could be the availability or lack of rental trucks is just local issue in my metro part of California…?

 

[dodge man]

You should not have to use your own stuff for your job unless that was part of you being hired. When I used my own stuff I got a daily fee for the use of it plus mileage for my truck.

 

[not2old]

The difference is the truck rental is on the clock hours and expense paid for by the hospital…

The hospital will not pay me to rent my truck and trailer…

The half day getting tires would be on my day off and not on the clock.

Sometimes an employee needs to stand firm… plus the hospital always pays the damage waiver when the hospital is renting any type of equipment.

I have used my 4x6 box trailer for short hauls for the hospital… special disposal or things like picking up a concrete planer.

I’m not insured to haul a hundred thousand dollars in operating room tables except as an employee using company provided means…

It could be the availability or lack of rental trucks is just local issue in my metro part of California…?

Sounds like you need to get to know a local cartage company. I wouldn't use my own under those conditions ether and your worker's compensation likely wouldn't like you moving heavy stuff if that is not a regular part of your job.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

i'd hire it out. It's business. if it is a regular thing, they can purchase the vehicle for it if its an irregular thing hiring out makes more sense. To me at least.

 

[paulsharvey]

Does it Need to be enclosed or do you need the space of a box truck?

Considered a Home Depot F250 with lift gate?

 

[CliffordK]

I'm surprised you don't have a loading dock and forklift at both ends, and thus shouldn't need a lift gate.

No lift gates, and you could get a consumer grade truck anywhere.

If using personal equipment, then you need an employer willing to cover insurance, or at least sign a contents damage waiver. And probably match a similar rental rate.

Is there a reason that YOU must be at the origin for loading? It really sounds like your employer is trying to go far cheaper than would be typical. They should be able to just hire a normal shipping company for door to door service.

 

[ultrarunner]

2 operating room tables, 4 gurneys, 3 stainless back tables, lead apron stand, etc.

This is a sister facility that closed and must clear out and vacate by month’s end.

The rate of rural hospitals and clinics closing is accelerating across the country and this is one where the economics no longer worked.

For a long time rural hospitals received a slightly higher reimbursement rate to bridge the gap but I believe this ended… it’s very different in a metro where millions live…

Stretchers are 3’ by 7’6. The operating room tables are heavy but have a small footprint with head and leg extensions folded.

Closed trailer just keeps everything protected in transit.

Lift Gate essential for heavy objects…

Hiring it out would require extra trips I’m sure… plus nothing is palletized which is often preferred.

Maybe all the one way moves out of state have decimated rental truck inventory…