Cold, ice and snow are not nice at all. Unless you are enjoying a day skiing, or just making a snowman with the kids, the elements of winter can pose a real hazard when moving. Caution is important when loading the moving truck rental and also when driving the moving truck rental in extreme weather conditions. While everyone should stay alert and avoid potential hazards, it is even more dangerous to move in the winter for people who are not accustomed to the frigid temperatures. Having lived in warmer climates may make a person less likely to consider the ice on the walkway and the cold in the fingertips.

Whether you are moving to a winter climate to which you are not accustomed or you are moving from a winter area or you just plain live in state with winter months, we have listed a few points to help you make your move in a safer environment.

1. Always wear gloves whether you feel cold or not. The gloves will keep you hands warm plus they will protect the hands from cuts and scratches from moving boxes and loading into the moving truck rental. Never wear mitts when carrying your boxes as you will not be able to catch anything if it falls down. Mitts are awkward for loading moving truck rental and carrying items.
2. Keep your head warm by wearing a hat or at the very least, wear a headband across the ears or an earmuff to keep the ears from becoming frost bitten. If you cannot put a heater in the moving truck rental while loading, keep your hat on to keep the warmth in.
3. Be especially careful with your children and pets. Young children and pets will be susceptible to freezing. Talk to your vet about your pet and how to safely transport in the winter. Your pet cannot ride in the cargo area of the moving truck rental.
4. If it is quite slushy and sloppy with wet snow outside, line your boots with plastic bags for extra insulation against the wet on your skin. Be careful when you climb into the back of the moving truck rental so as not to fall down from the water on the bottom of your boots.
5. When moving from a warmer area to a colder climate, keep a bag with essentials so that you have something ready when you arrive and start unpacking the moving truck rental. Items you should carry are gloves, hats, scarves, boots, socks, extra sweater, warm jacket and maybe long underwear. Keep them nearby in the truck rental and not packed deep in the moving truck rental with your regular clothes.
6. If employing a truck rental, keep the back of the moving truck rental clear and if necessary use salt to prevent ice buildup. Ice around the tail of the truck rental can be very dangerous. One slip and you can fall under the moving truck rental or smash your head and face against the truck rental. Shovel the area where the moving truck rental is parked and keep it down to the bare pavement if possible.
7. Shovel the walkway where everyone is travelling to and from the truck rental. This not only aids in everyone’s safety but also keeps the area clean allowing everyone to walk faster than they would be able when trodding through deep snow. Also if the area is kept clean from snow, the snow will not be transferred into the back of the moving truck rental making the floor inside the truck rental slippery and dangerous to walk upon.
8. In the snow and ice, wear footwear with proper traction.
9. Remember that your plants are not going to be able to survive the trip in the cold. The storage part of the moving truck rental will not be warm enough to keep them safe. If you are moving from a warmer climate to a colder climate, make sure the plants are easily accessible in the truck rental or other vehicle so you can get them into the new home as quickly as possible. Even in a heated moving truck rental vehicle, the plants should be covered with plastic to avoid drafts when opening and closing the doors of the truck rental.
10. Carry flares and reflector triangles in the moving truck rental so that if the rental truck slides off the road, you have a way to notify others of your predicament.
11. Drive the moving truck rental vehicle slowly and cautiously. Even if you drive in the winter on a regular basis, driving the truck rental is considerably different than your own vehicle. Many things can factor into a potential accident when driving a truck rental. The moving truck rental vehicle is heavier which needs more braking distance. The snow and ice complicate this fact so even more distance will be required to properly brake on time. The truck rental is most likely longer than your vehicle which poses a problem when parking the truck rental near snow banks.
12. When going into the house for more boxes, watch for water on the floor from melted snow. Slipping on wet shoes will cause the feet to hydroplane knocking you off balance and giving your body a real jolt.
13. Check the truck rental before leaving the lot to ensure the heater is in proper working order. Nothing could be worse than travelling for miles with no heat on your body and no way to remove the frost and fog from the moving truck rental windshield.
14. If you are using a truck rental in an extreme temperature climate and staying in that temperature for more than the day, make sure the moving truck rental has a block heater installed. This may be the only way you will be assured of starting the moving truck rental the next morning in the cold.
15. When unpacking your belongings after having been in the cold for sometime, it is best to let your china, crystal and any other glassware sit in the box until it comes up to room temperature. If you must unpack the items while cold, do so gingerly as the cold will undoubtedly cause the glass to crack and break. The cold makes the glass brittle.
16. When carrying heavy items in the snow, have an extra person as a spotter if possible. The spotter can guide the others to the moving truck rental while at the same time help out if someone goes down or the box slips before reaching the moving truck rental.
17. Keep bottles of water handy so that everyone can stay hydrated. Even though it is cold, the body is still working extra and needs water for replenishment
18. When travelling in the moving truck rental, carry a shovel for getting out of snow banks. A bag of salt would most likely be useful as well in case you need added traction to get the moving truck rental out of an icy spot. Lastly, ask the truck rental agency about whether tire chains are required.
19. Take your time when moving on ice and snow. If it is very cold, rest indoors in the heat.