If you are driving a van for the first time or perhaps drive a van infrequently there are many differences to driving a car which you should be aware of and remember. The following safety tips provide practical van driving advice to ensure your journey is safe for yourself, others passengers and pedestrians.

Before You Start

• When you pick up your van from the rental station listen carefully to the advice and explanations regarding general operation. Ensure you know where all controls are and how to use them, if you are unsure ask.
• Wear sensible footwear that allows the correct use the pedal controls.
• Adjust the rear view and exterior wing mirrors to provide maximum vision.
• Adjust head restraints and seats for both comfort and safety.
• You MUST wear a seat belt if one is available.
• Before driving on the road, make sure the rear or side cargo doors are locked securely.
• Become familiar and comfortable with the size and responsiveness of the van by initially driving in an area with little traffic.

Driving Your Van

• Be in complete control of your vehicle at all times, losing control means not being able to stop or move your van in a safe manner.
• Be aware of the size of the van you are driving, particularly the height. Take extra caution when approaching bridges and canopies and when driving under overhanging trees. Some petrol stations may not cater for the size of your vehicle.
• Large vehicles need extra room to turn, take this into consideration when approaching a tight corner. Also bear in mind the length of the van and the position of the rear of the vehicle when maneuvering.
• Make use of the increased visibility from a higher driving position and remember to use your exterior mirrors more often.
• Take tight bends slowly as tall vans can tip more easily due to their height and increased centre of gravity. Taking bends quickly may cause your load to shift risking damage to your load and the van.
• Control your speed and never follow other vehicles too closely, vans require a much longer braking distance especially when traveling at speed, carrying a heavy load or in wet or icy weather conditions.
• Pay extra attention when reversing or parking and only attempt to do so if you are confident or when it's necessary. Ask for another person to guide you if your van has blind spots.
• Be extra careful when changing lanes, the van you are driving may have blind spots. Pay particular attention for motor cyclists.
• Take a little extra time and care when driving an unfamiliar vehicle.

General Advice

• Plan your route and allowed sufficient time to complete your journey.
• In winter listen to weather forecasts and take extra care in windy or wet conditions.
• Ensure the vehicle has sufficient fuel before commencing your journey, if you need to refill check in advance where the petrol cap is located and which type of fuel is required.
• Remember to lock your vehicle when it is not attended.

Always Remember

.....That a van, especially if it's loaded, is:

• Wider
• Longer
• Heavier
• Slower to stop
• Less stable

...than a car.

Choose The Right Van

A small amount of pre-planning will make life so much easier and your job can be completed with minimal stress.

Is there likely to be enough space for one large van or would two smaller vans be more practical. This particularly important in streets where, whilst there maybe no legal restriction, cars parked on both sides of the road

Choose the van that will fit in the space available and is most suitable to the job.

• If you are moving a single item that is pretty straight forward - the cheapest van into which the item will fit. However, if you are moving a single very heavy item consider:
• If you choose a low roof van are you likely to damage your back in the struggle to get it loaded (see also our hints on moving heavy items.)
• Is it an item that should be kept upright – this particularly important for freezers that can be damaged by being transported for extended periods horizontally.
• If the item is of value it maybe better to use a Luton van where the item can be strapped securely to the side slats inside the van.
• If the item is particularly heavy might it be easier to put the item onto a trolley and lifted up to the van floor on a hydraulic tail lift (some Luton vans are equipped with these).
• If you are moving multiple items work our the floor space you need to accommodate the items. One false economy is to rent a small van and do multiple journeys. For instance: a small “Transit” sized van is cheaper to rent than a Luton however, the Luton will take 3-5 times more than a transit.
• If you are moving house or a large number of items consider what the total weight will be. It is illegal and dangerous to overload a van. Rent multiple vans if you need to get everything out by a set time or arrange with the agent/ incomer that you can return later to remove anything left behind.
• If you undertake multiple runs back and forth in a transit your helpers will become bored very quickly, it might take you hours longer (never underestimate the ability of traffic to move at snails pace and how long it might take to find a parking space every time you stop) and your fuel consumption might use up the rental saving between a small and large van.

General Lifting Safety & Moving Goods Advice

• Don’t lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference between what people can lift and what they can safely lift. You might be able to bench press 100lbs but you can easily hurt your back moving a 60lb sofa if you need to twist your body awkwardly to get a good grip of the object.
• Wherever possible reduce furniture back into flat pack. Keep the weight of packing boxes down to 15 -20kgs or less. Borrow a trolley or rent one from the van company. It will speed up your move and considerably reduce the risk of accident.
• Get plenty of help – a small expenditure in beer and pizzas is a good investment.Washing machines and freezers can be awkward to carry if you don’t have a trolley and can be damaged by standing them flat on their side. Remove obstructions from the path (particularly stairs) before you start. Remove rugs and if there is any loose carpet, remove or secure it down. Covering your sofa can be a good idea if you are moving it into storage however, if it needs to be carried downstairs or a long way, slippery plastic sheeting can cause you to lose your grip on it.
• If you are moving a heavy object take a breather mid-way and reposition your grip. Keep the load close to the waist. The load should be kept close to the body, with the heaviest side nearest. If a close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it.
• Employ good posture. At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and knees is preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips or knees (squatting) Don’t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to lift the load. Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent. Shoulders should be level and facing the same direction as the hips. Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.