How to Choose The Perfect Driver For Your Rented Moving Truck

You can hire someone to drive your rented moving truck. The important question is whether the person, the rental agreement, and the plan for the trip all fit together.

A long-distance move puts your belongings, your schedule, and a truck rented in your name in someone else’s hands. Before you book a driver, check their experience and driving record, confirm the rental company will authorize them, and get the cost and responsibilities in writing. Those steps matter whether you find an independent driver or hire a company to arrange one.

This guide gives you the questions to ask and the documents to review. For details of our own service, see how Rented Truck Driver works.

Quick checklist: seven things to confirm before booking

1. Rental approval: Will the rental company permit this person to drive this particular truck under your agreement?
2. Identity and license: Do you have the driver’s full name, current license details, and contact information?
3. Relevant experience: Has the driver operated a loaded truck of this size on long-distance routes and, if needed, with a car trailer?
4. Driving history and screening: Who checks the driver’s record and background, and when can you review the results?
5. Protection and responsibility: What coverage must you purchase from the rental company, and what does the written agreement say happens if there is damage or a breakdown?
6. Total cost and payment: Are the driving fee, travel, hotels, fuel, tolls, waiting time, and possible changes clearly explained?
7. Communication and backup: Who will update you during the drive, and what happens if the driver cannot complete the job?

Do not hand over the keys until the driver is properly added to the rental agreement and the protection required for your move has been confirmed.

Start with the rental agreement

You remain the person renting the truck, even when someone else drives it. Ask the rental company whether it permits your proposed driver and how that person must be added. The driver should appear on the agreement as a Primary or Additional Driver before pickup, and a copy of the agreement should stay inside the truck.

Ask about the specific truck, route, and any towing equipment. A general answer about additional drivers may not address a paid driver or an Auto Transporter. Read the rental company’s current terms and your service agreement together. Learn more about who is responsible for the truck.

Ask about experience with your actual move

A valid license is a starting point. Ask what size and type of trucks the person has driven, how often they drive loaded trucks, and whether they have completed trips of comparable distance. A driver who has handled a 26-foot truck through cities, mountains, and overnight stops has more relevant experience for that job than someone whose driving has been limited to a small local rental.

If you are towing a car, ask specifically about Auto Transporter experience: loading checks, tie-downs, safety chains, clearances, and what the driver would do if the trailer develops a tire problem. Confirm that the rental company approves the combination of truck, trailer, and vehicle. Do not assume a tow dolly is an acceptable substitute.

You can ask for references from recent, comparable moves. Look for detailed accounts of communication, timing, and how the driver handled a change of plans, rather than relying only on a star rating.

Verify the person and their record

Request the driver’s full name, phone number, and license information before you commit. Ask who checks the driving record, what period it covers, whether a background check has been completed, and how you can review the results. If you hire an individual directly, you may need to arrange those checks yourself, with the person’s consent.

A CDL can indicate additional training and experience, and Rented Truck Driver requires a Class A or B CDL for its drivers. Do not assume that a CDL alone proves a clean record, relevant rental-truck experience, or approval under your rental agreement. The rental company’s requirements for your particular truck still control who may drive it.

Compare the complete price

Ask for a written breakdown before paying a deposit. The driving fee is only part of the total. A driver may need a flight or other transportation to reach your truck and to return home. Hotels, fuel, tolls, ground transportation, and towing can also affect what you pay.

Find out:

• Which costs are fixed in the agreement and which are estimates?
• Who pays for fuel and tolls, and how are receipts reconciled?
• What happens if loading is late, a rental truck breaks down, or severe weather delays the drive?
• What are the cancellation and date-change terms?
• When is each payment due, and which payment methods are accepted?

Compare written totals on the same basis. A low driving fee can be misleading if travel and overnight expenses appear later. Read our detailed booking and payment FAQ.

Understand protection before pickup

Do not rely on a general statement that a driver is “insured.” Ask exactly what the rental company requires, who buys that protection, whether the driver is authorized under the rental contract, and what the driver’s or service company’s agreement covers. Get the answers in writing.

For Rented Truck Driver jobs, the client purchases the required rental-company protection. For U-Haul we require SafeMove Plus, plus Towing Insurance (TWI) when using a U-Haul Auto Transporter. For Budget we require the Complete Protection Package, plus Auto Tow Protection (ATP) when towing. Our driver must be listed on the rental agreement before driving. Other rental arrangements must be checked individually.

If someone tells you to add the driver later, skip the required protection, or assume a personal auto policy covers a paid long-distance move, stop and verify the arrangement with the rental company before proceeding.

Agree on a plan for the road

You should know the planned pickup and delivery dates, the driver’s route expectations, when updates will arrive, and where the truck will be parked overnight. Ask what the driver will do if the truck or trailer breaks down and who contacts roadside assistance. An experienced driver should be willing to discuss safe stopping, documentation, and keeping you informed without promising that nothing can go wrong.

If a vehicle is being towed, confirm whether the driver needs its ignition key and what may be left inside it. For an RTD move, the towed vehicle must be empty, including the trunk, to help prevent theft. The driver also needs a key to the truck’s cargo padlock in case access is required during an inspection or emergency.

Ask about passengers before booking. Rented Truck Driver does not permit passengers in the rental truck for liability reasons. Other arrangements may have different policies, but they must still comply with the rental agreement and available seating.

Neither option removes your need to read the rental agreement. What matters is whether you can verify the driver, understand the total cost, and see a workable plan for the entire trip.

Red flags to pause on

• The driver will not provide their full identity or license information before you commit.
• Someone says they can drive without being added to the rental agreement.
• You are urged to skip the rental company’s required protection.
• The price excludes travel, hotels, fuel, or tolls without explaining how those costs will be paid.
• There is no written cancellation, delay, or breakdown plan.
• The person promises an exact arrival regardless of distance, weather, or required rest.
• You are asked to leave valuables in a towed vehicle without discussing theft risk.

One unanswered question does not necessarily rule out a driver. It does mean you should get a clear answer before handing over the truck.

The decision should feel clear before moving day

You do not need to become an expert in truck driving to make a sound choice. You need to know who will drive, whether the rental company authorizes them, what the trip will cost, and how you will stay in contact. Put those answers in writing, then choose the arrangement that lets you focus on the rest of your move.

If you want to see how we handle driver selection and a long-distance rental truck move, read about our driver service. When you are ready, request a free quote.

By Frank A. Futie Jr., Founder of Rented Truck Driver. This guide draws on our experience coordinating long-distance rental truck moves. About Frank.

Moving can be a stressful experience, especially when it comes to transporting your belongings to your new home. That’s why we’ve created Rented Truck Driver, a service that connects you with experienced and trustworthy drivers to help you move your rental truck. Why we’re different.

Our drivers are carefully vetted and have years of experience driving rental trucks, ensuring that your belongings are in safe hands. Plus, our platform makes it easy to find and book a driver that fits your specific moving needs.

Let us take the stress out of your move and provide you with a reliable driver to transport your belongings to your new home.

Rented Truck Driver. Moving made easy.

Latest updated on 10/14/2026 by Frank A. Futie Jr., Founder of Rented Truck Driver, who has overseen more than 10,000 nationwide moves. This article reflects current rental truck policies and real world driving considerations as of 2026.