Best Truck Rental Options for Military DITY Moves

> **Quick Answer:** Penske is generally the best option for military DITY moves — they offer a consistent 12% military discount, unlimited miles on one-way rentals, and newer trucks. For long moves over 1,000 miles, container services (U-Pack, PODS) eliminate driving stress at the cost of a higher upfront rate.


Your truck rental is typically the largest single expense in a DITY move, often running $900–$2,800 depending on distance, season, and truck size. Choosing the right company and booking at the right time can save you $300–$600 — which is money straight into your PPM profit.

Here's what you need to know about each major option.

Truck Rental Companies: What to Expect

Penske

Penske is the most consistently recommended option among military movers. Here's why:

- **Military discount:** 12% off the rental rate, confirmed on Penske's website under military/government pricing.

- **Unlimited miles** on one-way rentals. This matters a lot on long moves — some competitors charge per mile over a limit.

- **Newer trucks:** Penske's fleet tends to be newer (average fleet age under 3 years), which means more reliable trucks with better fuel economy and working air conditioning.

- **Fuel efficiency:** Penske's 26-foot trucks get better highway fuel economy than comparable U-Haul vehicles on most routes.

- **24-hour roadside assistance** is included.

Book Penske early — during summer PCS season (May through August), one-way truck availability gets tight in military-heavy markets like San Antonio, Fort Bragg, Jacksonville, and Fayetteville.

U-Haul

U-Haul is the most ubiquitous truck rental company with the largest fleet. Advantages:

- Widest availability of pickup locations — useful if you're in a rural area.

- Online booking is fast and easy.

- Military discount varies — check at the time of booking; it's not consistently published like Penske's.

- One-way moves typically include unlimited miles.

Disadvantages: U-Haul trucks are often older and have higher fuel consumption. Reports of equipment issues (worn transmissions, poor AC) are more common than with Penske. For a long-distance PCS, an older, less reliable truck is a real risk.

Pricing is sometimes lower than Penske during off-peak seasons, but comparable or higher during summer. Get quotes from both.

Budget Truck

Budget offers a military discount (verify at time of booking), one-way rentals, and generally competitive pricing. Budget's fleet age sits between U-Haul and Penske. For medium-distance moves (300–800 miles), Budget often offers the lowest rate when you book 4–6 weeks ahead.

Budget trucks aren't available in all markets, so check availability early for your specific route.

Container Services: U-Pack and PODS

Container services work differently from rental trucks — the company delivers a container to your door (or as close as possible), you load it, they transport it, and you unload at the destination. No driving a large truck across three states.

U-Pack

U-Pack is the most popular container service among military movers for CONUS PPM moves. Key features:

- You only pay for space used (measured in linear feet in the container).

- No driving — the company handles transport.

- Delivery on both ends — they drop it off and pick it up.

- Pricing for a 1,000-mile move varies from $1,500–$3,000 depending on the amount of space used and season.

- Military discount available — ask when booking.

For a heavy household (10,000+ lbs) on a long move, U-Pack often beats a rental truck when you factor in fuel savings and the value of not driving a 26-foot truck across 1,500 miles.

**The downside:** Container services cost more than truck rental when you have a light load. If you're only moving 3,000–4,000 lbs, a rented truck with a single driver is almost always cheaper.

PODS

PODS is more expensive than U-Pack for most CONUS military moves and has fewer military-specific pricing programs. It's better suited for situations where you need storage at origin or destination — PODS will hold the container in their storage facility as long as needed, unlike U-Pack which is optimized for transit.

If your move timing is uncertain (orders changed, housing delayed), PODS's storage flexibility can be worth the premium.

Choosing the Right Truck Size

Getting the wrong truck size is a common and expensive mistake. Renting too small means a second trip or leaving things behind. Too large is fine financially (you pay for the truck, not the empty space) but harder to drive.

| Household Size | Recommended Truck | Approx. Capacity |

|---------------|-------------------|-----------------|

| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10-foot truck | 2,500–3,500 lbs |

| 1–2 bedroom | 16-foot truck | 4,000–6,500 lbs |

| 2–3 bedroom | 20-foot truck | 5,000–8,500 lbs |

| 3–4 bedroom (full) | 26-foot truck | 8,000–12,000 lbs |

When in doubt, go one size up. The rate difference between a 20-foot and 26-foot truck is typically $100–$200 for a one-way move — far less than the cost of a second trip or leaving heavy items behind.

How to Get the Best Rate

**Book early.** Summer PCS season drives rental rates up 30–60% in military markets. For a June move, start shopping rates in April. For a September move, late July pricing is usually acceptable.

**Be flexible on pickup date.** Truck rental rates fluctuate by day of week and month. Mid-week pickups (Tuesday, Wednesday) are often cheaper than weekend pickups. If your move timeline allows flexibility, shift your pickup by 2–3 days to catch a lower rate.

**Get multiple quotes.** Call Penske, U-Haul, and Budget on the same day and compare. Prices on the same route can vary by $200–$400 between companies on a given day.

**Ask about military discounts explicitly.** Don't assume the online booking system will apply the discount automatically. Call customer service, mention your military status, and ask what discount applies. Get a confirmation number.

**Check your AAA membership.** AAA members get additional discounts with both Penske and Budget. If you or a family member has a membership, use it.

How Truck Rental Costs Affect Your PPM Profit

Your PPM profit is the payout minus documented expenses. Truck rental is your biggest deductible expense, which means it directly reduces your taxable income from the PPM. Spending $1,500 on a truck instead of $1,000 reduces your profit by $500 but also reduces your taxable income by $500 — a $110 tax savings at a 22% rate. The net cost difference is $390, not $500.

This doesn't mean overspending on a truck is smart — but it does mean the after-tax cost of a more expensive, more reliable truck is lower than the sticker price difference. A breakdown in a cheap truck on a 1,200-mile drive costs you in time, lodging, and stress.

Estimate your full PPM payout first using our [military move payout calculator](/dity-move-calculator), then size your moving budget against it. If your payout is $9,000 and your truck rental is $2,000, you're still clearing $5,000–$7,000 after all expenses. The math supports a reliable truck.

Timing Your Rental Return

Return the truck promptly — rental companies charge by the day and late returns can be expensive. Most one-way contracts give you a specific number of days for transit. Budget extra time for unexpected issues (traffic, breakdowns, weather). If you need more time, call the rental company before your return date — they can usually extend at a prorated daily rate.

For more on managing your full PCS move budget, see our [complete PCS moving costs breakdown](/blog/pcs-moving-costs-breakdown) and our [DITY move mistakes guide](/blog/dity-move-mistakes) for what not to do.