Updated Date: May 2, 2025
Editor’s Note – This guide compares Penske and U-Haul, two leading moving truck rental companies, to help startups and entrepreneurs choose the best option for their DIY moves. We’ll explore their services, pricing, and pros and cons to streamline your business relocation.
Aren’t packing and moving messy errands?
Just imagine having professional support to help you get your work done. What a relief it would be!
Moving truck rental companies are here to take up all your hassle and provide a smooth moving experience.
Several truck rental companies, like Uber for Trucks clone app, offer services via various cargo trailers and moving containers. They charge extra fees for each service add-on.
Let’s dive into Penske and U-Haul’s services, exploring how their transportation and logistics solutions can support your startup’s relocation needs.
Penske Truck Rental
Penske Corporation has been one of America’s leading transportation companies since 1969, when Roger Penske founded the business by acquiring a car and light-truck rental operation in Pennsylvania. Over the decades, Penske has expanded into a multibillion-dollar global transportation services company, recognized for its innovation and customer service.
Today, Penske operates across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, serving industries like automotive, healthcare, retail, and government, with a focus on logistics, truck leasing, and supply chain management
The company is known for its high-quality, well-maintained vehicles and a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer service excellence, earning numerous industry awards over the years.
Customer Support and Reviews
- Glassdoor – 3.5
- ConsumerAffairs – 3.7
- Indeed Employees Review – 3.4
- Play Store – 4.2
- App Store – 4.1
U Haul Truck Rental
U-Haul is a moving and storage rental company founded in 1945 by Leonard Shoen. Today, U-Haul is the largest provider of DIY moving and storage solutions in North America, with over 20,000 locations across the United States and Canada
U-Haul offers a wide range of services, including truck and cargo van rentals, trailer rentals, moving supplies, storage facilities, and shipping services. Their fleet includes multiple truck sizes, from compact vans to large 26-foot trucks, catering to diverse moving needs
UHaul, an affordable truck rental, is known for its distinctive orange and white trucks and trailers, which have become a familiar sight on highways across North America. U-Haul serves individuals relocating homes, employees moving for work, and businesses transporting goods or equipment, making it ideal for startup relocations.
Customer Support and Reviews
- Glassdoor – 3.4
- ConsumerAffairs – 3.7
- Indeed Employees Review – 3.5
- Play Store – 2.4.
- App Store – 4.5
Comparison Between the Penske vs UHaul
Both UHaul vs Penske offer truck rental services and have developed apps to facilitate the rental process for their customers. Penske is recognized for its newer, well-maintained fleet, unlimited mileage for long-distance moves, and a variety of truck sizes (from cargo vans to 26-foot trucks). They offer free 24/7 roadside assistance and multiple discounts for students, military, and AAA members.
U-Haul, by contrast, has the largest network of rental locations in North America, making it highly accessible. While their fleet can vary in age and condition, U-Haul is known for affordable rental options and a broad selection of moving and storage services.
The below table explains the objective differences between the Penske vs Uhaul rental businesses in the moving industry:
Ultimately, the choice between Penske and U-Haul depends on your priorities: Penske offers a newer fleet, unlimited mileage for long-distance moves, and strong customer service, while U-Haul provides unmatched location convenience and generally lower base rates. Consider your budget, location, and moving needs to determine the best fit.
Penske vs. U-Haul: Which Truck Rental App is Best?
Let’s compare the features and functionality of Penske and U-Haul’s business apps to help startups choose the best digital moving solution:
1. Business Model (Working)
Penske, a leading truck rental company, has developed a business model centered on truck leasing, logistics, supply chain management, and diversification of services, with a strong emphasis on regular fleet innovation and maintenance.
The critical components of the U-Haul business model include:
- Truck and equipment rental
- Self-storage
- Franchising with independent dealers to expand the U-Haul network
- Sales of moving supplies and used vehicles
- Focus on sustainability initiatives
2. Revenue Streams
Penske Truck Rental and U-Haul are distinct companies with unique revenue streams. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Penske Truck Rental:
Penske Truck Rental generates revenue by renting out trucks, trailers, and vehicles for both commercial and personal use, offering one-way rentals, round-trip rentals, and long-term leases. Customers can select from high-roof cargo vans to 26-foot trucks and tractor-trailers.
In addition to rental fees, Penske earns revenue through add-on services such as packing supplies, towing equipment, insurance, and 24/7 roadside assistance. The company also sells used vehicles from its rental fleet.
U-Haul Truck Rental:
U-Haul generates revenue by renting out trucks, trailers, and other vehicles for moving and storage purposes. The company also rents out self-storage units and sells packing supplies.
Like Penske, U-Haul offers one-way, round-trip, and long-term rentals, and generates revenue from add-on services such as towing equipment, insurance, moving labor, and unloading assistance. U-Haul also sells used vehicles and franchises locations to independent dealers.
3. Services And Pricing
The service and pricing of Penske trucks and U-Haul truck rentals may vary depending on various factors. However, here are some general points to consider:
Service:
Penske and U-Haul both have extensive networks, but U-Haul leads with over 20,000 locations in the US and Canada, while Penske has more than 3,200 locations. Both companies offer online reservations and customer support via phone or email.
Penske is known for maintaining a newer fleet with regular maintenance and inspections, while U-Haul’s fleet includes both older and newer vehicles; customer reviews indicate variable experiences with U-Haul truck conditions.
Both companies offer add-on services such as packing supplies, towing equipment, and insurance, but offerings and prices can vary by location and season
Pricing:
Several factors, including the vehicle size, the rental duration, the pickup and drop-off locations, and any add-on services selected, generally determine the Penske truck rentals cost and Uhaul pricing.
Penske generally tends to be more expensive than U-Haul for comparable rentals, but offers unlimited mileage on one-way moves and a newer fleet. Some customers prefer Penske for its transparent pricing and vehicle quality, while U-Haul is favored for lower base rates and wider availability.
It’s important to compare prices and services between Penske and Uhaul before making a decision, as the costs can vary significantly depending on the specifics of the rental.
4. Vehicle Options
Penske and U-Haul offer various truck sizes, but U-Haul Truck sizes and prices.
U-Haul’s fleet includes cargo vans, pickup trucks, and moving trucks from 10 to 26 feet, as well as 8-foot and 9-foot vans for small cargo. Penske offers high-roof cargo vans and moving trucks from 12 to 26 feet, but does not currently offer pickup trucks
5. State Availability and Locations
Penske operates over 3,200 locations in 49 states (excluding Alaska), while U-Haul has over 20,000 locations and serves all 50 states in the US.
6. Discounts
Penske and U-Haul have various discount models for their customers. Here are some of the discounts that they may offer:
Although Penske’s truck rental prices are high, it offers many discounts to its customers. The discounts include AAA (American Automobile Association) Discounts to all AAA members, military discounts, One-Way Discounts, Seasonal Discounts, Corporate Discounts, and sometimes free roadside assistance.
U-Haul provides fewer discounts than Penske, but does offer savings for long-distance moves, military members, and seasonal promotions, typically ranging from 10% to 20% off the base cost.
Discounts can vary depending on the location and time of year, so it’s a good idea to check with each company directly to see current discounts.
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7. Mobile App Functionality
Penske has its own mobile app called Penske Driver. The app is available for iOS and Android devices and is designed for Penske Truck Rental customers.
The app provides customers with valuable features, including making reservations and booking trucks online, managing reservations, viewing rental histories, and accessing 24/7 roadside assistance.
The Penske app includes a fuel finder tool to locate nearby fuel stations and compare prices, as well as real-time alerts for pickup and drop-off times.
In addition, the app allows customers to track their rental truck’s location and receive alerts about important events, such as pickup and drop-off times. The Penske Trucks Driver app is a convenient tool that helps customers manage their truck rentals and stay informed while on the road.
U-Haul has a mobile app that can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play Store. The U-Haul app allows users to reserve box trucks or car carriers, manage truck or trailer rentals, purchase moving supplies, and even find storage units.
The U-Haul app provides access to U-Haul’s 24/7 roadside assistance service, which can help with any issues arising during the rental period.
Additionally, the features of the U-Haul app offer helpful resources such as moving tips and checklists and a locator tool to find nearby U-Haul locations. The app is designed to make the moving process more convenient and streamlined for U-Haul customers.
8. Usability (UX)
The Penske mobile app has a modern and streamlined user interface. The app has a clean, easy-to-use design with large icons and clear text. When you open the app, you will see a home screen with options to make a reservation, manage an existing reservation, or find a Penske location near you.
The U-Haul mobile app also has a straightforward and easy-to-use interface. The app has a bright and colorful design with large buttons and icons that make it easy to find what you want. On opening the app, you can see a home screen with options to make reservations, manage existing reservations, or access other helpful features.
Both U-Haul and Penske offer customer support through their apps. U-Haul provides a chatbot for rental-related queries and direct call options, while Penske offers customer support via the app but does not yet have a chatbot feature.
Conclusion – U-Haul VS. Penske – Which Suits Best?
Both Penske and U-Haul offer similar rental app features, but U-Haul’s app provides additional features that may be helpful for customers planning a move. Penske’s app is more straightforward, but U-Haul’s app offers more tools for planning and organizing a move.
Penske is often chosen for its newer fleet and transparent pricing, but customer reviews in 2025 indicate dissatisfaction with customer service and higher prices. U-Haul offers lower base rates and wider availability, but recent customer reviews highlight issues with truck reliability and customer support.
Penske, while typically more expensive, offers a newer fleet and unlimited mileage for one-way moves. U-Haul offers lower upfront prices but may include additional fees such as per-mile charges, insurance, and equipment rental, which can increase the final bill.
Choosing between UHaul vs Penske Truck Rental is quite a challenging task. You can decide which U-Haul or Penske is cheaper and accordingly compare the cost of U-Haul rental or the cost of rent Penske rental.
It is recommended you make moving companies comparison of UHaul Vs Penske’s pros and cons and go through Penske’s truck rental reviews and U-Haul reviews to make a better decision.
Why Choose aPurple to Build Apps like Penske or Uhaul?
At aPurple, we have a professional team who helps you develop similar apps like Penske or U-Haul for your new truck rental venture. aPurple is renowned for its:
- Technical expertise
- Flexible cost modules
- On-time delivery to the market
Wondering how to start a moving truck rental business or how to build a truck rentals app like U-Haul or Penske? Contact us today for the best quote.
