A good example concerning the efficient shipment of vehicles during the holiday season occurred when a 2023 Kia EV6 was shipped from Longmont, Colorado, to Cathedral City, California. This only became possible after an $800 service fee that demonstrates what can be accomplished during the perfect timing, which always occurs during one of the busiest seasons for shipping cars.
The vehicle has been booked on the 12th of December with the assignment of the driver on the same day. It is rather uncommon, especially when it is taken into consideration that December is one of the busier months for transportation. The pickup occurred on the 15th of December, with the delivery completion on the 18th of December. The transit took 3 days for almost 1,100 miles.
The Route and Timeline Breakdown
Longmont is situated north of Denver in the front range of the Rockies. Cathedral City is in the Coachella Valley and is near Palm Springs in California.
Route: It also requires passing through the Rocky Mountains, either in Utah or northern Arizona, and then going down to Southern California.
December also makes this route a little more complicated. These passes through the Rocky Mountains along I-70 can close because of weather, which may happen without notice. Snow and icing are also expected along this route. Most of these companies, however, have designated routes taken to avoid the highest spots along these passes when traveling through Utah.
The delivery period of 3 days, from collection to delivery, is actually faster compared to the normal range depending on the distance, especially during peak periods. The time ranges from 4-7 days, depending on the stops that occur along the way, from Colorado to California.
Pricing Analysis for December Transport
The cost of $800 is a good price for a mid-December car move at this time of the year.
There are several reasons for the foregoing:
Distance and demand: Spanning 1,100 miles, the route involves moving goods from one busy location to another.
Winter export: Colorado to California, as people relocate or to escape the weather.
Service type: This pickup delivery service type involves the transportation of the car via an open carrier. The cost of delivering the car via an enclosed carrier will add a further 40-60% of the basic cost because the car will require a robust vehicle like the crossover EV.
Seasonal pricing: These prices in December are typically between the seasonal lows of February or March and the high points during June to August. Holiday prices are higher but not at the points of the moving season.
Electric Vehicle Transport Considerations
The following are some of the concerns that are exclusive to the new model of the 2023 Kia EV6 and not found in gas vehicles:
Weight specifications: The EV6 weighs 4,500 pounds, so it can actually fit into a normal weight range that other car models share, even though its battery pack is more on the heavier side.
Battery charging levels: The charging levels for the batteries were set to about 50% of the battery’s total charging level for the transportation of this car. The idea is that charging levels between 30% and 60% would prove most suitable for load and unload operations.
Ground Clearance: Crossovers, such as the EV6, have had sufficient ground clearance for typical trailer ramps. Low-profile variants can at times require special ramp equipment. This was not a concern in our testing.
Range anxiety does not apply: This is because the vehicle being transported does not require charging infrastructure in between. This is because the transport company will be responsible for all movements after the vehicle has been loaded.
What Made This Shipment Efficient
There were a number of factors that ensured a smooth execution of this transport operation:
Early Booking: A sufficient early date for the final pre-winter holiday rush occurred on the 12th of December. Booking past the 15th of December usually entails longer waiting lines and steeper fees based on the remaining airliners available.
Same-day assignment: The assignment of the driver on the same date of the booking has reduced the wait time that used to occur. Customers have to wait at least 3 to 5 days in the months of December to have a carrier assigned.
Three days prep time: Between booking (12th) and pickup (15th) gave a sufficiently wide window to prepare the vehicle and route drivers accordingly. It does happen, though, that last-minute bookings can lead to issues of coordination. High-volume lane: Colorado-to-California lanes have interested carriers. Truckers know there will be return freight, which enables rates to remain competitive.
Open vs. Enclosed Transport Reality Check
In this case, the vehicle used open transport, which makes up 90% of all vehicle transport services offered in the USA because of various reasons, which can be detailed as follows: Open carriers have more vehicles (7-10) compared to enclosed trailers that range from 2-6. The cost of the services is shared by a number of shipments. The vehicles are manufactured and evaluated for speed and weather conditions. The insurance companies do not see a distinction in the two methods. Enclosed transport could potentially work in certain situations, such as for classic vehicles painted a non-original color or exotic autos over $100k, or as a preference where purchase price is not a concern for the buyer. Concerning an auto produced in the 2023 model year and transported over normal routes, open transport will prove an adequate safeguard relatively inexpensively.
The Customer Review
The customer is very pleased with our service, noting that we are professional and reliable, stepping in quickly whenever necessary. The client’s feedback denotes trust, confidence, and a positive feeling about the overall experience, showing readiness to willingly select our company again.
Transport Summary
Vehicle: 2023 Kia EV6
Route: Longmont, CO 80504 to Cathedral City, CA 92234
Distance: 1,100 miles (Southwest regional)
Primary Routes: I-25 S through Colorado, I-15 S through Utah, connecting to Southern California desert corridor via I-10
Service: Open-air multi-car carrier
Cost: $800.00 ($0.73 per mile)
Transit Time: 3 days (December 15 pickup – December 18 delivery)
Season: Winter
