Speed does matter when you are moving a trailer. A recent haul from Michigan City, Indiana to Fargo, North Dakota proved just how quick the tow-away service for enclosed trailers can be. Customer had placed the order for a 14-foot enclosed trailer with 8-foot height on January 15th. On the next day, that is, January 16th, a carrier got assigned to it. The pickup took place on January 19th, and the no-end trailer reached Fargo on January 20th.
Tow-Away Trailer Transport Explained
Tow away service operates differently compared to flat bed hauling. In this case, the transport driver hooks up a pickup truck with requisite towing gear to pull the trailer. This type of operation can be used for enclosed trailers that were already designed with built-in rollers or trucks.
Furthermore, the carrier that was being used for that specific job was a heavy duty truck. In order for it to tow the trailer, it would need to have enough towing capacities to pull the trailer and whatever was in it. Most 14-foot enclosed trailers have a range of 2,500 to 3,500 pounds. The carrier would probably have 8,000 to 10,000 pounds to move it. This mode fares better than the flatbed in a number of aspects. Loading is much faster because there is no need to lock the trailer onto another platform. All the transport does is to attach the trailer to a platform and run the necessary safety checks. Loading occurs just the same at the final point.
Quick Turnaround
The timeline demonstrates how efficient tow-away transport really is. The customer booked on January 15th, and availability is for January 19th. Most auto transport carriers have 3-7 day advanced notice for booking.
The carrier received a match for this load on the 16th of January. The carrier received this load quickly as the route passes through busy shipping routes. The route passes through the routes connecting the Great Lakes and the northern plains states.
Pickup was right on schedule on the 19th of January. Tardiness in picking up creates several problems. There are no exceptions to this. Tardiness sets the tone for the rest of the events. Being delivered on the 20th would only take a day. The distance travelled, 700 miles, can be travelled within the hours of service rules. Drivers can drive for 11 hours within a 14-hour period. At high speeds on the highway, you can travel 700 miles in a day if you know how.
When to Use Tow-Away
Tow-away service is best suited for particular trailers and circumstances. Small enclosed trailers less than 20 feet in length are perfect candidates. Small trailers are light enough for heavy-duty pick-up trucks to tow.
The trailers will also need running equipment such as wheels and axles. The wheels should be in good condition. It is impossible to pull trailers with wheels that are seized.
This method is mostly beneficial for customers with empty or loads hailing from the lightweight category. For heavy loads, the total load becomes too much for pickup trucks to tow. For overweight trailers, flatbed transport is needed.
Time-sensitive shipments will also benefit from tow-away service due to quicker load and unload. The trip from Michigan to Fargo was an indication that a trailer will move quickly. The service took only a day, which was sufficient for the client. It’s efficient for tow-away moves for those doing the move along the highways. They are able to go at highway speeds and travel good distances. There may be certain situations, such as rural delivery with poor road access.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Michigan City, IN (Northwest Indiana, near Michigan border)
- Destination: Fargo, ND (Cass County, North Dakota-Minnesota border)
- Vehicle type: 14-foot enclosed trailer with 8-foot height clearance (Operable with functional wheels and axles)
- Distance: Approximately 700 miles
- Primary routes: Interstate 94 northwest through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota to North Dakota border
- Transport method: Tow-away service using heavy-duty pickup truck
- Season: Mid-January (winter)
- Price: $1,300 ($1.86 per mile)
See also: Indiana to North Dakota Car Shipping
