The 2023 GMC Yukon XL is a large SUV, one of the biggest you can find in the US. It’s more than 18 feet long and weighs around 5,700 pounds. It has three rows of seats and tons of room for cargo. Even though it’s so big, getting it shipped from Austin to New Jersey wasn’t too hard. That’s because both cities are on major highways with lots of transport trucks, so it’s easier to find someone to move it than if it were going somewhere out in the boonies.
The Complete Timeline
On November 25th, the customer booked the transportation.
The customer used the online quote system, entering her car’s info, pickup in Austin, drop-off in Millburn, and when she wanted it done. Pretty quick, she got a quote that spelled out the costs and how long it should take.
Our company assigned a carrier the same day. The Austin to New Jersey route is a busy one, so it’s usually easier to find carriers than for routes to more out-of-the-way spots. Since it was November, carriers weren’t as busy as during the summer moving rush. The carrier used a normal two-deck open hauler. It can carry 7-10 cars. They were already sending other cars toward the Northeast, so picking up Sarah’s in Austin made sense for them.
November 26th-27th – Getting Ready for Pickup
Once we assigned a carrier, we contacted the customer, and she got the driver’s contact info. Both of us contacted the customer on November 26th to double-check the address and figure out when to come. They settled on a pickup time for Thursday, November 28th.
November 28th – Getting the Car Picked Up
After booking, the driver showed up in Austin to pick up the Yukon XL. The pickup went pretty smoothly.
First, the driver and the customer checked out the Yukon together, making notes on its condition. The customer also snapped a bunch of photos from all sides to show what the car looked like before it was loaded. The whole process took about 25-30 minutes.
Nov 28th – Dec 4th – On the Road
After it was loaded up, the Yukon XL started the trip to New Jersey.
Day 1 (Thursday, Nov 28th): Right after it was loaded and all the paperwork was done, the truck left Austin in the early afternoon. It went about 200-300 miles, ending up in eastern Texas or western Louisiana by evening. Truck drivers can only drive for 11 hours after taking 10 hours off.
Days 2-3 (Weekend, Nov 30th – Dec 1st): The car stayed put on the trailer while the driver took the weekend off. The truck was kept in a safe place while the driver had to take time off. Lots of drivers who work five days a week do this.
Day 4 (Monday, Dec 2nd): The trip began again, and the truck went about 450 miles through Arkansas and Tennessee. The driver made good time on Interstate 40, which is the road most trucks use to go from Texas to the Northeast.
Day 5 (Tuesday, Dec 3rd): Another full day of driving, covering 450 miles through Virginia and into the mid-Atlantic area. The route kept going on I-81 North through Virginia. The driver stuck to their plan since there was no bad weather or truck problems.
The driver called the customer on Dec 3rd to check when and where to drop off the car the next day. They thought they’d be there between 10 AM and 2 PM on Dec 4th. The driver double-checked the address and made sure they could get to it. Day 6 (Wednesday, Dec 4th): On the last day, the truck finished the trip into New Jersey and got to the place in Millburn.
December 4th – All Done!
The driver arrived in Millburn within the scheduled time. The driver used the ramps to get the Yukon XL off the truck. The customer was there to meet the driver.
The customer and the driver checked out the car together. They made sure nothing got dinged up while it was being shipped.
Good news: the car looked perfect.
They both signed the BOL to say everything went well, and the car was in good shape. The driver handed over the keys and made sure the car started up fine. The whole thing took about half an hour.
GMC Yukon XL traveled 1,712 miles safely, arrived on time, and cost exactly what was quoted at booking.
Several elements contributed to this smooth shipping experience
1. Big Cities: We ship a lot to Austin and NYC. Because of this, it’s easier to find carriers and get good prices.
2. Fall Timing: November is a slow time for moving. Prices jump in the summer by 10-15% because of college students, families moving, and vacationers.
3. Vehicle Condition: The Yukon XL was running fine, so it drove right onto the trailer. If a car doesn’t run, we must winch it on. That can add \$200-\$500 to the price and make pickup take longer.
4. Good Communication: Good communication between the customer, broker, and carrier prevented delays. Each of them understood the responsibilities and met the commitments.
5. Realistic Schedule: Knowing that carriers only work on weekdays helped us to give a realistic delivery date. 6. The Paperwork: We took photos during inspection and had a detailed Bill of Lading. This protected everyone because it showed exactly what condition the car was in before shipping.
Shipping Summary
Vehicle: 2023 GMC Yukon XL
Route: Austin, TX 78728 to Millburn, NJ 07041 (1712 miles)
I-35 N – I-30 E / I-40 E – I-81 N – I-78 E / I-287 N
Service: open trailer for 7 cars
Cost: $1200 ($0.70 per mile)
Season: Autumn-Winter
