A returning customer contacted Tempus Logix on January 6th regarding the transport of a 2020 BMW M4 Coupe from Milwaukie, Oregon, to Katy, Texas. This relocation required more than just a regular open transport. The outstanding design for sports performance, not to mention price, of the BMW M4 Coupe required an enclosed transport service for its 2,200-mile journey through the Southwest.
The booking process was not a very time-consuming process at all. The client gave us the specs of the vehicle and the first available date was listed as January 8th. In just four days, we were able to locate a qualified carrier with a hard-sided, enclosed trailer with space for two vehicles.
Hard-Sided Protection for Performance Vehicles
The hard-sided enclosed trailers are made up of steel and aluminum and enclose the sides of a trailer completely, offering a secured environment to the vehicle. This promotes prolonged exposure to varying conditions when on the road and protects the vehicle from debris and environmental factors, which can easily cause damage to the vehicle, unlike in enclosed trailers. The two-car arrangement provided enough room for the BMW when being transported.
The fact that the ground clearance in the design of the M4 car was low made the specialized loading system in the enclosed trailer necessary in the process. The loading system in an enclosed trailer is always composed of hydraulic systems and ramps which are almost touching the ground. The fact that the vehicle’s carrier had such equipment was essential in this process.
Transport Timeline and Carrier Assignment
It took four days to find the carrier based on the first available date. The route from Oregon to Texas is through the main transport routes, meaning we did not have to wait. The average time to complete most transport jobs using enclosed trailers is much higher due to the lower availability of enclosed trailers compared to open carriers.
This pickup occurred a day after we assigned the carrier for the task. The truck performed a pre-transport check in which the condition of the M4 was recorded. The truck driver signed the Bill of Lading prior to the commencement of the packaging of the merchandise. This check will ensure protection for the client and the carrier in case of any problem in the future.
The Four-Day Cross-Country Trip
The transport distance of 2.200 miles passed through the states of Oregon, Arizona, then New Mexico, and finally Texas. This was achieved within a period of four days. This is within the required transport distance. This is because a distance of 2.200 miles is within the 450-mile range of a typical transport distance. This is according to the federal regulation of Hours of Service. This is a limitation to the driving distance of 450 miles daily.
The carrier was in contact with the customer during the transport of the goods. Most carriers will contact the customers 12-24 hours before the delivery in order to pin down the time frame for the inspection and reception of the goods.
Delivery and Customer Experience
M4 arrived at Katy on the 17th of January. The delivery inspection was carried out to check if there was any kind of damage to M4 because of the delivery. Finally, the Bill of Lading was done by the customer to indicate the finalization of the process of transferring ownership. This was to verify that the item that was delivered was indeed the item that was picked up.
The customer left positive feedback on Google after delivery:
Why Customers Choose Enclosed Transport
The cost of enclosed transport is likely to be between 40% to 60% more than open transport, as mentioned in a recent report. The reasons behind this are: In most cases, five to seven carriers will fit in one enclosed trailer. Eight to ten carriers will be transported in open carriers. They require special equipment, so they are fewer in number.
Although it will cost higher, the customer with performance cars will usually opt for covered transport. The same applies to luxurious cars and collector cars. The key reason for this is that it is protected from being damaged when one scratch could cost a lot of money for repair jobs.
Route Considerations for Southwest Shipments
The route that connects Oregon with Houston has normal shipments. Oregon, as well as Texas, ranks among the top ten for car shipments. The routes that have frequent movement of cars by the carriers have wait times that become lower than routes that have less frequent movement by the carriers. Deliveries in Texas may become complicated if customers are in residential areas where the paths may consist of narrow corners and small roadways. Accessibility has been assessed for the objective of making the delivery of the cargo possible.
Transport Summary
- Vehicle: 2020 BMW M4
- Route: Milwaukie, OR 97267to Katy, TX 77494
- Distance: 2,200 miles (cross-country)
- Primary Routes: I-15 S → I-40 E → I-10 E
- Service: Hard-sided enclosed trailer for 2 cars
- Cost: $3,600 ($1.64 per mile)
- Season: Winter
