Not all cars in need of relocation will be able to enter the trailer themselves. A recent transport service for a car, which took place between Norman, Oklahoma, and Pembroke Pines, Florida, involved relocating a 1993 Honda Accord. This was an old car, which could not be started, having been left to lie idle in the driveway. The distance covered was 1,489 miles, with the total cost amounting to $1,200. If you have an old daily car or inherited one which cannot start, then this may interest you.
Why an Inoperable Car Changes the Whole Plan
A running vehicle is easy. The driver aligns the trailer and the ramps, then the owner or the carrier drives it up. An inoperable car does not give that alternative, and thus the carrier has to use other means to load about 2,800 pounds of steel onto the truck.
This car could not be started, could not turn using its own power, and could not brake by itself. And that fact determined all further actions from choosing the carrier through to loading gear to use. Carriers calculate such services in higher rates since they involve more effort and take more time than a regular shipment of a vehicle that works fine. Standard rates for shipping inoperable cars are higher by a couple of hundreds of dollars than an operable similar shipment, and that is exactly how much this particular shipment cost.
When you book the shipment, you must inform whether your car is operable or not. And a vehicle marked as “operating” but in reality being dead is often rejected from the loading point, and sometimes even the price is revised.
The Winch Did the Heavy Lifting
However, since the vehicle was dead, it was winched onto the flatbed trailer by the carrier. Winching a non-functioning car is usually the norm, and most towing companies have winches as part of their equipment.
This is a mechanical system installed in the trailer used to haul the car using a wire cable or steel strap that is connected to the car’s chassis. Using the winch, the operator can pull the car steadily onto the trailer until it is fully on the ramp. In most cases, carriers use the electric winch which can lift 8,000 to 12,000 pounds and will handle the Accord easily. However, there are hydraulic winches designed for heavy loads, but were not required in this case.
This process is simple but requires some skill from the operator who has to ensure that the vehicle stays aligned on the ramp while keeping an eye on the cable. He has to do it slowly enough to ensure that everything goes smoothly. An electric winch pulls its load at about 10 feet to 25 feet per minute.
There are several key factors when using a winch to load the car. One needs proper mounting points, but if the body of the car was rusty or in poor condition, that could become a problem. Also, having at least some air in the tires made the job easier; flat tires are much more difficult to drag than inflated ones. The wheels needed to be unlocked for proper alignment up the ramp.
In the case of the Accord, none of those issues arose.
Open Transport
Open transport was selected, and it was the correct decision for a used economy sedan from 1993. Open transport carries the bulk of vehicles shipped in America because it is cheaper and operates more often than enclosed transport.
Open transport will place the vehicle on an uncovered multi-car trailer similar to those used for transporting new vehicles from manufacturers. The vehicle will remain exposed to sunlight, rain, and other elements along the shipping route. In the case of a luxury or rare vehicle, such shipping is unacceptable; thus, enclosed transport is recommended. However, in the case of a 30-year-old Honda already exposed to many years of driving, this kind of shipping provides very little added value.
Open transport also has an advantage due to its greater frequency because there are many open transport vehicles while the number of enclosed transport vehicles is limited. This means the wait until finding an available trailer may be lengthy. In this case, however, the route of transportation is busy with cargo traffic, making it easier to find a trailer for shipping.
The Route
The pickup point was in Norman, Oklahoma, while the delivery point was in Pembroke Pines, Florida. It is a distance of 1,489 miles in the route southeast from Texas, passing by the Gulf states and ending in South Florida. It involves popular transportation lanes throughout its length.
It is important not just for pricing but also for timeliness. A commonly used transportation route will have constant flow of carriers, allowing the transport of the cargo to be done within a short period of time as opposed to an unusual or rarely used route.
In this case, pickup from a Norman residence and delivery in a densely populated Pembroke Pines area was quite easy, because this is something carriers do often in these areas. Transporting from rural areas that are located far from the main roads will be more expensive and take more time.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Norman, OK, 73026
- Destination: Pembroke Pines, FL
- Vehicle: 1993 Honda Accord
- Trailer type: Open
- Condition: Inoperable
- The route: I-35 south out of Norman – I-45 down toward Houston-I-10 east across the Gulf states-I-75 south through Florida-I-95 / Florida’s Turnpike into Pembroke Pines
- Distance: 1489 mile
- Price: $1200
