Not too long ago, we were able to complete the transport of a 2014 Ferrari California, shipped from Cleveland, TN, to Bradenton, FL. This transportation spanned 638 miles and cost $744.00, which breaks down to $1.17 per mile.
This California was running when loaded for transport. An exotic automobile on an enclosed trailer is exactly what most would imagine when thinking about luxury vehicle transport. But there are some differences that need to be pointed out regarding how this particular move was priced.
The route
The 638 miles journey from Cleveland to Bradenton is largely on an interstate.
The starting point Cleveland lies northeast of Chattanooga, along the interstate road I-75 and drivers begin their journey right away heading towards south through Chattanooga and beyond the Georgia state line.
Interstate I-75 takes them through the city of Atlanta, and then heads south through Macon, Tifton, Valdosta in Georgia and enters Florida state just by the Lake City region.
The interstate continues its path all along the peninsula via Ocala and Tampa Bay. Bradenton lies south of Tampa Bay in Manatee County.
What a specialist carrier does differently
Enclosed transport is not just one service. Enclosed trailer is something different from an operator moving exotic cars all the time, and it shows in the specifics.
Loading with liftgate and not with ramps. The California sits very low in the front. The liftgate lifts the car even to the deck level, and there are no more approach angles needed for loading this kind of car, rather than trying to estimate the angle of a ramp for the car with a very expensive front-end.
Soft ties over the tires and never chains. Car will be tied with wheel straps or wheel nets, holding it by the tires and therefore no load will pass through the suspension or control arms or chassis. With adaptive suspension and expensive suspension parts it is not a matter of choice.
No loads on top of it. Specialist puts the car with a good value on a place where nothing will be on top of it. Getting fluid from another car which will be put on the upper deck on your Ferrari is something nobody needs, so it is better to prevent it.
The top remains down and locked. The California has a retractable hard top. It drives down and locked, and there is no manipulation of the roof by anyone in transit. This goes for all convertibles and folding tops – metal or fabric.
Less vehicles and more space. The operator specialized in exotics may drive less vehicles and with more separation between each one. This is part of the deal.
And the driver is the true wildcard. All of the above is dependent upon a driver that has done it before. This is really what we are selecting for when we choose a carrier for a vehicle such as this.
Why $1.17 per mile on an enclosed short haul
This is where you should pay attention because the price is lower than it would be based on the vehicle and the distance.
Short runs usually have higher prices per mile. The cost of pickup, loading, securing, coordinating and delivering is pretty much the same for a carrier regardless of the job and at 638 miles these fixed costs have little road to cover. We published an enclosed run of 358 miles at $2.42/mile for exactly this reason.
What made the difference was the lane. Interstate 75 between Tennessee and Florida is one of the busiest lanes in the country, and there are enclosed trucks that use this lane daily transporting collectors and seasonal vehicles both ways. Truck driving south through this lane will quote completely differently from the truck that needs to be hired for it.
And this is the lesson you should learn from this load. Vehicle class, trailer type and distance all matter, but a really busy lane may beat them all.
Enclosed transport
Here there was no question about the open option because the enclosed form is the standard for the exotic and the rationale is obvious. Since a stone chip in a car of such worth becomes a genuine expense, not a bother.
The loading process was pretty simple because of the availability of the equipment. It was a working car that could be put under its own power after it was put on the liftgate platform.
Transport summary
- Origin: Cleveland, TN 37312
- Destination: Bradenton, FL 34211
- Distance: 638 miles
- Service cost: $744.00
- Cost per mile: $1.17
- Vehicle: 2014 Ferrari California
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Enclosed, liftgate loaded
- Route: Cleveland, TN → I-75 south through Chattanooga → Atlanta, GA → Macon, Tifton and Valdosta → Lake City, FL → Ocala → Tampa Bay → Bradenton, FL
