The Honda Accord used in 2016 went through the movement of goods route between Portland in Oregon and San Diego in California. The pick up zip code was 97206 while the drop off zip code was 92130. That means that the distance involved was 1,074 miles along the west coast region of America. Moving vehicles on open trailers costs $1,049. The process went without the usual hassle associated with shipping of vehicles.
The Process
Every shipment starts with a quote, and this one was no different. The customer gave the basics first. That meant the make, model, year, and both zip codes. Those details matter because the route, the vehicle size, and the distance all feed into the final price. Once the numbers landed at $1,049, the booking was locked in.
After booking came the carrier assignment. A driver gets matched based on the route, the timing, and the kind of trailer the car needs. A standard sedan like the Accord fits an open trailer easily, so finding a hauler on this corridor didn’t take long. The carrier then reached out directly to confirm the pickup window.
On pickup day, the driver showed up at the agreed spot and did a quick inspection before loading. Photos were taken of the Accord from several angles, and the condition went onto the Bill of Lading. This document is the backbone of the whole shipment because it protects both the customer and the carrier. If a dispute comes up later, the BOL is what everyone goes back to.
Before handing the car over, the customer took care of a few simple prep tasks. The list is short but it keeps things smooth:
- Clean the car inside and out so any existing marks show up during inspection
- Remove personal belongings from the cabin and trunk
- Leave only a quarter tank of gas or less
- Disable the alarm and hand over a spare key
- Take off roof racks or oversized attachments
Once the Accord was loaded and secured to DOT standards, it was on its way south.
The Route
The route between Portland and San Diego is located in the West Coast area. Being one of the busiest shipping corridors in the US, this route sees lots of traffic because it is served by Interstate 5 almost all the way. This is good news because high traffic volume will help reduce the waiting period for the pickup.
A run covering the 1,074 miles between these cities is comfortable for a single driver. Its estimated duration varies depending on the specific driving schedule and weather conditions, but, typically, this type of job takes several days. As far as routes go, the chosen path is relatively straight, so it did not require going through any remote regions where detours may affect the price.
It goes without saying that the distance plays a significant role in estimating the cost. However, the location also plays an important part. In this case, we have two metro areas easily accessible via highways, and that made this job easier and more affordable. The carrier would have increased the costs if the points of pick-up and delivery were located far away from highways.
Open Trailer
The Accord was transported on an open trailer and that too suited the car very well. Open trailer transportation is generally selected by most people because it saves cost as well as allows transporting more cars at a time. Generally, an open trailer accommodates nine cars.
There are many people who wonder if their car is safe being transported on open trailers, and for such daily used cars like the 2016 Accord, open trailer transportation is safe. The reason behind its safety lies in the short period of transportation as well as exposure to the atmosphere, thus, making open trailer transportation a tried-and-tested technique.
Another type of transportation is enclosed transport and is considered best for sports cars, expensive cars, and classic cars. Enclosed transportation takes longer than open transport as the number of enclosures available on roads is relatively few. For our car, it makes sense to use open transport which makes the rate quoted appropriate.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Portland, OR, 97206
- Destination: San Diego, CA, 92130
- Vehicle: 2016 Honda Accord
- Distance: 1074 mile
- Price: $1049
- Trailer type: Open
