In our last shipping cycle, we transported the 2017 Honda Civic that originated from Elk Grove, California and had been transported to Marlboro, New Jersey using an open trailer service over a distance of 2860 miles at a cost of $1,975.00 or $0.69 per mile.
The Civic was delivered “operable,” meaning that it could be started and driven on its own. This made the loading process relatively easy for the vehicle.
The Route
The 2860 mile-long journey starts at Elk Grove and ends at Marlboro, following almost entirely I-80. Normally, carriers start their journey from Elk Grove, which lies to the south of Sacramento, moving east through Sierra Nevada, then Reno and continue through Nevada and Utah.
After that, the road takes the route through Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, then Chicago. Afterwards, the carriers move further east along I-80 through Ohio and Pennsylvania. At last, they enter New Jersey, reaching Marlboro.
This route being considered among the most developed routes for freight transportation between coasts, carriers’ availability remains high during such long journey covering as much as eight states.
Why This Long Haul Comes at a Lower Per-Mile Rate
A delivery that covers a distance of almost 2,900 miles enjoys the same cost structure that applies to any long haul auto delivery. The cost per mile reduces with increase in distance because of the spreading effect of the fixed cost associated with positioning and route planning across many miles. This is one reason why the cost of this delivery works out to be $0.69 per mile.
What Loading an Operable Civic Looks Like
Ground clearance is standard for a 2017 Civic because it’s a compact sedan and is loaded to the multi-car open carrier in the usual manner that regular cars are loaded. Because the car was functional upon receipt, the owner was able to drive the car right into the ramps used for pick-up. The car was strapped down by wheel straps at all four corners.
Open Transport
The reason why the auto transport industry consists of mostly open carriers is that they are cheaper to operate and more available compared to the closed ones. It is reasonable to choose open car transport for such small everyday cars as the Honda Civic on the way across the country, where the price difference would add up for many miles.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Elk Grove, CA 95757
- Destination: Marlboro, NJ 07746
- Distance: 2860 miles
- Service cost: $1,975.00
- Cost per mile: $0.69
- Vehicle: 2017 Honda Civic
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: I-80 east through Reno, Salt Lake City, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Chicago, and Pennsylvania into Marlboro
