Our recent cargo included transportation of a 2018 Ford Startrans Senator II from Cartersville, Georgia to Dallas, Texas using open trailer transport. The distance covered was 792 miles for the cost of $2,100.00 at $2.65 per mile.
The Senator II arrived inoperable in that it did not have the ability to operate or drive itself. This is different from transporting a functional car.
The Route
The 1,273 km route extends from Cartersville to Dallas and stretches westward across the Deep South. Freight haulers generally depart from Cartersville, north of Atlanta, and move south to connect with I-20 West all the way to Texas.
The route then continues moving westward from Louisiana to Texas until it reaches the Dallas region. The corridor remains on one highway throughout the majority of its span, which ensures consistent carrier availability.
What a Startrans Senator II Shuttle Bus Is
Startrans Senator II is the name of the shuttle bus body that is put on a chassis that is based on Ford Cutaway Van. It is normally used as a shuttle for airport transportation, hotels and paratransit services. The body is much heavier than an ordinary passenger vehicle, and therefore requires a different trailer and equipment.
Being heavier and larger than an ordinary car, a shuttle bus such as this one normally needs a commercial sized trailer.
Why an Inoperable Bus Needs a Winch and the Right Equipment
Because the Senator II could not run or propel itself anywhere, the whole loading process was dependent on the use of the carrier’s winch and not on the use of self-propelled movement of the vehicle. This implies that the winch would be used to lift the entire weight of the bus on to the deck of the trailer, which was obviously a much heavier and more laborious process compared to loading the car.
While loading an inoperable commercial vehicle such as the Senator II, carriers always anticipate for a slower and controlled process, as well as the use of wheel chocks and multiple tie down points because of the extra danger involved with a large sized vehicle such as this one.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Cartersville, GA 30120
- Destination: Dallas, TX 75229
- Distance: 792 miles
- Service cost: $2,100.00
- Cost per mile: $2.65
- Vehicle: 2018 Ford Startrans Senator II
- Condition: Inoperable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: I-20 west through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana into Dallas
