Our recent shipment included transporting a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette from Katy, Texas to Seminole, Texas, which spanned a distance of 518 miles and incurred a total charge of $1,924.00, translating to $3.71 per mile.
The Corvette in question was able to move on its own power when picked up. This is the highest mileage rate that we have featured and it needs to be spelled out clearly. As we have written elsewhere, our recent shipment of a 1950 Oldsmobile spanned a coast to coast route at 58 cents per mile.
The route
The 518-mile drive from Katy to Seminole lies all within Texas and is mostly not on any interstate highway.
Katy lies on I-10 to the west of Houston, which is one of the destinations that we have previously shipped to. The driver drives west-northwest on US-290 via Brenham to Austin.
The path then takes US-87 via Brady and San Angelo through the Edwards Plateau to the Permian Basin, where oilfields exist. The path goes further north of Big Spring toward Lamesa.
Lastly, the path takes US-180 westward to Seminole, the county seat of Gaines County, which is located about 70 miles southwest of Lubbock.
Why this is the most expensive per mile we have published
Three conditions come into play. By themselves, each of these conditions is normal. But taken together, they make the cost.
The distance is small. With 518 miles of travel, there is not much distance on which the fixed cost of the loading, transporting, and delivery can be spread out. The cost is similar regardless of whether it is 518 miles or 2,600, so that is why short runs will always cost a lot per mile. The total cost of $1,924.00 is the actual cost the customer pays.
Enclosed limits the market. Enclosed trucks represent a small fraction of the trucking market. This premium is charged on all enclosed loads, regardless of the small distance.
The C7 requires a liftgate. The Corvette stands at just over four inches from the ground up front. As we explained earlier, when shipping the other C7, the ramp would be too steep for the vehicle, so the carrier will need to have liftgate equipment. This further cuts down an already limited list.
And the pickup point is remote. Seminole is a small town of a couple of thousand residents within the Permian Basin. There are many enclosed exotic car carriers in the Dallas-Houston-Austin area. Not many would have reasons to be in Gaines County, and the one that shipped this particular vehicle had either driven the extra distance or waited for one.
Short, specialized, and remote are the worst-case scenario for mileage rate. However, this is totally normal and explains why we advise our customers to price a short haul on a total cost.
The range, end to end
We have now established rates between $0.58 and $3.71 per mile for the very same service. That is an incredible range of more than six times over, and no part of that range can be considered in any way arbitrary.
The lowest range includes maximum distance and open transport, one regular vehicle position, two heavily used termini. All going the same direction.
The highest range includes minimum distance and enclosed transport, specialized equipment and a destination not on a single important route. Once again, all going the same direction.
Almost every shipment falls somewhere in the middle. The rate per mile is meaningful only when compared to similar work.
Enclosed transport
There was no viable open choice to be considered. A contemporary Corvette on an open deck would be a chip waiting to happen. What’s more, nose clearance makes it impossible to use a conventional ramp regardless of the trailer’s design.
The loading process entailed the use of a hydraulic liftgate that lifts the vehicle to the deck level, making any angle of approach irrelevant. The vehicle was then driven on the platform to its final position by the driver.
As for securing, soft straps were used instead of chains on the suspension, something that becomes particularly important when dealing with a vehicle like that with its expensive suspension system.
Transport summary
- Origin: Katy, TX 77494
- Destination: Seminole, TX 79360
- Distance: 518 miles
- Service cost: $1,924.00
- Cost per mile: $3.71
- Vehicle: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Enclosed, liftgate loaded
- Route: Katy, TX → US-290 northwest through Brenham toward Austin → US-87 through Brady and San Angelo → across the Edwards Plateau → Big Spring → Lamesa → US-180 west → Seminole, TX
