Recently we completed the shipment of a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck from Fort Worth, TX to Newark, CA. This shipment took 1,663 miles in an open trailer for the price of $1,643.00, or $0.99 per mile.
Sierra was operable at pickup and was able to drive itself to the loading platform. When talking about pickups, it is important to note that the information provided at order stage plays a key role because a truck is more than just a truck.
The route
This route covers a distance of 1663 miles, running through the southern plains and the desert southwest to the Central Valley.
Since the area code 76052 is located in the northern part of Fort Worth, the drivers will travel northwestern on highway US-287 to get to Amarillo passing through Decatur and Wichita Falls.
In Amarillo, they will turn to I-40 highway which will be their path throughout most of the journey, going through New Mexico crossing Albuquerque and Gallup, then through Arizona passing through Flagstaff and Kingman.
When I-40 road gets to Barstow, California, the truck will turn to highway CA-58, which takes them across Tehachapi Pass to Bakersfield. In Bakersfield, the truck will travel to I-5, which goes to the north, crossing San Joaquin Valley, then I-580, which crosses Altamont Pass, arriving at the Bay area.
Why we ask about modifications on a pickup
Of all vehicle types, pickups come straight from the factory then undergo modification. This is significant to a carrier in ways that it is not on a sedan, and it is the sole cause of surprise at pickup. The limit is height. Federal laws have a restriction of a maximum height of 13 feet 6 inches on a loaded commercial vehicle, hence the carrier designs the deck keeping this height in mind. A regular Sierra 1500 has an approximate height of 75 to 78 inches, and is therefore appropriate. With a 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires, the same vehicle may be too high for the deck or altogether too high for its planned position on the deck.
Length is another limitation that follows closely. A crew cab Sierra will measure approximately 231 inches, while a crew cab with long bed measures approximately 241 inches. This is larger than a full size SUV.
Attachments should not be ignored either. Lift kits, oversized tires, roof racks, ladder racks, tonneau covers, after-market bumpers, winches, running boards, and light bars will all alter the size and shape of the vehicle. In some cases, attachments may need to be removed from the vehicle prior to loading.
Anything that is placed inside the bed of the truck is cargo. The truck bed seems to be an open area, which customers expect. The truck bed is classified in the same way as any other vehicle trunk and is also subject to the same 100-pound limit on personal items.
None of this is particularly difficult once we understand it. It becomes an issue when we schedule a load based on what we believe the vehicle to be and then show up to pick up the vehicle and find out that the half-ton is actually lifted and on 35s. This is an unnecessary trip for the driver and an inconvenient delay for the customer.
What $0.99 per mile reflects
Two factors converge at the middle here.
The size of the vehicle drives the cost higher. It takes up more deck space and more weight allowance from the trailer than the car would. There is not enough room for many vehicles on the truck so the additional charge balances out that problem. The premium is charged on all full-size trucks and SUVs or vans irrespective of the route.
Distance brings the cost down. Since the distance is 1,663 miles, the fixed costs of pickup, loading, securing, and delivery get diluted over a good deal of distance, hence the reason why it is not much higher than one dollar.
The corridor is neutral to positive. Interstate 40 is a main route for freight and both Dallas–Fort Worth and San Francisco bay area are big markets, hence no shortage of carriers here.
Open transport
It came on an open trailer, which is typically selected for such trucks with their factory finish and capability of doing some work.
“Open” is the right solution in such cases because enclosed trailers are limited to certain heights and lengths inside and the operators taking it charge according to that. In 1,663 miles, that becomes an important issue because the protection a pickup doesn’t really require.
Ground clearance was never a concern with this vehicle because it is never a concern with trucks in general because trucks always have high clearance.
Transport summary
- Origin: Fort Worth, TX 76052
- Destination: Newark, CA 94560
- Distance: 1,663 miles
- Service cost: $1,643.00
- Cost per mile: $0.99
- Vehicle: 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Fort Worth, TX → US-287 northwest through Wichita Falls to Amarillo → I-40 west through Albuquerque, Gallup, Flagstaff and Kingman → Barstow, CA → CA-58 west over Tehachapi Pass → Bakersfield → I-5 north up the San Joaquin Valley → I-580 over Altamont Pass → I-880 → Newark, CA
