The most recent relocation was a relocation of a 2023 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck from Houston, Texas to Woodstown, New Jersey. The two door truck was transported over 1,544 miles on an open trailer for $1,250.00. That is an average cost of $0.81 per mile.
The vehicle was shipped operable, which means that it is drivable and ran fine, so the vehicle was loaded under its own power.
Full-size pickups are one of the most common types of cars that are shipped via auto transport service. This gives us insight into how the price of such a transportation comes together and what affects the price. If you are moving a full-size pickup, this is a great example.
The Route
The route between Houston and Woodstown begins from the southern corridor and then continues north along the East Coast. Carriers begin their journey in Houston and travel eastward along I-10 corridor through the Gulf states. The carriers then travel through Beaumont, pass through Louisiana near Baton Rouge, and travel through Mississippi and Alabama near Mobile.
Once the carriers enter the Southeast region, the route turns northeast. Typically, carriers connect from the Gulf area to Atlanta and then take the I-85 corridor through the Carolinas and Virginia. After that, the carriers follow the path of I-95, which is the major road along the Eastern Seaboard, traveling north to Richmond, Washington, and Baltimore.
The last stretch ends in southwest New Jersey. Woodstown is located in Salem County and lies next to Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is situated at the intersection of I-295 and Route 40 below the Turnpike corridor. Because the route goes along major interstate highways all the way, the typical duration of transit for such a trip is four to six days. Moreover, the low-elevation southern route remains free of winter weather conditions.
Why Truck Size Affects the Cost
F-150 is a full-size truck and therefore the size and weight affect the shipping rate. The auto shipping rate is based on the amount of space taken by the automobile on the trailer and the full-size truck takes up more space length-wise and height-wise compared to a sedan. This is the reason for the number of automobiles the carrier can fit on one trailer.
The two-door F-150 truck is a heavy vehicle, and its height plays a significant role in increasing its fuel consumption during the long haul and in positioning the vehicle on the multi-level trailer. Both factors play a role in the quoted pickup rate by the carrier.
However, even with all the additional factors mentioned above, the $0.81/mile rate is still a competitive one, considering that it is a long-distance pickup and therefore the distance affects the auto shipping cost positively. Short hauls cost more per mile compared to long ones since the fixed expenses get divided among many miles. Both locations have access to the freight network, and therefore there was no remote area charge.
Why an Operable Vehicle Ships Easily
It arrived in operable condition, meaning it is capable of moving without any help from an external source. It matters because it influences how the carrier loads the vehicle. An operable vehicle is loaded in drive-on manner, which makes it possible to load a truck within minutes and without any equipment at all.
An inoperable vehicle is a vehicle that is not able to move by itself. These types of trucks have to be loaded with the use of a winch, which takes additional time. Carriers may require a higher price for inoperable vehicles due to the fact that loading such vehicles takes longer and requires equipment that not all carriers have. Operability keeps the process easy and the price low.
In case of a 2023 F-150 in running condition, operable condition is obvious.
Why Open Transport Works Well for This Shipment
It is customary to choose open transport for shipping any vehicle, and this case is no exception. The truck will travel via an open multi-car hauler. It is the same type of trailer that one can observe on the highway carrying vehicles from one destination to another. Several vehicles share one trailer, which leads to splitting the cost of shipping and making it cheaper than enclosed transportation.
The downside is that such transport provides no protection during shipping, which means that the vehicle will be exposed to all the elements while traveling. But in the case of a pickup that is designed for everyday road use, it does not matter much. This is the reason why open transportation is utilized for the majority of trucks shipped from one location to another.
There is a lot of sense in using open transport for shipping a 2023 F-150. A truck is made for being driven, and the open transport will expose the vehicle to a lot less during shipping than driving for 1,544 miles.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Houston, TX 77041
- Destination: Woodstown, NJ 08098
- Distance: 1,544 miles
- Service Cost: $1,250.00
- Cost Per Mile: $0.81
- Vehicle: 2023 Ford F-150 (2-door pickup)
- Vehicle Condition: Operable
- Trailer Type: Open
- Route: I-10 east through the Gulf states, northeast through Atlanta, I-95 north into southwest New Jersey
