Our recent delivery was a 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross that we shipped from Glendale, AZ to Pensacola, FL. The small crossover covered 1,732 miles in an open trailer. Our total was $1,403.00, or roughly $0.81 per mile. It shipped in operable condition, which means that it is running and driveable, and so it simply drove itself onto the trailer.
A long-distance move through the southern states operates on one of the most reliable routes in the US. So this is a good example of how much a trip between Arizona and Florida would cost and why.
The Route
The Glendale to Pensacola delivery is almost all along the southern transcontinental corridor. The transporter starts off in Glendale, which is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and heads south to connect with I-10. This is the primary route running east-to-west across the southern United States. Then the transporter travels along this interstate route for the majority of the haul.
The delivery crosses the desert Southwest region from Tucson all the way to New Mexico and to the long Texas route passing through El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston. After Texas, the delivery moves through Louisiana near New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama near Mobile and eventually reaches the Florida Panhandle. Since Pensacola is located directly on I-10, the transporter finishes at its destination without ever leaving the transcontinental corridor.
Since the I-10 route stays at a low altitude across the southern states, the transport delivery can avoid the mountains’ weather conditions affecting other northern routes. Transfers of hauls this distance generally take four to six days since the transporter takes a consistent interstate drive while stopping periodically.
Why an Operable Vehicle Ships Easily
The Corolla Cross was delivered operable, meaning it had the capacity to run, steer, and brake on its own. This is important information, since it impacts how the carrier will deliver the vehicle. A vehicle that is operable will be driven onto the trailer by itself, making loading quick and easy.
In comparison, an inoperable vehicle lacks the ability to be moved on its own and requires winching to move the car onto the trailer, requiring additional time and resources. Inoperable cars tend to be more expensive to transport since they require special equipment to be moved and cannot be transported using quick drive-on procedures.
For this shipment, the operable status of the new 2025 Corolla Cross was a certainty. As a current model compact crossover that is functioning properly, this was a normal drive-on load for the carrier.
Why Long-Distance Shipping Costs Less Per Mile
It is important to note that this price per mile of $0.81 for the current shipment is an illustration of auto transport pricing in relation to distance. While the long-distance shipment costs higher in total, its cost per mile is lower compared to short-distance shipments since the cost per mile is spread over more miles.
While a short shipment of 300 miles could be priced at about $1.00 per mile or even higher, 1,732-mile shipment is priced at about $0.81 per mile. This particular shipment benefits from the fact that the driver is covering consistent interstate miles using a well-known I-10 route, making it easier to load the trailer and keeping the cost competitive. In addition, the volume of cargo originating from Phoenix metro area also contributes to efficient pricing in this lane.
The size of the car being moved also adds to this benefit since being a compact crossover, it does not require additional deck space. The Pensacola metro area is considered a medium-sized metro area, so there were no remote area fees charged.
Open Transport
The typical method of transport is known as open transport, and it worked well with this Corolla Cross. The car travels via an open multi-car transporter trailer. This is the same type of trailer seen moving cars around the highway each day. The trailers have multiple cars on them, and thus the cost is split between them all.
The downside is that they are exposed to the elements. While being shipped, they will be exposed to the rain, dust from the road, and other objects due to the lack of coverage on the trailer. This really does not affect too many people because the cost of protection would outweigh the amount of time being exposed.
When it comes to shipping an all-new 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross as a commuter vehicle, open shipping is just what the doctor ordered. In other words, since this particular car is made for driving on public roads, it will be subjected to much less stress through open shipping than it would through the 1,732 miles driven.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Glendale, AZ 85302
- Destination: Pensacola, FL 32508
- Distance: 1,732 miles
- Service Cost: $1,403.00
- Cost Per Mile: $0.81
- Vehicle: 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
- Vehicle Condition: Operable
- Trailer Type: Open
- Route: South to I-10, then east through Texas and the Gulf states into Pensacola
