We have recently completed transporting a 2026 Hyundai Palisade from Kaysville, UT to Dayton, KY. The transportation route totaled 1,630 miles via open trailer for a price of $1,935.00, equaling a rate of $1.19 per mile.
This Palisade was operational when picked up and was driven to the ramp on its own wheels. Regarding a virtually brand new three-row SUV, the question that arises in the minds of the customers is about what will happen in case of something going wrong during transportation. This question deserves proper answering, since it is usually answered vaguely by the industry.
The route
The 1,630 mile journey to Dayton starts from Kaysville to the Rockies and plains before ending at the Ohio River.
Kaysville is located along I-15 highway in Davis County, just north of Salt Lake City. Travelers need to travel southwards to the metropolis and take I-80 to the east side crossing Parleys Canyon and Wasatch Range.
I-80 covers most of the middle part of the journey. The I-80 passes through Wyoming via Rock Springs, Rawlins, and Cheyenne and continues into Nebraska covering North Platte and Omaha, and continues to Iowa through Des Moines to Quad Cities.
The route thereafter uses I-74 heading east to Peoria and Bloomington and Champaign, Illinois, and Indianapolis, before continuing south to Cincinnati. Dayton city is located on the other side of Ohio River in Kentucky hence the end point being I-471.
What is actually insured, and what is not
This is the most misunderstood part of auto transport because sometimes, certain companies benefit from that confusion. Here is how it goes.
The cargo policy of the carrier is what really matters here. Each and every carrier has to have cargo insurance to operate under FMCSA authority. And this policy will cover any damage caused to your vehicle while under their possession. The limits of liability vary from one carrier to another, hence the need for a certificate.
Request a certificate of insurance and not just an assurance from a company. An honest broker will provide a certificate of the assigned carrier prior to pickup. It will show the name of the insurer and policy limits as well as the expiration date. It says a lot about a company if they refuse to provide one.
Deductibles are there. They apply to all cargo policies and vary from one carrier to another. Check the deductible on the assigned truck, and not assume it is zero.
Personal property is not included. Coverage includes only the vehicle. All contents are at risk in the vehicle and that’s why it’s necessary to take valuables and paperwork with you.
The surety bond of a broker is not insurance against damage. Federal regulations require that brokers have a surety bond of $75,000 and it is frequently discussed in a context that makes people think it will cover your paint job. It won’t. It provides financial coverage in case of non-payment by carriers. Both are important, but they provide different types of protection.
Your own insurance might not be applicable. Auto insurance for personal cars is usually structured in a way that it covers the situation when you drive your car, not when a commercial carrier moves your car. Some comprehensive policies work and some don’t. Contact your insurer and find out.
And the Bill of Lading is the document. In case of damage, the condition report made at pickup and delivery will be the proof of it. Check for anything unusual before signing the Bill of Lading because your signature makes any future claims much more difficult.
What $1.19 per mile reflects
There are two reasons why this number is higher than what a sedan would be in the same lane.
The first is vehicle size. This truck is a three-row SUV that is a bit under 197 inches and a bit over 4,300 pounds. It isn’t massive like the Suburban, but it eats up more length on the deck and weight capacity of the trailer than a car will, so fewer trucks can go in the trailer.
The second is the lane itself. Kaysville is near Salt Lake City and good enough, but Dayton is a small city on the Ohio side of the river opposite Cincinnati, not a freight terminal in its own right. From Salt Lake to the Cincinnati area is a solid lane that isn’t contested.
The distance acts oppositely, of course. At 1,630 miles, the fixed costs of pickup, loading, securement, and delivery are divided by a lot of miles, putting this far below what a short haul would be.
Open transport
The Palisade used the open trailer because this is the common practice even when moving a fairly new car.
The Palisade is a new family SUV with the latest factory clear coat protection. Enclosed trailer use is only appropriate for vehicles where the rock chip can cause serious money issues, and a new SUV going into a driveway is not such a case. Open trailer is also the more feasible option because there are restrictions for the height and length of the enclosed trailers that the three-row SUV is approaching.
Ground clearance was not even an issue here as the Palisade is already raised enough for the ramp to be irrelevant.
Transport summary
- Origin: Kaysville, UT 84037
- Destination: Dayton, KY 41074
- Distance: 1,630 miles
- Service cost: $1,935.00
- Cost per mile: $1.19
- Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Palisade
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Kaysville, UT → I-15 south to Salt Lake City → I-80 east over the Wasatch through Rock Springs, Rawlins and Cheyenne → North Platte and Omaha, NE → Des Moines, IA → I-74 east through Peoria and Champaign, IL → Indianapolis, IN → Cincinnati, OH → I-471 → Dayton, KY
