Recently, we completed the transportation of a Honda Civic 2027 model from Arlington Heights, IL to Boca Raton, FL. The distance covered was 1,364 miles on an open trailer, and the total charge was $1,194.00. The average cost per mile was $0.88.
The car was running well when we picked it up. We have transported Civics before, and when you compare the two trips, you’ll see something that doesn’t make sense at first glance.
The route
This 1,364-mile route stretches from Arlington Heights to Boca Raton and represents the traditional Midwest to South Florida route.
Arlington Heights is located northwestern to Chicago. Drivers merge to I-294 and then head to I-57 south passing through Illinois, including Kankakee, Effingham, and Marion.
Then I-24 takes you southeast to Paducah, Kentucky, and then further south to Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Then I-75 takes the drivers down south passing through Atlanta, Macon, and Valdosta to Florida, near Lake City, with the Florida Turnpike leading to Boca Raton in Palm Beach County.
When enclosed comes in under open
Here are the two Civics together.
$1,179.00 for a 2016 Civic, 1,395 miles enclosed; or $0.85 per mile.
$1,194.00 for a 2027 Civic, 1,364 miles open; or $0.88 per mile.
Close to equal distance and equal model line; and the enclosed price is cheaper in both comparisons. It should not be that way considering the enclosed premium on every move. Why is it happening?
There is a difference in lanes. The first move was Utah to Texas, a constant route with no seasonal effects. The second one was Chicago to South Florida, the most demanding lane in the country.
Seasonal effect is taking place as well. As we discussed when moving a motorcycle from Minnesota, northern states begin evacuating to Florida in the fall. Southbound capacity on this lane becomes constrained in the same week every year and the price reflects it.
Trailer type is significant but not decisive. Enclosed is almost always going to be more expensive than open on the same lane and the same week. Comparing prices on different lanes at different weeks may reveal completely opposite pricing pattern, exactly what happens in our case.
That’s what we have been saying all along. Price quote reflects lane,
See also: Shipping a 2016 Honda Civic from American Fork, UT to Katy, TX
What $0.88 per mile reflects
Three factors.
Distance. This is an average distance of 1,364 miles, which means that the high fixed cost of picking up, loading, securing, and delivering will have an impact on the per-mile cost.
The season. A southbound trip to Florida in the fall is the most busy time for this route, and a good lane balance results in higher prices.
Open transport goes in the opposite direction. Open trailers transport more vehicles and operate much more frequently than closed trailers, and that’s why we see this number in spite of the seasonality effect.
The vehicle is neutral. The Honda Civic is a compact sedan in one spot, without any special characteristics for a deck.
Open transport
The Civic was transported on an open trailer, and this is how almost all vehicles are moved within this country.
It is a current-model year compact sedan with factory clearcoat paint. An enclosure is reserved for cars in situations when a rock chip constitutes a financial loss, and a new Civic en route to the driveway isn’t such a situation.
One of the things that should be noted by those who read the comparison above and arrive at wrong conclusions. The 2016-year owner had his reasons for going with an enclosure, and it happened to be cheaper. This doesn’t mean that you should expect enclosed to beat open transport on your lane.
Securement was made with soft straps over the tires and not chains over the suspension, which is our standard approach to securing any vehicle.
Transport summary
- Origin: Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- Destination: Boca Raton, FL 33428
- Distance: 1,364 miles
- Service cost: $1,194.00
- Cost per mile: $0.88
- Vehicle: 2027 Honda Civic
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Arlington Heights, IL → I-294 → I-57 south through Kankakee and Effingham to Marion → I-24 southeast through Paducah, KY → Nashville and Chattanooga, TN → I-75 south through Atlanta, Macon and Valdosta, GA → Lake City, FL → Florida Turnpike south → Boca Raton, FL
