A dealer in Aurora had a 2022 Tesla Model S ready for a private buyer in Tallahassee. The buyer wasn’t local so Tempus Logix handled everything from carrier assignment to delivery sign-off. Here’s what that shipment actually looked like from start to finish.
Another Tesla Was Shipped By Our Company: 2024 Tesla Model Y Ships from Virginia to Mississippi
Why Shipping an Electric Vehicle Isn’t the Same as Shipping a Regular Car
A 2022 Tesla Model S weighs about 4,561 pounds. This is about 900 pounds more than a gas-powered sedan of similar size, owing to the battery pack on the floor of the car. This affects how the shipping company will be able to distribute the weight on the trailer.
Another difference is the ground clearance of the Tesla, which sits about 4.6 inches off the ground. This means that, unless the shipping company is familiar with shipping such vehicles, the front of the car will touch down on the ramp before the rest of the car is off the ground. This means that the approach angle of the ramp will not be a problem.
The charging port of the car is also located on the left rear quarter of the car, which means that, if the car is on the upper deck of an open trailer, it will be completely obstructed, so drivers will need to check the battery level before shipping the vehicle.
The car will also need to be driven on and off the trailer, so the customer should be told to keep the battery level between 45% and 65%. This gives enough power to move the car without risking heat buildup during shipping.
How Seasonal Demand, Fuel Costs, and the Aurora-to-Tallahassee Route Affect Your Final Price
The world of auto transport is a rapidly changing environment. Our transport agents have witnessed rates fluctuate within a single day based on the number of available transporters in a specific route. The transport was arranged in late spring when transport demand is high from the Midwest.
These aren’t surprises we want customers to run into without any heads-up. We do our best to hold the agreed price. But on longer hauls a small extra cost can occasionally show up and we’ll always flag it clearly before anything changes.
Open Auto Transport Price for EV from Illinois to Florida
Aurora, IL to Tallahassee, FL: Route, Transit Time, and Carrier Availability
To get to Tallahassee, the natural route south out of Aurora would take us down I-65, which passes through the Chicago suburbs. This is one of the most heavily used shipping routes in the country. It passes south of Indianapolis, Louisville, then on down into Birmingham, then southeast into northern Florida, ultimately terminating in Tallahassee. The carriers are readily available on this route since so much shipping occurs on it daily.
Under FMCSA regulations, a driver can only be on duty for 14 hours, of which only 11 can be spent behind the wheel. After 8 consecutive hours, the driver also has to take a 30-minute break. This translates into about 450 miles per day, which is the amount of ground we can cover on a daily basis. For 1,150 miles, we can expect 3-4 days for delivery, although weather can cause delays of one additional day, so we always quote a window of delivery.
How to Coordinate Carrier Pickup at a Dealership Without Being Present in Aurora
We weren’t able to be present in Aurora, so we worked with the dealership to arrange pickup. Before the driver arrived, we called the dealership to confirm their pickup window and who we should be working with. We also double-checked the VIN since they had multiple Model S’s on the lot. The last thing anyone wants is the wrong car being picked up.
Upon pickup, the driver took photos of the Tesla from multiple angles, then the dealer’s representative signed off on the Bill of Lading as the releasing party. We then forwarded a copy of the BOL to the buyer so he could review it prior to delivery. He did his due diligence, taking photos of the Tesla against the original photos taken during pickup, then signing off on the BOL once he had inspected the vehicle.
See Also: Understanding About Auto Transport Bill of Lading
Shipping Summary
- Direction: Aurora, IL to Tallahassee, FL
Aurora, IL → I-88 E → I-294 S → I-80 E → I-65 S → I-24 E → I-75 S → I-10 E → Tallahassee, FL - Vehicle: 2022 Tesla Model S
- Modification: Factory
- Condition: Runs and Drives
- Service: Open Auto Transport
- Vehicle type: EV
- Shipping price: $650 ($0.65 per mile)
