We recently completed the relocation of a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport from Clayton, NC to Tampa, FL. This delivery took 632 miles via an open trailer for a total price of $1,038.00 or $1.64 per mile.
This car is non-operational. It did not start and could not be driven by itself. Thus, the trailer driver had to winch it into place. This one characteristic defines the nature of the booking and determines its price.
The route
The total driving distance between Clayton and Tampa is 632 miles and follows an almost straight path along the East Coast corridor. The starting point, Clayton, is located southeast of Raleigh, and hence one will have to drive to I-95 using US-70 and I-40.
Once on I-95, one will be able to drive almost the entire way with only minimal deviation. I-95 passes Fayetteville, enters South Carolina at Florence, and drives through Savannah in Georgia before entering Florida north of Jacksonville.
Once at Jacksonville, one can switch to I-10 and enter I-75. I-75 will transport one from Jacksonville to the vicinity of Tampa along Ocala and Wildwood in Florida.
Loading a vehicle that does not run
An inoperative car can’t be driven up the ramp, meaning that it will have to be pulled up the ramp using a winch. Not all the trucks on the road come equipped with one. This is the very first thing to verify when the client calls about his car not starting as it reduces the list of carriers available for booking the load.
Winch loading requires the ability to roll, steer and brake the vehicle. Rolling and steering are important and far more important than turning over the engine. A car which is able to move freely and steer can be loaded on the deck without too much effort. However, if it has a frozen wheel or a frozen steering column then the price is another.
The Range Rover Sport contributes to the list of factors which make the job tougher. Being a full-size SUV weighing around 5,000 pounds, dead weight makes its load more difficult than a running one. The carrier placed the car accordingly and tied it down using wheel straps.
What $1.64 per mile covers on a regional haul
Since it falls at 632 miles it lies within the regional category. It is long enough to command a better rate per mile than a short-distance move but is not long enough to achieve the long haul status. The I-95 Corridor is an added advantage here. It happens to be one of the most traveled carrier corridors in the country and hence south-bound trucks are readily available.
Inoperability is what makes the rate higher since winch trucks form a smaller proportion of the market while loading will take some extra time. There is also some added risk involved for the carrier in moving an inoperable vehicle which they may charge a little for.
If this had been considered for pricing as a running vehicle through the same lane and in the same trailer the rate would have been much lower. At $1.64 per mile, the rate is appropriate for this vehicle in this particular lane.
Open transport
Range Rover Sport was shipped using an open trailer. Being just a regular SUV with factory finish and regular ride height, it does not need the protection that comes with the use of an enclosed trailer like classic cars and exotics.
Using an open trailer makes the process more economical. Open trailers can haul more vehicles per trip and operate more frequently compared to enclosed trailers, and this is why the majority of cars are transported using them.
There were no worries about ground clearance. Range Rover Sport is quite elevated to take care of the ramp angle, and it is important to take into account when winching a vehicle on a deck. There is a risk of catching the front bumper of a low vehicle on the ramp break. This vehicle was not affected by it.
Transport summary
- Origin: Clayton, NC 27520
- Destination: Tampa, FL 33613
- Distance: 632 miles
- Service cost: $1,038.00
- Cost per mile: $1.64
- Vehicle: 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- Condition: Inoperable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Clayton, NC → US-70 / I-40 → I-95 south through Fayetteville, Florence and Savannah → I-10 west at Jacksonville → I-75 south through Ocala and Wildwood → I-275 → Tampa, FL
