Two Vehicles from Oregon to Wyoming Shows Fast Turnaround on Pacific-to-Mountain Route

We can illustrate the efficiency and speed that can come with auto transport, even with mixed vehicles old and new, with a recent auto transport run from Brownsville, Oregon, to Powell, Wyoming. The vehicles transported were a 1986 Nissan 300 ZX and a 2011 Nissan Rogue, a distance of nearly 1100 miles in three states, transferring in remarkably quick time.

The vehicle booking was done on January 28, and the first available date was set for January 31. By February 4, a carrier was assigned, and it collected both vehicles on February 5, delivering them to Wyoming by February 7. The entire activity took only three days.

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Open Trailer Considerations

Selecting open transport for both vehicles is also an example of a cost-sensitive approach. Generally, it is found that open trailers can reduce transport costs by 20 to 30 percent when compared to enclosed transport costs for the same journey.

When transport is for two vehicles, the cost advantage is more pronounced.

The trade-off with open transports is exposure to the weather and road debris when in transit. Once again, the 1986 300ZX will be under the elements as the 2011 Rogue. Unless vehicles in good driver condition are in so-called show car condition, this amount of exposure poses little risk to the vehicles in question. Carriers take precautions with proper wheel straps and loading of the vehicles to prevent any shifting between vehicles.

Insurance coverage is available without any restrictions regarding the type of trailer. All carriers that are FMCSA-regulated must have cargo insurance coverage. The typical range of coverage is $100,000 to $500,000 per load for auto transport; however, higher coverage may be purchased on closed vehicles carrying exotic vehicles.

Classic and Modern Vehicles Together

One quite interesting aspect associated with the vehicles was the age gap between the two; the 1986 Nissan 300ZX represents the first-generation Nissan Z car sports coupe, with such vehicles featuring a turbocharged V6 engine and distinctive 1980s design elements. While such vehicles do have a following among collectors and enthusiasts, they are not considered premium classics.

The Nissan Rogue 2011 model represents a standard-sized compact SUV with no special handling requirements. The approach to transporting a 35-year-old sports car and a modern crossover vehicle on the same open trailer represents a practical method of transporting vehicles. Both vehicles successfully cleared the standard height and weight requirements for loading onto the open carrier.

Classic car owners also assume that any vehicle that is over 20 years old automatically needs to be shipped via an enclosed transport. However, for classic cars that are not show-quality or rare, it is possible to ship the vehicle safely via an open transport. The 300ZX, for example, is a classic car that should be shipped via an open transport due to its age and because it will likely be driven and not kept in a collection.

Regional Routing Factors

Brownsville, OR, 97327 to Powell, WY, 82435

Moderate shipping volume compared to other major routes, such as California to Texas or Florida to New York, occurs along the corridor from the Pacific Northwest to Mountain West. Surprisingly, this worked in favor for the shipment. Often, carriers running these regional routes have more predictable schedules and are not as plugged up with high competition and last-minute bookings that characterize the busiest shipping lanes.

The relative sparseness of Wyoming’s population also means fewer carriers make regular runs into the state. Powell sits in the northwest portion of Wyoming, closer to Montana than to major Wyoming cities like Cheyenne or Casper. Despite this, the two-day delivery time from pickup to final destination matched what would be expected for a short to medium distance shipment.

Weather in early February can affect routes through this part of the country. Wyoming does experience snow and ice in the winter months, and mountain passes on Interstate 80 can be closed on occasion. The early February timing of this load probably caught a good spell of weather, as there were no reported delays.