Shipping a 2013 Volvo XC90 from Vancouver, WA to Laguna Beach, CA

We have just completed the transportation of a 2013 Volvo XC90 from Vancouver, WA to Laguna Beach, CA. This transportation was for a distance of 1,026 miles on an open trailer at the cost of $1,069.00 per $1.04 per mile.

This particular XC90 was working when it was picked up and made its way up the ramp on its own. This is an easy transportation down the West Coast and is a perfect case in point to show you one variable that customers can actually control.

The route

The trip from Vancouver to Laguna Beach, which spans for 1,026 miles, is one of the most straightforward trips possible.

Vancouver lies on the northern side of the Columbia River, on the opposite end of Portland. Drivers take I-5 south, traveling through the Willamette Valley of Oregon, crossing Salem and Eugene to reach Siskiyou Pass to enter California.

The route follows I-5 through Redding and Sacramento, then follows through Central Valley of California past Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield. The road goes over Grapevine via Tejon Pass and into the LA basin.

From there, the road moves to I-405 south via Orange County and then to CA-73 to reach Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach lies along the Pacific Coast Highway, so the driver will drive through local roads.

The one variable you control

We have discussed the direction you are shipping in and what season it is during. Both of these factors are out of the customer’s hands. Flexibility with the pickup is not.

The larger the time frame, the better pricing we get. When you are able to provide a three to five-day time period instead of one set date, we are able to wait on a truck that is already on your route and has an available spot. These trucks offer better rates than those forced to rework their route around your vehicle.

The smaller the time frame, the higher the cost, and this is only reasonable. By asking a carrier to pick up your shipment from a designated location on a certain date, the carrier must work his/her route around your vehicle.

Expedite exists, and it is a legitimate service. Should your date really be locked in, we will schedule it. We will even advise you on how much premium should be quoted instead of a flexible rate which is hoped to fit in.

Tell us truthfully which one you are. The expensive one is the customer who books for a flexible rate since it sounds good and ends up needing the vehicle on a particular date anyway. Let us know your real challenge at the quoting stage and we will price it according to your needs.

Also, book early instead of late. Flexibility and time both serve the same purpose. A booking done two weeks away from today offers many choices than that done for tomorrow, regardless of the lane.

What $1.04 per mile reflects

Two variables interact here:

The first variable is distance, which falls within the middle range at 1,026 miles. For the carrier, it does not matter what distance needs to be covered: there are certain fixed costs of pickup, loading, securement, coordination, and delivery regardless of mileage. At this particular distance, these fixed costs have sufficient ground to reduce the per-mile rate, while on a cross-country trip, it will drop completely.

The second variable is vehicle size, and it has increased the rate slightly. The Volvo XC90 is a midsize SUV with three rows, bigger than a sedan but smaller than a full-size SUV. This truck occupies a standard space without making any trouble for the deck.

The corridor is the best possible one. The I-5 interstate highway is a north-south route used extensively in both directions, with Portland and Los Angeles metro areas on its ends. Availability of carriers was not a problem at all.

Open transport

The XC90 was delivered on an open trailer, since a twelve year old family SUV in mint condition requires no enclosed trailer transport.

Enclosed trailers are used for those vehicles where a rock chip means money. An immaculate daily driver Volvo moving from one house to another is not such a vehicle, and we informed the buyer of that rather than trying to up-sell.

Ground clearance was never an issue. The XC90 rides sufficiently high that ramp angle did not become a problem.

Transport summary

• Origin: Vancouver, WA 98685
• Destination: Laguna Beach, CA 92651
• Distance: 1,026 miles
• Service cost: $1,069.00
• Cost per mile: $1.04
• Vehicle: 2013 Volvo XC90
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Vancouver, WA → I-5 south through Portland, Salem and Eugene → over the Siskiyou Pass into California → Redding and Sacramento → Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield → over Tejon Pass into Los Angeles → I-405 south → CA-73 → Laguna Beach, CA

Shipping a 2013 BMW 3 Series from Newhall, CA to Austin, TX

Recently, we completed the relocation of a 2013 BMW 3 Series vehicle, traveling from Newhall, CA to Austin, TX. The distance traveled was 1,407 miles, enclosed in a trailer, costing $1,884.00, equivalent to $1.34 per mile.

The 3 Series was driveable at the time of pick-up and was driven up the ramp using its own power. In cases involving a mid-distance haul in an enclosed service, the cost of service is significant enough that clients will inquire about how and when the payment is made. This is not always clear within the industry.

The route

The journey of 1,407 miles from Newhall to Austin goes through the desert southwest and west Texas.

Newhall is located in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles. Drivers therefore head south along I-5 via the San Fernando Valley before switching to I-10 eastwards across the valley.

I-10 takes you almost all the way, passing Palm Springs, crossing the Colorado River at Blythe, continuing to Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; after which the interstate passes through Las Cruces, New Mexico, and gets into Texas at El Paso.

From El Paso, the journey goes through the long distance from Van Horn to Fort Stockton and Junction until San Antonio. From there I-35 heads north to Austin. 78744 ZIP Code is southeast of downtown, hence the truck heads towards US-183 or Ben White Boulevard.

How payment actually works

Ask three car shipping firms about how payments work and you will probably receive three different answers. Here is the common business model and one important question.

No fee should be paid prior to carrier assignment. This is what needs to be understood. Nothing is arranged until the carrier takes the job. A company that charges you in full upon your selection of a price quote has received money for a service that is yet to be provided.

Some kind of deposit upon dispatch is quite common practice. Most of the time, the brokers will collect some part of the price after the carrier has been chosen since it pays for their arranging. The other part goes to the carrier.

The remainder is typically paid upon delivery. Directly to the driver and in cash or some other certified payment means, not by card. It is a carrier’s preference rather than a broker’s.

Figure out how the process works before the truck gets there. What gets written down on a card, what the driver gets, and in what form. A five-minute conversation at booking saves an awkward conversation at delivery.

Have all the details in writing as well. The deposit, remaining balance, acceptable forms of payment, and cancellation policy. A company that doesn’t send you this in an email is sending you a message.

There are also different terms from one company to another, even from ours. Ask for our terms as well as for the quote, and then ask for the other company’s terms as well. A comparison of quotes without comparing the payment process is like comparing half the deal.

What $1.34 per mile reflects

Two elements lie behind this number.

Firstly, there is the enclosed service. Enclosed trailers haul fewer cars each time and are also more costly to move around and form a smaller percentage of the fleet in action. The difference occurs for every enclosed job no matter where you go with it. If this car had been moved via open transport, the sum would have been significantly smaller.

However, distance pulls the other direction. With 1,407 miles of distance between origin and destination, the fixed expenses involved in picking up, loading, and securing the car and delivering it will be divided by quite a large mileage and keep this well under a short enclosed move.

Lane conditions are also favorable. Route I-10 from Southern California to Texas is one of the most stable corridors of freight transportation in the United States, with Los Angeles and Austin being major markets. The problem was not the capacity.

Enclosed transport

Choosing enclosed for a sports sedan of twelve years old is a good choice for the same reasons that we have discussed before. An intact car that is meant to be retained is worth preserving, and enclosed is not a special service only for exotic cars but any individual can choose this service.

Trailer sides stood up to the desert dust and road spray during the entire route. For securing the car, soft straps were used instead of chain around the tires due to the performance suspension parts.

It was easy to load the car since it could run and was a regular sedan in terms of ride height.

Transport summary

• Origin: Newhall, CA 91321
• Destination: Austin, TX 78744
• Distance: 1,407 miles
• Service cost: $1,884.00
• Cost per mile: $1.34
• Vehicle: 2013 BMW 3 Series
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Enclosed
• Route: Newhall, CA → I-5 south → I-10 east through Palm Springs, Blythe, Phoenix and Tucson → Las Cruces, NM → El Paso, TX → Van Horn, Fort Stockton and Junction → San Antonio → I-35 north → Austin, TX

Shipping a 2023 Tesla Model 3 from Portland, OR to Arlington, VA

Our last delivery of a 2023 Tesla Model 3 from Portland, Oregon, to Arlington, Virginia, took place only a short while ago. The trip spanned a distance of 2,811 miles by means of an open trailer for a price of $2,441.00 or, in other words, $0.87 a mile.

The vehicle in question was running when it was picked up and had driven itself onto the deck. It’s our regular lane; we’ve shipped a Jeep Compass recently from Eugene to Arlington along almost the same route. The only difference here is the type of vehicle, because a smart one provides its owner with an exclusive feature of all kinds of cargo.

The route

This is a journey that covers 2,811 miles from Portland all the way to Arlington in a north-south orientation from the Willamette Valley to the Potomac.

The drivers will begin their journey by driving from Portland along I-84 towards the east until they reach The Dalles and Pendleton, after which they cross into Idaho through Ontario, Boise and Twin Falls to Ogden in Utah.

From here, the load will join I-80 east bound and drive through Wyoming, Rock Springs and Cheyenne to Ogden in Utah before continuing further west through Nebraska via North Platte and Omaha, as well as Iowa passing through Des Moines to the Chicago area.

Finally, the load will continue its journey to Northern Virginia while traveling east bound through Indiana and Ohio taking the Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpike to Harrisburg where it will turn south on I-81 to Shenandoah Valley and finally onto I-66.

Watching your car move on the app

Connected vehicles have taken this portion of the task to another level. With a Tesla vehicle, one can open the application at any moment and know exactly where his/her car is located until when it is not.

The path will not be the path. Your car is among many that are going along the path. There is picking and dropping at multiple points and mandatory rest periods for the truck, and at times it parks for the night at a yard. In the application, it looks like detours and long rests and periods of immobility. All of this is quite common.

Turn off Sentry Mode before picking. This is a practical point. Sentry Mode keeps the exterior cameras active during parking time and consumes power. Over the few days the car spends on a trailer, it may consume a lot of battery, making the arrival of the car with less than full battery life quite unnecessary. The car would also raise alerts every time you pass it by.

There will be some charge lost, regardless. Even when Sentry is off, a car that’s plugged in isn’t asleep entirely. Some drain over a week is to be expected. We request a state of charge between twenty and fifty percent; there’s always some margin for error, especially considering the trip and drive off the trailer.

The transport mode remains valid. The Tesla will have to be in transport mode or else the parking brake will activate itself, making it very difficult to reposition the car on a deck. People who work with Teslas regularly will be aware of this. It’s an order of magnitude either way.

Use the app, and give us a call in case of any questions. The location data will let you know where the truck is. It won’t explain why the truck is there. That’s information your coordinator will get over the phone in a matter of seconds.

What $0.87 per mile reflects

There were two major factors driving this number.

Distance is the key one. The cost of pickup and loading is about the same for a carrier in all operations, the same goes for securement and coordination and delivery, and all of that does not scale by distance. Split between 2,811 miles makes each mile pay much less.

Open transportation is the other one. More cars per load and much higher frequency of trips compared to enclosed trailers is what makes open transportation more efficient in such a long journey.

Weight of a vehicle pushes it in another direction. A Model 3 weighs about 4,000 pounds, which is more than a similar car of gasoline version due to a battery pack, and carriers take that into account in planning a full load.

It is a favorable corridor. I-80 is the main transcontinental highway in the northern part of the country, and both Portland and Washington DC metro areas are good markets.

Open transport

The delivery took place with the car on an open flatbed, as this is the mode by which most cars in the United States are delivered.

It is a current production sedan that comes out of the factory with its fresh paint job. Enclosure is for those cars where having a rock chip is a significant monetary occurrence, and over 2,811 miles the enclosure charge would have been significant when it really was not needed on this particular car.

There were no complications when loading the car onto the transport. The car started, and the Model 3 is a sedan that sits at the regular sedan height, so ramp angle was not a problem.

Transport summary

• Origin: Portland, OR 97239
• Destination: Arlington, VA 22202
• Distance: 2,811 miles
• Service cost: $2,441.00
• Cost per mile: $0.87
• Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model 3
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Portland, OR → I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge, Boise and Twin Falls → Ogden, UT → I-80 east through Cheyenne, Omaha and Des Moines → Chicago, IL → Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes → Harrisburg, PA → I-81 south → I-66 east → Arlington, VA

Shipping a 2017 Jeep Wrangler from Pullman, WA to Urbana, IL

Our delivery of a 2017 Jeep Wrangler from Pullman, WA to Urbana, IL was recently completed. It was transported on an open trailer for 1,876 miles at a cost of $1,749.00, or $0.93 per mile.

This model is roadworthy and was driven onto the trailer using its own wheels. There is something about the Wrangler that no other car has, and it definitely needs to be addressed since customers do not usually bring it up themselves.

The route

The route that covers 1,876 miles from Pullman to Urbana runs through northern Rockies and the prairies to central Illinois.

Pullman is in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington, quite far from any interstate. From Pullman drivers head on US-195 north to Colfax and there switch to Interstate 90 (I-90).

I-90 covers the entire middle part of the distance. It goes east through Coeur d’Alene in Idaho and Montana through Missoula, Butte, and Billings. It also passes through Sheridan, Wyoming, and Rapid City and Sioux Falls in South Dakota.

From Albert Lea, Minnesota, the cargo truck heads south on I-35 to Des Moines and then east on I-80 to the Quad Cities. I-74 finishes the journey east through Galesburg and Peoria to Champaign–Urbana.

Soft tops and open-air vehicles

A Wrangler is among the only cars that will arrive at the truck without a hard top in place, and this means the pre-deck inspection is different from that for other types of vehicles.

Wind will be drawn into a soft top moving at highway speeds. An open top vehicle will be placed high on a deck and subject to continuous wind for 1,876 miles. This will be fine if the top is all latched up. If there is a corner that is loose, a rail not attached or if the header is partly engaged, it will not.

The windows should be pulled in and all the fasteners latched up. Side and rear windows of a soft top use zippers and channels to lock them in. With any of these partially engaged, wind will draw them out, and this is the one problem we encounter regularly. All you need is two minutes.

The panels should remain tight. Side windows and rear panels that have been detached are stored inside the car.

Without the doors means an open interior. A Wrangler delivered without doors will be sent with an interior that is completely exposed to the elements. If there are no doors, then we record the fact that the doors are inside the vehicle.

The hardtop is just simpler. If the Jeep has the ability to have a hardtop and the customer does not mind, then deliver it with the hardtop installed. This is true for any convertible because a completely latched top is what you want on an open deck.

Also let us know how it will be configured at booking. Will it be a soft top, hardtop? Do the doors go on or off? It has no impact whatsoever on the price but everything on the pre-departure inspection by the driver.

What $0.93 per mile reflects

These are the three things that drive this price point.

Distance drags it down. Since Urbana is 1,876 miles away, the fixed costs associated with pickup, loading, securing and delivery get dispersed over enough ground to bring this close to ninety cents rather than above a dollar.

The Pick-Up at Pullman raises it. Southeastern Washington is far from the lane that the carrier drives through. Pullman is approximately ninety minutes out of Spokane and even farther from any big freight market, so either the truck drives the additional distance or it is waiting for an excuse to be in the area.

Vehicle profile doesn’t matter much. The Wrangler has considerable height and boxiness for the wheelbase and track width it possesses, which affects where it sits on a two level deck more than a sedan would.

Urbana by itself works just fine. It lies on I-74 with access to the Chicago and St. Louis markets, so the delivery side wasn’t limiting.

Open transport

This is because the Wrangler traveled using an open trailer, and this is ideal for such a vehicle.

A Wrangler is one of those vehicles that will definitely not fit in as a garage kept collector car. With the roof and doors secured, it is fine for the trailer to be an open deck as compared to the alternative, especially when traveling such a distance.

Ground clearance was never an issue since the Wrangler is quite high off the ground. Therefore, there was no need for a ramp at any point, and this made it easy to load at both ends. Securing the vehicle involved the use of straps over the wheels rather than chains on the suspension system.

Transport summary

• Origin: Pullman, WA 99163
• Destination: Urbana, IL 61801
• Distance: 1,876 miles
• Service cost: $1,749.00
• Cost per mile: $0.93
• Vehicle: 2017 Jeep Wrangler
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Pullman, WA → US-195 north through Colfax to Spokane → I-90 east through Coeur d’Alene, Missoula, Butte and Billings → Sheridan, WY → Rapid City and Sioux Falls, SD → Albert Lea, MN → I-35 south to Des Moines, IA → I-80 east to the Quad Cities → I-74 east through Peoria → Urbana, IL

Shipping a 2026 Hyundai Palisade from Kaysville, UT to Dayton, KY

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

Successful Two Inoperable Cars Transport from Tamaqua to Taos

Tempus Logix delivered two vehicles from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania to Taos, New Mexico in 3 days, including an inoperable Chevrolet Tahoe and a 1993 Ford F-150.

Customer needed to move a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 1993 Ford F-150 from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania to Taos, New Mexico in early October. The F-150 had some quirks. It only operated in first gear and didn’t use a key to start, but only a switch. Plus, there was a set of spare tires in the back.

The whole shipment covered around 2,000 miles. For a distance like this, carriers typically use larger trailers with 7 or more vehicle spaces. Shorter hauls often use smaller 3-space trailers instead.

It was an open transportation (where vehicles ride on an exposed trailer rather than in an enclosed one) which works fine for most shipments and costs less than enclosed transport.

If they’d needed enclosed transport, the price would have jumped even higher also there aren’t many enclosed carriers with winches capable of loading inop. vehicles.

Car Loading Challenges When It Is Inoperable

The F-150’s mechanical issues meant it couldn’t just drive onto the trailer like the Tahoe could. Carriers use winches and ramps for vehicles that can’t move under their own power, which adds some time to the loading process.

Loading and unloading vehicles takes usually 2-4 hours and pre/post-trip inspections about 1 hour. This makes shipping an inoperable vehicle typically costs more because of the extra work involved in loading.

A few things made the difference here. First, complete information about the F-150’s condition before booking. That allowed Tempus Logix to match the shipment with a carrier who regularly handles inoperable vehicles and had the necessary equipment ready.

That’s actually the biggest factor in keeping these shipments on schedule. When carriers know what they’re dealing with, they can plan accordingly.

Both vehicles got thorough inspections at pickup. That same detailed check happened again at delivery in New Mexico. No new damage showed up after the 2,000-mile trip.

The spare tires in the F-150’s bed got noted on the paperwork too. Personal items in vehicles aren’t always allowed, but things that are part of the vehicle like spare tires can usually make the trip.

How It Went & What It Cost

It was a door-to-door service, meaning pickups and deliveries happened directly at the street addresses. There was no need to drive to a terminal or arrange for someone else to move the vehicles. The shipment cost was $3,000 for both vehicles, which breaks down to roughly $1.50 per mile for the 2,000-mile journey.

The customer left a five-star review:

“The trucker was the coolest guy ever got it there in a good time.”

And to note three days for this distance is pretty standard. Most carriers cover 400–600 miles per day due to federal hours-of-service rules. Drivers can drive for a maximum of 11 hours within a 14-hour workday before they’re required to rest. That is why it took 3 days to complete.

Shipment Summary:

• Route: Tamaqua, PA to Taos, NM
• Vehicles: 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, 1993 Ford F-150 (Inoperable)
• Distance: ~2,000 miles
• Transit Time: 3 days
• Transport Method: Open carrier
• Total Cost: $3,000

Shipping a 2019 Acura RDX from Owings Mills, MD to Sugar Land, TX

We recently completed the delivery of a 2019 Acura RDX from Owings Mills, MD to Sugar Land, TX. This delivery traveled 1,465 miles via open trailer for $1,200.00 or $0.82 per mile.

The RDX was operational at pickup and driven by the driver on the ramp. The car was also in proper condition to move. This might seem like something minor, but it’s often the reason why things don’t go according to plan during the pickup process.

The route

This 1,465-mile haul takes you down the mountains of Appalachia and through the deep south down to Texas.

Owings Mills is located northwest of Baltimore; therefore, you will begin the route on I-795 and turn onto I-695, which will take you west to Frederick via I-70. You will continue your route south on I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley through Winchester and Roanoke to Bristol, Virginia.

Once you reach Knoxville, the load will continue west on I-40 to Nashville, and then south to Birmingham, Alabama on I-65.

Your route takes you west to Shreveport, Louisiana on I-20 and then to Dallas, Texas. From there you travel south to Houston, Texas by I-45 before reaching Sugar Land, Fort Bend County via I-69.

Preparing the vehicle for pickup

We have mentioned what we need to know about condition at pick-up time. This is the other side of things – getting your car ready before the truck shows up.

Keep one-quarter of a fuel tank. Just enough to move around and position the car while loading and unload. Otherwise, you will only add dead weight to an overloaded trailer.

Disarm the alarm system, or let us know about it. It could be quite a headache for us having the alarm system working on a deck in the middle of the night when there is no access to the car. Disabling the alarm is better but letting us know how to turn it off is okay too.

If you have a toll transponder, disable it or remove it from the car. An active toll transponder is likely to run up charges from multiple states as the car moves on our trailer. We don’t want to pay tolls you did not make.

Also, remove any loose personal items from the car. They move along with the trailer anyway. The 100-pound allowance includes the trunk or cargo area contents only if packed properly.

Detach or make sure exterior attachments are secure. Roof carriers, spoilers that were installed afterwards, anything that might cause resistance to the wind or contact with another vehicle on the deck.

Fold the mirrors and retract the antenna. Little things, but they count especially when vehicles are loaded tightly.

Report any known leaks. A vehicle leaking oil or coolant is loaded on the lower deck rather than on top of another vehicle. It is a standard procedure if the carrier knows about it and a problem if they do not.

Also, bring keys, preferably two. One key is needed to load and unload. It’s better to keep the extra one with you instead of in the vehicle.

It does not take much time. It saves the situation when a driver comes up and cannot unload because the vehicle awaits the next carrier.

What $0.82 per mile reflects

There are two factors that will work towards an increased price at the median.

Distance acts as a drag on price. The pickup and loading cost a carrier roughly the same in all loads, along with securement and coordination and delivery costs. At 1,465 miles, this cost can be distributed across a good amount of distance. For a shorter haul, the same cost will be higher than twice per mile.

Vehicle size helps in raising the price a little. The RDX is a small luxury SUV, which means it is bigger than a sedan but far smaller than a full-size SUV. It fits into a standard position in the truck.

The route is positive. Mid-Atlantic region to Texas through Atlanta and Birmingham has heavy traffic of freight, and both Baltimore and Houston are big markets. Availability of the carrier is not an issue.

Open transport

The vehicle was delivered on an open trailer since this is how most vehicles in this country are delivered.

This is a current production crossover with a modern factory clear coat. Enclosed delivery is only required in cases where rock chips will be a monetary issue; hence, this particular case did not require enclosed delivery because this is not a daily driver SUV going to a new home.

Ground clearance was never a problem. This vehicle has a high ground clearance such that ramp angle was not an issue here.

Transport summary

• Origin: Owings Mills, MD 21117
• Destination: Sugar Land, TX 77479
• Distance: 1,465 miles
• Service cost: $1,200.00
• Cost per mile: $0.82
• Vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Owings Mills, MD → I-795 / I-695 → I-70 west to Frederick → I-81 south through Winchester, Roanoke and Bristol → Knoxville, TN → I-40 west to Nashville → I-65 south to Birmingham, AL → I-20 west through Meridian and Jackson, MS → Shreveport, LA → Dallas, TX → I-45 south to Houston → I-69 southwest → Sugar Land, TX

Shipping a 2016 Chrysler 300 from Everett, WA to Middletown, DE

Recently, we finished the move of a 2016 Chrysler 300 that had been transported from Everett, Washington to Middletown, Delaware over a distance of 2,853 miles on an open carrier for $1,700.00. This comes out to $0.60 per mile.

The 300 was in working order upon loading and backed up the ramp using its own power. It costs sixty cents per mile is one of the lowest car shipping rates we have seen in a while, and this is a perfect example of how brokers do their job.

The route

The 2,853 miles from Everett to Middletown run along the northern tier of America, from Puget Sound to the Delaware Valley.

Since Everett is north of Seattle, travelers drive south on I-5 through the metro area and switch onto I-90 east. This interstate traverses Snoqualmie Pass and runs east through Washington State, through Spokane into eastern Idaho and through the mountains of Idaho into Montana past Missoula, Butte, and Billings.

It is I-90 that does the bulk of the driving. This interstate runs through Wyoming, through Sheridan; it goes through South Dakota past Rapid City and Sioux Falls, across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin to Chicago.

From there, the interstate continues eastward to Indianapolis and Toledo; it then switches onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and finally onto I-95 to Wilmington, Delaware, and DE-1 to Middletown.

What a broker actually does

In most cases, car shippers online are brokers, just as we are. It helps to understand this distinction since the industry doesn’t do well at making it clear, and there are some players who deliberately hide this information.

The carrier has the truck. The broker provides transportation services. The carrier usually runs a couple of trucks on familiar routes. The broker does not have any trucks, but it works with many trucks through the broker network; it is precisely why one broker can quote a lane such as Everett to Middletown.

Brokers have separate licensing with the FMCSA. Brokers have their own operating license and MC number, with federal law requiring a $75,000 surety bond. Surety bonds are in place to protect customers and carriers in case the broker stops paying out. Our broker surety bond numbers are USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120.

Vetting the carrier is where the work happens. Prior to the load shipping, we verify the carrier’s operating authority and current cargo and liability insurance certificates, as well as their safety profile. A customer never sees this part of the process, and it is the single most important distinction among brokers.

Size of the network is what generates a price such as this one. The carrier who works the fixed lane tells you what it costs him to operate. The broker with a big enough network locates the truck coming your way with empty space. On a 2,853 mile journey across the north corridor, it makes a difference.

Ask any broker for their MC license number, and then check it out yourself. It only takes two minutes on the FMCSA website, and a broker who does not want to give it to you has just told you something important.

What $0.60 per mile reflects

Three factors worked in the client’s favor.

Distance was the first one. For a transporter, the costs of pickup, loading, unloading and coordination will be the same for every order, regardless of distance travelled; these expenses do not depend on mileage. Splitting them up among 2,853 miles brings the cost of each mile very low. If they were split among a couple of hundred miles, the cost per mile would be three times higher.

Open transport was the second. Open transports have bigger capacity for a single ride and work much more frequently than enclosed ones, and when transporting over such a big distance this factor makes a significant difference.

Thirdly, the density of corridors played its part. Interstate 90 is the main transcontinental highway in the northern part of the country, and the Seattle metropolitan area as well as Philadelphia-Wilmington market are saturated corridors. There was no capacity issue here.

Open transport

300 was transported on an open trailer since most of the vehicles in this country get shipped this way.

This is a full-size factory clear coat production sedan. Enclosed shipping would be appropriate for those cars where rock chipping is an actual issue; for 2,853 miles, the cost of enclosed shipping would have been high because this is not needed by this vehicle.

There was no trouble loading. This car was in running condition and 300 sits at the regular sedan ride height, so the ramp angle did not become an issue. For the securement, we used soft straps over the tires as opposed to chains on the suspension.

Transport summary

• Origin: Everett, WA 98204
• Destination: Middletown, DE 19709
• Distance: 2,853 miles
• Service cost: $1,700.00
• Cost per mile: $0.60
• Vehicle: 2016 Chrysler 300
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Everett, WA → I-5 south through Seattle → I-90 east over Snoqualmie Pass → Spokane, WA → Missoula, Butte and Billings, MT → Sheridan, WY → Rapid City and Sioux Falls, SD → Chicago, IL → I-90 east across Indiana and Ohio → Pennsylvania Turnpike → Philadelphia, PA → I-95 south → Wilmington, DE → DE-1 south → Middletown, DE

Shipping a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 from Bakersfield, CA to Detroit, MI

Recently, we have completed the delivery of 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 from Bakersfield, California, to Detroit, Michigan. The distance was 2,373 miles and the price was $1,896.00 for an open trailer shipment. It is $0.80 per mile.

It should be noted that C300 was drivable at loading time and could be driven up the ramp itself. This booking was door-to-door delivery, which is our standard service and the one that clients are frequently misinformed about.

The route

The 2,373 mile drive starts at Bakersfield and goes through the desert Southwest and plains to end at Detroit.

From Bakersfield, drivers will head east via CA-58 over Tehachapi Pass into the Mojave Desert. Drivers will meet I-40 in Barstow.

This interstate carries the trip through the middle part. It passes through Arizona, Kingman and Flagstaff, Continental Divide in New Mexico past Albuquerque and Amarillo in the Texas panhandle. It passes Oklahoma City.

From here, the road continues via I-44 northeast from Tulsa through Springfield, Missouri to St. Louis. I-70 continues from there east to Indianapolis, where the load will be shifted to I-69 towards Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Detroit metro area.

What door-to-door actually means

The vast majority of quotes we provide are door-to-door, and there are a few things to keep in mind here, because the term implies something a little bit more than people usually think.

That is to say that we take the car directly to you, rather than to a terminal. The other option would be terminal to terminal, where you go to a terminal, park your car, and then pick up your car at another terminal on the far side. Door-to-door eliminates both of those drives as well as the time spent in storage.

Door-to-door doesn’t necessarily mean literally your driveway. A nine-car carrier can be around 75 to 80 feet in length and extremely heavy when loaded. Narrow streets, low trees, cul de sacs, gates, apartments and low bridges can all prohibit access by such a vehicle.

In case the street will not be suitable, we arrange another place to meet close by. Normally, a big commercial yard located in a walking distance from the address with enough space to maneuver the truck.

Some residential neighborhoods do not allow such maneuvers at all. There are quite a few cities where such trucks are not allowed on residential streets by the city code.

Let us know about your street in the moment of making the reservation. In case you live in an area that is definitely not reachable with a big truck, informing us at the quote stage will help us organize our efforts accordingly. Learning about it while the driver is already in your neighborhood – is the option that no one wants.

We make a note of it in the moment of booking, and not during the delivery itself, since a client who is informed in advance considers it to be a small issue, whereas a late client considers it otherwise.

What $0.80 per mile reflects

There were two factors that led to this cost.

One is distance. Loading, pickup, securement, coordination and delivery costs incurred by the carrier remain the same on every task and do not change according to the road distance. When shared equally amongst the 2,373 miles, the cost allocated to each mile will be very small. The same amount of costs when split among several hundred miles will be over twice as expensive.

Another factor is open transport. Open trucks move more vehicles on each shipment and move many more times than enclosed trucks, which is always factored into the rate.

The corridor is neutral to positive. Interstate 40 is one of the major transcontinental highways while Detroit is considered to be one of the busiest markets for vehicles in the entire country considering its industry. The availability of carriers was not a limiting factor.

Open transport

The C300 was shipped on an open trailer, appropriate for a used production car with an OEM paint job.

Enclosed trailers are for cars where the rock chip can be an actual cost. A C-Class that is sixteen years old is a car to drive and not a collector’s car, and over 2,373 miles the added cost of an enclosed trailer would have been significant for a car that doesn’t need one.

Loading was simple because the car was operational and the C300 sits at standard sedan ride height. There was no concern about ramp angle and securement was via soft straps on the tires, not chains on the suspension like we do on all cars.

Transport summary

• Origin: Bakersfield, CA 93308
• Destination: Detroit, MI 48228
• Distance: 2,373 miles
• Service cost: $1,896.00
• Cost per mile: $0.80
• Vehicle: 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Service: Door to door
• Route: Bakersfield, CA → CA-58 east over Tehachapi Pass → Barstow → I-40 east through Kingman, Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Amarillo → Oklahoma City, OK → I-44 northeast through Tulsa and Springfield → St. Louis, MO → I-70 east to Indianapolis, IN → I-69 north through Fort Wayne → Detroit, MI

Shipping a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 350 from Los Angeles, CA to Hampton, GA

Just recently we completed the transportation of a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 350 from Los Angeles, CA, to Hampton, GA. The trip distance is 2,222 miles on an open trailer and it costs $1,556.00 that is $0.70 per mile.

The CLK 350 is drivable when we received it, and it drives up the ramp by itself. What is important, this car is 18 years old, and this information should be highlighted since in the case of an older vehicle, there is one particular point which becomes much more significant than with a brand-new car.

The route

The 2,222-mile journey from Los Angeles to Hampton traverses the southern portion of the country, moving from the Pacific to the piedmont of Georgia.

The ZIP code 90044 is located in South Los Angeles, and therefore drivers move eastwards on I-10 and exit the basin by passing through Palm Springs. The interstate highway passes over the Colorado River at Blythe and then transports traffic through Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona.

The highway moves beyond Las Cruces and enters Texas at El Paso before moving through Fort Stockton and San Antonio to reach Houston. The highway enters Louisiana at Orange and continues through Baton Rouge, moving along the Gulf Coast via Biloxi to Mobile, Alabama.

From Mobile, the truck moves to Montgomery by taking I-65 north and then to Atlanta on I-85 northeast. Hampton is located in Henry County just south of Atlanta, and therefore the truck moves on I-75 south.

The condition report matters more on an older car

Every load begins and ends with the inspection. The driver inspects the car and records the damage on the Bill of Lading. Both parties sign. When the load arrives, the driver looks through the Bill of Lading and checks the condition of the car against the one noted on the bill.

This is easy for a brand-new car. This is probably the most important five minutes of the whole operation for an eighteen-year-old car.

The older car comes with some history. The stone chip on the front and the scrape on the bumper, curb rash on the wheel, the small dent in the door. All of it normal. All of it invisible until you are looking for it.

Damage without documentation becomes a dispute. If it is not recorded on the Bill of Lading at the start, then there is no documentation of its presence prior to shipping. This is why the customer and the carrier end up disputing a scratch that neither of them caused.

Take your own photos of the car before loading it. Each panel, both bumpers, all four tires, the roof, and the windshield, done in daylight and dated. That’ll take you ten minutes and solve any problem before it arises.

Make sure you wash the car as well. Road grime will cover up any small surface damage on the car, which we are concerned about here. A washed car will give you a much more accurate inspection, and that’s the most important step a client can do to prepare for the move.

Also, be sure to read the document before you sign it both upon pickup and upon delivery. Your signature at the delivery point means that the condition did match, so there’s nothing wrong in checking it even if everything seems fine.

What $0.70 per mile reflects

There were two factors responsible for this.

Firstly, there was distance. The expense of pickup, loading, unloading, securement, coordination, and delivery to the carrier are almost constant on every shipment, irrespective of the distance involved, and their cost does not vary according to distance. Spread out over 2,222 miles, the cost borne by every mile comes out to be very low. If divided over just a few hundred miles, then this same cost per mile will be twice or thrice as much.

Secondly, there was open transport. Open trailers move more vehicles and travel more frequently than enclosed trailers.

The third factor was the corridor. The I-10 from Southern California to the Gulf is one of the most stable freight routes in America, and Atlanta is a major distributor center at the other end. The limitation was never carrier availability.

Open transport

The CLK was transported on an open trailer, something which is right for a used production car with the factory paint job.

Enclosed trailers are reserved for cars that will suffer financially if they get a rock chip. An eighteen-year-old well-maintained CLK is one that you drive for pleasure and is not a collector’s car; and on a route of 2,222 miles, enclosed was an expensive upgrade to cover the car that did not require any.

The loading was easy. The car started up, and the CLK stands at a normal coupe ride height, so angle of loading did not come into question. Securement used soft straps across the tires instead of chains across the suspension system which is the usual case with any vehicle.

Transport summary

• Origin: Los Angeles, CA 90044
• Destination: Hampton, GA 30228
• Distance: 2,222 miles
• Service cost: $1,556.00
• Cost per mile: $0.70
• Vehicle: 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 350
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Los Angeles, CA → I-10 east through Palm Springs, Blythe, Phoenix and Tucson → Las Cruces, NM → El Paso and San Antonio, TX → Houston → Baton Rouge, LA → Biloxi, MS → Mobile, AL → I-65 north to Montgomery → I-85 northeast to Atlanta, GA → I-75 south → Hampton, GA