Shipping a 2019 Cadillac XTS Funeral Coach from Waco, TX to Rio Rancho, NM

The recent completion of a transport of a 2019 Cadillac XTS funeral coach, shipped by us from Waco, TX to Rio Rancho, NM, included travel of 686 miles on an open trailer, which cost $1,300.00, or $1.90 per mile.

A funeral coach is a work vehicle; its transportation from one funeral home to another is a normal procedure for the business. This cargo does not follow the rules of usual auto transportation, and this fact determined this job.

The route

The 686-mile journey from Waco to Rio Rancho takes one across central Texas, the Llano Estacado, and the eastern plains of New Mexico.

One leaves Waco and drives to the west on US-84, via Gatesville and Brownwood. The road takes one over the countryside through Snyder and up the Caprock at Lubbock.

From Lubbock, US-84 then heads to Clovis in New Mexico, where the journey shifts to US-60 to the west through Fort Sumner and Vaughn.

US-60 then merges with I-25 north at Socorro. I-25 travels along the Rio Grande River through Belen and Albuquerque, arriving at Rio Rancho on the western outskirts of the metro area.

This route travels mostly on two-lane US roads rather than interstate highways, which is an important consideration for a long truck but less of one for a regular car.

Shipping a coachbuilt vehicle

A funeral coach is not a Cadillac XTS. It begins its life as a XTS, but is then chopped and reassembled into something quite different.

It is much longer than the base vehicle. The XTS was delivered from GM in a dedicated professional vehicle chassis, which already had a long wheelbase, and the coachbuilder has made it even longer. When done, the vehicle will be somewhere above 250 inches long.

It is heavier than it might appear. The weight added by the rear cabin and casket table and rollers adds weight to the base XTS, just like the raised roof and additional reinforcements.

This has to be taken into consideration while designing the deck. The trailer design which takes nine vehicles into account will have a fixed overall length. The vehicle having length greater than 20 feet will not fit into the designated area meant for a sedan, thus, the driver has to consider the design around this.

The other thing is the rear overhang. Long vehicles will carry more loads past the rear axle, and thus, the driver will need to consider the position of this mass along with the clearance of the vehicle at the break of the ramp as well as the grade changes.

This is not really complicated stuff. It is simply that the name of the model will not tell us anything while placing an order for a carrier. Thus, we need to know about the dimensions and coachbuilder of the vehicle.

Why $1.90 per mile on an open trailer

Two things stand behind this rate, but none of them is the trailer.

The first thing is distance. 686 miles is a short haul, and a short haul always implies a high per-mile rate. Pickup and loading of the vehicle cost the carrier the same amount, be it 686 miles or 2,600, the same goes for securement and coordination and delivery. Fixed costs are the dominant factor for a short route, since there is little road space to spread them over. Total costs of $1,300.00 is what matters to the customer.

The second thing is vehicle size. Vehicle of this length takes the deck space that would normally accommodate several vehicles, therefore, the rate should cover losses in other areas of the trailer operation.

Route contributes a bit as well. Waco to Albuquerque is a route with few carriers, and a substantial part of it consists of US highways, not the interstate. Fewer carriers operate between these cities than operate on I-40 100 miles north of it.

Open transport

This coach moved on an open trailer, and that makes perfect sense given the dimensions.

Enclosed trailers have maximum dimensions inside, and this vehicle pushes the boundaries. Those willing to transport it on an enclosed trailer have to be prepared for such conditions. This coach will work for funerals and moving around funeral homes, so open is the right choice.

The loading was simple. This coach had its engine running, and therefore the driver just drove it up the ramp and set it there by itself. We do not use chains when securing vehicles, but soft straps over the tires.

Transport summary

• Origin: Waco, TX 76701
• Destination: Rio Rancho, NM 87124
• Distance: 686 miles
• Service cost: $1,300.00
• Cost per mile: $1.90
• Vehicle: 2019 Cadillac XTS funeral coach
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Waco, TX → US-84 west through Gatesville, Brownwood and Snyder → Lubbock, TX → Clovis, NM → US-60 west through Fort Sumner and Vaughn → I-25 north at Socorro → Albuquerque → Rio Rancho, NM

Shipping a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 from Fort Worth, TX to Newark, CA

Recently we completed the shipment of a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck from Fort Worth, TX to Newark, CA. This shipment took 1,663 miles in an open trailer for the price of $1,643.00, or $0.99 per mile.

Sierra was operable at pickup and was able to drive itself to the loading platform. When talking about pickups, it is important to note that the information provided at order stage plays a key role because a truck is more than just a truck.

The route

This route covers a distance of 1663 miles, running through the southern plains and the desert southwest to the Central Valley.

Since the area code 76052 is located in the northern part of Fort Worth, the drivers will travel northwestern on highway US-287 to get to Amarillo passing through Decatur and Wichita Falls.

In Amarillo, they will turn to I-40 highway which will be their path throughout most of the journey, going through New Mexico crossing Albuquerque and Gallup, then through Arizona passing through Flagstaff and Kingman.

When I-40 road gets to Barstow, California, the truck will turn to highway CA-58, which takes them across Tehachapi Pass to Bakersfield. In Bakersfield, the truck will travel to I-5, which goes to the north, crossing San Joaquin Valley, then I-580, which crosses Altamont Pass, arriving at the Bay area.

Why we ask about modifications on a pickup

Of all vehicle types, pickups come straight from the factory then undergo modification. This is significant to a carrier in ways that it is not on a sedan, and it is the sole cause of surprise at pickup. The limit is height. Federal laws have a restriction of a maximum height of 13 feet 6 inches on a loaded commercial vehicle, hence the carrier designs the deck keeping this height in mind. A regular Sierra 1500 has an approximate height of 75 to 78 inches, and is therefore appropriate. With a 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires, the same vehicle may be too high for the deck or altogether too high for its planned position on the deck.

Length is another limitation that follows closely. A crew cab Sierra will measure approximately 231 inches, while a crew cab with long bed measures approximately 241 inches. This is larger than a full size SUV.

Attachments should not be ignored either. Lift kits, oversized tires, roof racks, ladder racks, tonneau covers, after-market bumpers, winches, running boards, and light bars will all alter the size and shape of the vehicle. In some cases, attachments may need to be removed from the vehicle prior to loading.

Anything that is placed inside the bed of the truck is cargo. The truck bed seems to be an open area, which customers expect. The truck bed is classified in the same way as any other vehicle trunk and is also subject to the same 100-pound limit on personal items.

None of this is particularly difficult once we understand it. It becomes an issue when we schedule a load based on what we believe the vehicle to be and then show up to pick up the vehicle and find out that the half-ton is actually lifted and on 35s. This is an unnecessary trip for the driver and an inconvenient delay for the customer.

What $0.99 per mile reflects

Two factors converge at the middle here.

The size of the vehicle drives the cost higher. It takes up more deck space and more weight allowance from the trailer than the car would. There is not enough room for many vehicles on the truck so the additional charge balances out that problem. The premium is charged on all full-size trucks and SUVs or vans irrespective of the route.

Distance brings the cost down. Since the distance is 1,663 miles, the fixed costs of pickup, loading, securing, and delivery get diluted over a good deal of distance, hence the reason why it is not much higher than one dollar.

The corridor is neutral to positive. Interstate 40 is a main route for freight and both Dallas–Fort Worth and San Francisco bay area are big markets, hence no shortage of carriers here.

Open transport

It came on an open trailer, which is typically selected for such trucks with their factory finish and capability of doing some work.

“Open” is the right solution in such cases because enclosed trailers are limited to certain heights and lengths inside and the operators taking it charge according to that. In 1,663 miles, that becomes an important issue because the protection a pickup doesn’t really require.

Ground clearance was never a concern with this vehicle because it is never a concern with trucks in general because trucks always have high clearance.

Transport summary

• Origin: Fort Worth, TX 76052
• Destination: Newark, CA 94560
• Distance: 1,663 miles
• Service cost: $1,643.00
• Cost per mile: $0.99
• Vehicle: 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Fort Worth, TX → US-287 northwest through Wichita Falls to Amarillo → I-40 west through Albuquerque, Gallup, Flagstaff and Kingman → Barstow, CA → CA-58 west over Tehachapi Pass → Bakersfield → I-5 north up the San Joaquin Valley → I-580 over Altamont Pass → I-880 → Newark, CA

Shipping a 2024 BMW 7 Series from Aurora, CO to Newark, NJ

Recently, we finished moving a 2024 BMW 7 Series from Aurora, CO to Newark, NJ, which involved a distance of 1,780 miles, using an open trailer at a total cost of $1,095.00 or $0.62 per mile.

A price of $0.62 per mile is a rather cheap price at this distance. As there have been recent articles about factors influencing a price upwards, an article about this unusually low price seems to be in order. Both origin and destination of this move are important freight centers.

The route

The drive from Aurora to Newark goes all the way across the plains and the Midwest before terminating in the New York metropolitan area.

Since Aurora is on the eastern side of Denver, the driver begins his journey on I-70 East right away and sticks to it all the way out to the eastern part of Colorado passing through Limon, then going into Kansas past the towns of Colby and Salina.

From there, the Interstate 70 leads through Kansas City and Missouri to St. Louis, then proceeds eastward through Indianapolis and the Ohio cities of Columbus and into West Virginia where it touches Wheeling and passes into Pennsylvania.

After that, the driver goes east again using the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Harrisburg and then heads towards I-78 in the Lehigh Valley region, eventually reaching Newark.

Why hub-to-hub routes cost less

We have described a pickup in Bemidji, Minnesota, as well as a delivery in Ennis, Montana, which were both charged a premium for their remoteness from the lanes carriers run regularly. In this particular route, however, the situation is reversed, and we should look at the reason why.

First of all, the destinations of the route are freight hubs. Denver is a distribution center for the entire Rocky Mountain region, while the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area is the most intense freight market in the whole country. The trucks are continuously coming and going from both hubs.

Your vehicle would not require any detours for carriers in this situation. On a rural pickup, carriers need to make a decision on whether it is worth making a detour specifically to pick up your vehicle.

The same goes for competition, which is working to your advantage here. The more options for carriers to haul the load, the more bidders are competing to win it. This kind of pressure does not exist for a lane through which only three trucks travel each week.

Then there is no deadhead cost included in pricing. The empty mileage that is incorporated in the rural pricing does not exist in this case at all.

Also, I-70 is a major route. The route follows a major east-west interstate highway route throughout its entire length without any minor roads or mountain passes in between.

All in all, this is how you get a rate of $1,095.00 for a 1,780 mile move with an open trailer.

The one thing metro delivery does add

Urban dense delivery also has its limitation and it is not price but access.

An eighteen-wheel trailer is about 75 to 80 feet in length. At Newark and all over the surrounding metro area, this particular carrier will not be able to make its way to some of the residential roads or enter some apartment complexes or go below certain bridges due to low bridges which is a common issue in Northern New Jersey.

The solution to this issue is a meet point, where we deliver to a nearby commercial area where the truck can turn around and the client picks up their package from there. It may add an extra few minutes to the delivery but it also takes out the risk of the carrier coming to the destination but not being able to deliver.

It is brought up at booking time and not at delivery time, since at booking time, the client accepts it as a small issue but during delivery time, it becomes a bigger one.

What $0.62 per mile reflects

Three items align in the same direction in this situation.

The density of lanes ranks as the top item, considering all of the reasons stated previously.

Second is distance. Being 1,780 miles means that the costs associated with pickup, loading, securing, and delivering become lower per mile compared to those for a shorter haul.

Thirdly, it is open transport. Open transporters haul more cars per mile compared to enclosed transports.

Open transport

The 7 Series is the top-end model from BMW, but it still moved on an open trailer since that was what the client wanted.

It’s a logical decision. It is an active production sedan with modern factory paint, not a collector or exotic car where a rock chip can make a difference in its value. Open transport is the preferred method for most cars in this country, even quite expensive ones.

Enclosed transport can be arranged on any car, and we always let the client know when it is needed. In the case of a two-year-old production sedan moving to a garage, we did not pressure them about that.

Loading was easy. The car was running and the 7 Series is built at typical sedan height, so ramp angle was not a problem. Securement was done using soft straps over the tires, not chains over the suspension system.

Transport summary

• Origin: Aurora, CO 80017
• Destination: Newark, NJ 07114
• Distance: 1,780 miles
• Service cost: $1,095.00
• Cost per mile: $0.62
• Vehicle: 2024 BMW 7 Series
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Aurora, CO → I-70 east through Limon, Colby and Salina → Kansas City, MO → St. Louis → Indianapolis, IN → Columbus, OH → Wheeling, WV → Pennsylvania Turnpike east → Harrisburg, PA → I-78 east across the Lehigh Valley → Newark, NJ

Shipping a 2026 Honda Accord Hybrid from Chesterfield, VA to Fresno, CA

Not so long ago we completed the delivery of the 2026 Honda Accord Hybrid from Chesterfield, VA to Fresno, CA. This delivery included a distance of 2,730 miles using an open car carrier. The price paid for this was $1,735.00 or $0.64 per mile.

A great rate of sixty-four cents per mile for the coast-to-coast delivery can be a good achievement. But the route direction is no less important factor and rarely taken into account by clients.

The route

The 2,730 mile-long run from Chesterfield to Fresno spans the country using the southern transcontinental route.

As the point of origin is southwest of Richmond, motorists start by heading west towards Lexington on I-64 and turning south to I-81 through Roanoke and Bristol.

This highway joins I-40 at Knoxville, TN, which will form the major part of the journey until the end of the trip in California. This interstate highway covers Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Mississippi River; Little Rock, Arkansas; and passes through Oklahoma City.

Then the same interstate highway will cover Amarillo, Texas; New Mexico through Albuquerque; and Arizona via Flagstaff, all the way to Barstow, California, where motorists get off the Interstate Highway and take CA-58 to Bakersfield.

From here, motorists drive north on CA-99 to Fresno.

Direction changes the price

However, even when two consumers are transporting the same model of cars between two particular locations, the price they will pay could vary based on the route that they take. This is not a price manipulation but the nature of freight.

The trucks have to make round-trip journey. The carriers who transport the load west bound should go back east and the emptier trip would result into loss of money. As such, carriers are forced to set prices such that the truck stays full on both ends and the weaker end would offer cheaper rate.

This occurs because of people movement; more vehicles leave the sun belt heading towards the Northeast and Midwest states. The routes south bound and southwest bound are considered to be the stronger routes as compared to reverse.

From east to west, moving goods along the southern lane is less expensive. I-40 sees huge freight shipments both ways, but the movement of trucks from California is skewed to westbound in most months of the year. A truck going west and has some space is a truck that can bargain.

This changes from month to month. While one lane can be inexpensive in one month, it will be tight in the next month, which makes it impossible for the rates quoted half a year ago to be useful now.

None of this can be controlled by the customer. But the question can be asked of the broker, and they will know whether the goods being shipped have an easy or tough lane and approximately how much that costs.

What $0.64 per mile reflects

Three favorable factors came into play for the customer.

Distance was the first factor. Costs for pickup, loading, securing and delivering the trailer are roughly the same for the carrier regardless of the distance traveled, while they are not affected by the mileage at all. When split between 2,730 miles, this cost is reduced to a minimum. Splitting the cost between 400 miles is three or four times higher per mile.

Open trailer was the second one. Open cargo containers haul significantly more cars per mile in comparison with closed ones, and this difference will be even larger over 2,730 miles.

Corridor was the third. Interstate 40 is one of the main transcontinental routes for cargo in the country, and both endpoints of the route are located on high-capacity lanes. There was no problem with capacity.

A note on the hybrid

It comes just like a regular gas Accord. Nothing that needs charging or any other equipment from the carriers.

There’s only one thing you can continue doing, and that’s checking your fuel level. We always expect about a quarter tank in every car that leaves us, and that’s sufficient for loading and relocating to the deck and moving off after delivery without burdening the trailer with extra weight close to its axle limit.

The hybrid system adds extra weight to the car compared to the regular model. This is something we will verify at the time of ordering the vehicle.

Open transport

The Accord went under an open trailer since most of the automobiles in this country do so.

The automobile is a brand new, current production sedan that is covered in modern factory clear coat. The enclosed transport mode is only used for automobiles for which a rock chip is a significant event and the new, mainstream sedan going to its driveway is not such an event. On the way this long, going with the enclosed option would have significantly increased the cost.

The loading process was easy as the automobile was running and the Accord is at the regular sedan ride height.

Transport summary

• Origin: Chesterfield, VA 23832
• Destination: Fresno, CA 93723
• Distance: 2,730 miles
• Service cost: $1,735.00
• Cost per mile: $0.64
• Vehicle: 2026 Honda Accord Hybrid
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Open
• Route: Chesterfield, VA → I-64 west → I-81 south through Roanoke and Bristol → I-40 west at Knoxville, TN → Nashville and Memphis → Little Rock, AR → Oklahoma City, OK → Amarillo, TX → Albuquerque, NM → Flagstaff, AZ → Barstow, CA → CA-58 west over Tehachapi Pass → Bakersfield → CA-99 north → Fresno, CA

Shipping a 2016 Honda Civic from American Fork, UT to Katy, TX

Recently, we concluded the transportation of a 2016 Honda Civic between American Fork, UT and Katy, TX. The route covered a distance of 1,395 miles by enclosed trailer for a total of $1,179.00, equating to $0.85 per mile. The client also transported personal belongings in the car, roughly at the 100 pounds allowed without extra charge.

What is important about this case is the use of the trailer. The 2016 Honda Civic is a common vehicle and the majority travel in the open air. Not so with this particular 2016 Honda Civic.

The route

This 1,395-mile trip starts off from American Fork and ends in Katy, crossing the Rocky Mountains and ending at the Texas southern plains.

American Fork is located in Utah County, south of Salt Lake City, where the truck will use I-15 south to Spanish Fork, followed by taking the east route using US-6 from Price to Green River where it meets I-70.

Using I-70, the truck will traverse eastwards over the Colorado River passing through Grand Junction. It climbs the mountain passes through Vail and Eisenhower Tunnel into Denver, Colorado.

From Denver, the route moves south using I-25 through Colorado Springs and Trinidad. From there, it passes through Raton Pass, enters New Mexico and picks I-40 east through Santa Rosa to end up in Amarillo, Texas.

The last part of the trip uses US-287 southeast through Wichita Falls to Fort Worth, then I-20 east to Dallas and I-45 south to Houston, where Katy lies west of the city.

When an ordinary car goes enclosed

Previously, we discussed when an exotic sports car will be better without enclosed transport. Well, it’s the exact opposite decision.

Enclosed service is not only available for exotic vehicles and collector cars; there are plenty of reasons for which someone who owns an ordinary car will opt for the enclosed service.

The first reason is recent painting or bodywork of the car. A car that has recently come out of the body shop has a new look that the owner has paid for and hasn’t had time to get used to. So, it makes sense to protect the look during the transport.

Another reason could be an exceptionally well-maintained car. There may be a case of an old car with no rock chips due to the owner’s care and diligence. But leaving such a car on an open deck during a 1,395-mile transport ride will ruin all the efforts in an hour.

One-time peace of mind matters, too. For a one-time mover, the difference between open and enclosed on a mid-distance trip just doesn’t add up to much in relation to all the rest of the moving costs. There are some customers who just won’t even want to worry about it.

And route conditions. The reason why this one goes through the Rocky Mountains. In any season, weather can change very quickly at altitude, and Interstate 70 through the mountains of Colorado is an open road indeed.

We don’t pressure anyone into choosing enclosed transport, and we’re upfront about a vehicle that doesn’t need it. However, if a customer chooses enclosed on a regular car, then that’s their right.

Personal items, included

Personal luggage weighing approximately 100 pounds will be carried for free in the car. This is the standard allowance that we have for all bookings.

This is quite straightforward. All items must be placed in the trunk or cargo space below the window level and properly secured in such a way that nothing moves on the way. No baggage on the seats and no items blocking the driver’s vision while loading or positioning the vehicle on the deck.

The weight limit is set because we cannot exceed the axle weight limit under which the carriers work. And as it is, a fully loaded trailer is close to it, adding another few hundred pounds per car is out of the question.

Just one more thing to mention here. Your personal belongings will not be insured. The cargo insurance covers only the vehicle and the contents are at your own risk.

What $0.85 per mile reflects

There are two reasons for this number.

Enclosed service boosts this figure. Enclosed trailer hauls less number of cars per trip and is more costly to be operated. It is also a lesser part of the fleet. This extra cost affects all bookings that are enclosed. Had this Civic not been enclosed, the average figure would definitely be smaller.

The distance pulls it down. Given the distance of 1,395 miles, the fixed cost of pick-up, loading, securing, and delivering gets distributed over a certain number of miles. On a shorter distance of enclosed transport, this fixed cost gets allocated over less miles making the per-mile cost exceed $2.40.

For the distance covered, the per mile rate of 85 cents looks good.

Enclosed transport

The Civic had been delivered enclosed, therefore it was the trailer’s walls that were responsible for dealing with the climate in the mountains and road debris along the entire route.

Loading was easy. The vehicle was functioning, so the driver drove it onto the ramp and then put it into place using its own motor. The Civic is a regular-sized sedan, thus the angle of the ramp was not an issue for it.

As to the securing process, we used straps and tied them around the tires of the vehicle instead of chains on the suspension system.

Transport summary

• Origin: American Fork, UT 84003
• Destination: Katy, TX 77494
• Distance: 1,395 miles
• Service cost: $1,179.00
• Cost per mile: $0.85
• Vehicle: 2016 Honda Civic
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Enclosed
• Personal items: Around 100 pounds, no surcharge
• Route: American Fork, UT → I-15 south to Spanish Fork → US-6 east through Price → I-70 east through Grand Junction and Vail → Denver, CO → I-25 south through Colorado Springs and Trinidad → Raton Pass, NM → I-40 east to Amarillo, TX → US-287 southeast through Wichita Falls → Fort Worth → I-20 east to Dallas → I-45 south to Houston → I-10 west → Katy, TX

Shipping a 2015 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 from Sandstone, MN to Redondo Beach, CA

We recently finished the shipment of a 2015 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 from Sandstone, MN to Redondo Beach, CA. This transportation covered 2,033 miles via enclosed truck for $1,425.00, or $0.70 per mile.

Transporting a motorcycle out of east-central Minnesota towards South Bay is definitely a seasonal activity. Seasonality is a much bigger factor in this industry than many clients realize.

The route

The 2,033-mile drive from Sandstone to Redondo Beach traverses the prairies, the Rockies, and the Mojave.

Sandstone is situated on I-35 ninety miles north of the Twin Cities, so the beginning is relatively straightforward. Travelers begin by driving southward on I-35 from Minneapolis and St. Paul through southern Minnesota and into Iowa, arriving at Des Moines.

It is at Des Moines that the truckload takes I-80 west and stays on it all the way across the center. The truck passes the Missouri River at Omaha, through all of Nebraska beyond North Platte, and over into Wyoming at Cheyenne. I-80 goes westward from there through Rock Springs and over the Wasatch Range into Salt Lake City.

The journey then turns south on I-15 from Salt Lake City through St. George and Las Vegas, Nevada. The drive descends through the Mojave Desert into San Bernardino and into the basin of Los Angeles. Redondo Beach is located on the Pacific Coast in the South Bay area, so it ends the drive on I-405 and Pacific Coast Highway.

Season changes the price

There are several seasonal industries within the field of transportation of goods, and auto transport industry can be considered one of them. Motorcycle transport can be seen as the most seasonal area of the business.

The northern states become vacant during the autumn period. During the months from October to December, there is a lot of traffic going south and west out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northeast, etc. Carriers working with this lane have plenty of southbound loads and often carry empty spaces, as there is a high demand for it. The prices go up along with the demand.

The situation becomes reversed during springtime. From March till May, there is traffic going to the north. So, a motorcycle being transported from California to Minnesota in April competes with the same load.

It should be also noted that motorcycles themselves are also seasonal items, which means that the high demand for motorcycle transportation is seen in the shoulder periods.

Winter presents route risks too, in addition to cost concerns. The winter months see this route traverse the Wasatch Range with its I-80 crossing through Wyoming, a road that closes to premium traffic in heavy winds and snowstorms more frequently than any other section of interstate highway in the nation. January bookings are riskier than June bookings for this reason.

Early booking is the only practical leverage we have. There’s no controlling when the seasons are, but what we can control is getting your vehicle scheduled with a carrier before the season gets busy.

What $0.70 per mile reflects

There are two factors behind this number, and neither of them is distance.

The deck space is the first one. The space a motorcycle takes up is only a fraction of the space a car would take up, and that is what influences the price, not the entire slot of deck space. That is why comparing a rate of one mile for a motorcycle and a sedan does not give you anything.

Distance is the second one. With 2,033 miles traveled, the costs associated with pickup, loading, securing, and delivery are distributed over many miles, resulting in a lower price per mile. For shorter motorcycle moves the same costs will be paid out over fewer miles.

Sandstone works against the two factors above slightly. Sandstone is a small town located north of the Twin Cities, but although Sandstone is on I-35, the carrier has to make a detour from the route it usually runs around Minneapolis.

Enclosed transport

Each motorcycle that we ship is always packaged in, and the bike deserves it much more than a typical car.

There is nothing that covers anything. All the engine, the exhaust system, the controls, the instrument panel, and the painted fuel tank are fully exposed. The matte finish paint and the darkened details of the Shadow Phantom also tend to be more vulnerable to any kind of dirt on the roads than the modern clear coating of automotive vehicles.

In our case, Securement used a front wheel chock in order to keep the front wheel straight and in place. The soft straps were used to tie the handlebar and the lower triple clamp, and the ratchet straps held down the suspension for 2,033 miles. There was nothing tied to the frame or the pipes or the painted body parts.

Transport summary

• Origin: Sandstone, MN 55072
• Destination: Redondo Beach, CA 90277
• Distance: 2,033 miles
• Service cost: $1,425.00
• Cost per mile: $0.70
• Vehicle: 2015 Honda Shadow Phantom 750
• Trailer type: Enclosed
• Route: Sandstone, MN → I-35 south through Minneapolis and St. Paul → Des Moines, IA → I-80 west through Omaha, North Platte and Cheyenne → Salt Lake City, UT → I-15 south through St. George and Las Vegas → San Bernardino, CA → I-405 → Redondo Beach, CA

Shipping a 1980 Honda CBX from Leander, TX to Cave Creek, AZ

Recently, we have finished transporting a 1980 Honda CBX from Leander, TX to Cave Creek, AZ. The total distance covered was 1,019 miles and the total cost was $600.00, amounting to $0.59/mile.

The mileage rate mentioned above is the lowest one among those that we have recently published and it should be taken with some reservation. This is a motorcycle and motorcycles do not have the same pricing policy as the cars do. What matters here is the comparison with other motorcycles.

The route

The journey of 1,019 miles from Leander to Cave Creek goes through west Texas and the Sonoran Desert.

As Leander is located northwest of Austin, travelers will have to go down US-183 and switch to US-290 west, passing through Johnson City and Fredericksburg, joining I-10 at Junction.

From that point onward, the interstate handles almost everything. From Junction, it passes through the long and desolate region of west Texas to Ozona, Fort Stockton, Van Horn, and El Paso. Then it moves to New Mexico after Las Cruces and Deming.

I-10 reaches Arizona at San Simon and goes through Tucson and Phoenix. At Phoenix, it shifts to I-17 and leaves I-17 at AZ-74, known as Carefree Highway, to reach Cave Creek Road.

It was only recently that we drove a Triumph T120 in Cave Creek, making the end portion of the journey very familiar to us.

Why motorcycle pricing works differently

Shoppers who have shipped a car before will be taken aback when they receive the motorcycle rate, both ways. This is why:

The deck space is more important than the distance. The car requires a whole spot on the nine-car trailer. The motorcycle needs only a portion of it, because the carrier is able to pack several motorcycles in the space where the car is normally loaded.

Comparing per-mile rates between different vehicle types is also not a good idea. Our recent enclosed Corvette cost us a dollar a mile on a trip much longer than this one. It does not mean that the Corvette is inexpensive and the CBX is even less expensive.

Not to mention that motorcycles are shipped enclosed with us almost every time, hence, there is no way of cheaper rate. A motorcycle shipped open doesn’t have any body protecting it from weather. Everything – engine, exhaust, controls, instruments – will be exposed to weather elements. We don’t provide an open service for motorcycles; therefore, that’s your price right there.

It takes more time to strap down one motorcycle than it takes to secure one automobile. The latter gets four wheel straps and the customer drives away. For the former, we need wheel chock and also straps at bars and triple clamp; the motorcycle should have its suspension compressed under load to make sure it won’t rock.

What makes a CBX its own problem

But the CBX is no ordinary motorcycle, and the explanation for that is right up front.

Honda designed it around a transverse inline-six engine of slightly more than a liter in capacity. And while the width of the bike is not unusual, this engine happens to be the widest part of the bike. The CBX has six exhaust header pipes coming out of the front of the engine in fan fashion. The engine is also the styling feature on the bike.

There are two things about this that affect the loading equation.

First of all, the width means that the bike requires more clearance in the chock. Secondly, the bike requires more clearance on each side of the chock than would an average twin-engine motorcycle.

The header pipes imply that there’s chrome on the entire front surface of the machine without any protection. For a bike that is about forty-five years old and whose pipes are costly to change, corrosion resulting from road debris is not just an aesthetic problem but an economic one.

The CBX, at 600 pounds, is also quite heavy for a motorcycle, which means that it impacts the way the driver maneuvers it onto the lift. Operable definitely helped with this one.

Enclosed transport

Each motorbike that gets booked is covered, and a bike that’s been a collector’s item for forty-five years does well to illustrate this point.

The pipes, as well as the engine cases, are chromed and there is also a painted fuel tank and side panels. Original instruments are in place, as well as exposed controls. Nothing is under body coverings, and so in open air everything receives 1,019 miles worth of dirt and spray from West Texas deserts.

To secure the motorbike, Securit used a chock in front of the front wheel in order to lock it into place. Soft ties were applied to the handlebars and the lower triple clamp of the bike. The suspension was compressed using ratchet straps in order for the bike to remain stable. Nothing was secured around the frame or pipes or the painted panels.

As the bike was operable, the driver walked it up the ramp on the side with both hands on the handlebars. This is the standard procedure for an operable motorcycle.

Transport summary

• Origin: Leander, TX 78641
• Destination: Cave Creek, AZ 85331
• Distance: 1,019 miles
• Service cost: $600.00
• Cost per mile: $0.59
• Vehicle: 1980 Honda CBX
• Condition: Operable
• Trailer type: Enclosed
• Route: Leander, TX → US-183 south → US-290 west through Fredericksburg → I-10 west at Junction through Fort Stockton and Van Horn → El Paso, TX → Las Cruces and Deming, NM → Tucson and Phoenix, AZ → I-17 north → AZ-74 east → Cave Creek Road → Cave Creek, AZ

Shipping a 1992 Acura NSX from Wake Forest, NC to Ennis, MT

We completed our move of a 1992 Acura NSX from Wake Forest, NC to Ennis, MT recently. This relocation covered a distance of 2,248 miles inside an enclosed trailer, and was priced at $2,775.00. This means that the price was $1.23 per mile.

The Acura NSX was driveable at time of pick-up. The use of the trailer on this move was obvious. First generation NSXs are low, light, and have been around for over thirty years. They are also worth much more today than they were ten years ago, and they have been made using a material that is less forgiving than steel.

The route

The journey from Wake Forest to Ennis covers 2,248 miles and proceeds diagonally across the country from North Carolina piedmont to Montana mountains.

The starting point is Wake Forest that is right next to Raleigh, which means that the driver will go down to I-40 and proceed west from Greensboro and Winston-Salem, then across the Blue Ridge towards Knoxville, Tennessee.

Then from Knoxville the trip follows I-75 to Lexington, Kentucky, then to St. Louis via I-64. I-70 takes the driver to Kansas City and here the driver will proceed north via I-29 to Omaha and then Sioux City and Sioux Falls.

Then at Sioux Falls the truck joins I-90 heading west and proceeds in such direction until reaching Bozeman, Montana. Then via US-287 the driver goes southwest through Madison Valley to reach Ennis, Montana.

An aluminum car is not a steel car

It’s what makes the difference between an NSX and pretty much any other thing we transport.

The original NSX was the first production automobile in the world that had an all-aluminum monocoque body and chassis. It’s how Honda saved weight, and it has proven effective. The car weighs about 3,000 pounds, which is a fairly lightweight build considering it is a mid-engine sports car of this construction.

Transport-wise, the difference between aluminum and steel is that aluminum reacts differently to impact than steel does.

Steel forms a dent and can then be hammered back into place due to steel’s memory. Aluminum, however, tears and creases and work-hardens under impact, meaning that a shop won’t be able to just hammer out the dent like they do on a steel bumper.

The repair work itself needs a specialist as well. Aluminum requires its own tooling and its own training – often in a completely separate area of the workshop, since aluminum cannot be worked on in proximity to steel because of contamination concerns. The list of shops capable of doing that sort of work properly on a thirty-year-old NSX is a very short one indeed.

But the panels will be replaced, not repaired. In cases where the repair is impossible, the solution is a replacement panel for a car that is twenty years out of production, which is another parts availability issue as well as another cost issue.

None of the above is in any way making this car hard to transport. It is making the costs associated with doing it wrong prohibitively expensive compared to the average modern steel-bodied vehicle.

Declared value on an appreciating car

An NSX is currently valued significantly higher than it was ten years ago. It alters a question that our clients sometimes don’t even consider asking.

Ask about the upper cargo insurance limit instead of simply about whether it is covered. Our partner carriers carry cargo insurance policies for a maximum of $1 million each. The important point here is that this limit must be above the replacement cost of your car, and the price will increase in case of a collector’s vehicle.

Inform your coordinator about the value of the car. Do not rely on approximate estimations. If you have an updated valuation or an agreed value policy on your car, then it must be considered when scheduling, as it defines the carriers who will carry your vehicle.

Take photos of the vehicle prior to pick-up. Every panel of the car, during daylight hours, with timestamps. This is common practice for any vehicle transportation and required for collectible cars. The Bill of Lading inspection at pick-up is your starting point, and photos are your leverage.

What $1.23 per mile reflects

Two factors act against each other in this case.

The enclosed trailer service drives the figure up. The enclosed trailer transports fewer cars per haul and is more expensive to operate compared to the open trailer; moreover, it represents a smaller proportion of the total fleet used. It will be the premium price for any enclosed delivery.

The additional cost comes from the Ennis delivery as well. The southwest part of Montana is far away from the main routes taken by enclosed trailers, and a city of one thousand people is not even close to their regular delivery point. The truck either covers the extra miles starting from Bozeman or waits for an occasion to travel through the valley.

Distance brings down the rate since at 2,248 miles it is hard to cover the fixed costs of the pick-up, securing, and delivery over a large distance.

Enclosed transport and low clearance

The NSX is 46″ high and sits low, such that a standard ramp is too steep. Loading was done using a liftgate that would raise the car to the same height as the deck and eliminate the need for the angle created by the ramp.

Securing the car involved the use of soft straps on the tires instead of chains that would be attached to the car’s suspension. In this case, where the vehicle is made up mainly of aluminum, that aspect becomes very important, since there is no forgiving structure that can handle the strap in the wrong place.

The sides of the trailer took care of everything else. The route takes the car through the Blue Ridge, the plains, and the northern Rockies, and 2,248 miles of that on the deck is not a risk you take with such a car.

Transport summary

• Origin: Wake Forest, NC 27587

• Destination: Ennis, MT 59729

• Distance: 2,248 miles

• Service cost: $2,775.00

• Cost per mile: $1.23

• Vehicle: 1992 Acura NSX

• Condition: Operable

• Trailer type: Enclosed

• Route: Wake Forest, NC → I-40 west through Greensboro and Winston-Salem → Knoxville, TN → I-75 north to Lexington, KY → I-64 west → St. Louis, MO → I-70 west to Kansas City → I-29 north through Omaha to Sioux Falls, SD → I-90 west through Rapid City, Sheridan and Billings → Bozeman, MT → US-287 southwest → Ennis, MT

Shipping a 2019 Jeep Compass from Eugene, OR to Arlington, VA

Recently, we delivered a 2019 Jeep Compass from Eugene, OR to Arlington, VA. It went for 2,830 miles, loaded on an open trailer and cost us $2,105.00 ($0.74 per mile).

This car was functional upon loading and driven on the deck itself. It is a corner-to-corner delivery, Northwest USA to Washington DC area, and a rather long journey. We felt it necessary to explain what happens to a vehicle during such an extended journey.

The route

This journey of 2,830 miles travels from Eugene all the way to Arlington from the Willamette Valley to the Potomac Valley through the upper part of the country.

The driver begins his journey from Eugene by traveling north via I-5 from Salem to Portland, where he will change his route to travel on I-84 east. This route passes through the Columbia River Gorge and exits the river valley from Pendleton, moving into Idaho at Ontario. It takes the driver through Boise and Twin Falls all the way to Ogden in Utah.

The journey then changes again at Echo Junction, where the driver picks up I-80 and travels through it all the way across Wyoming via Rock Springs and Cheyenne, then all the way through Nebraska and Iowa via North Platte and Omaha.

While the eastern portion sticks to I-80 through Indiana and Ohio, it continues using the Ohio and Pennsylvania Turnpike towards Harrisburg. The route then takes a southward course along I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley before turning east along I-66 in Northern Virginia. As Arlington is located across the river from Washington, the truck will take either I-395 or Route 7 based on its address.

How long a 2,830-mile move actually takes

The second question after price concerns how fast the delivery can be made, and the truthful answer contains several aspects that most consumers fail to consider.

The truck does not move as a car does. Federal Hours of Service regulations prohibit commercial truck drivers from spending more than 11 hours driving in any 14 hour period and following those 14 hours have a minimum of 10 hours of rest. This is non-negotiable and if anyone tries to convince you otherwise – he or she is either misleading or trying to cheat.

A practical distance per day of travel is from 400 to 550 miles and it covers driving limit, stops for fueling and weighing of cargo and loading/unloading other vehicles on the road. So on 2,830 miles it will take six days of driving.

There are not just your cars on the trailer. Nine-car carrier performs multiple pickups/deliveries. Your vehicle could be loaded first and unloaded last or vice versa. Those stops are the economic aspect of transportation.

The pickup window and the transit clock are independent. Getting and allocating a carrier takes time before any wheels are turned. For this particular well-sorted lane it takes a few days. On a rural pickup it might take even more. We give you quotes for both separately and not try to combine them into some overly optimistic figure.

Weather and topography can make it take a few more days rather than just hours. This lane passes through the Blue Mountains, the Wasatch, and the Continental Divide of Wyoming. During the winter it is a real variable.

On a lane this long, our advice to customers is to expect it to take somewhere between a week and ten days. Those who quote you three days coast to coast do not know what they’re talking about.

What $0.74 per mile reflects

74 cents per mile is our most favorable per-mile rate in recent times, and it is the result of the distance traveled.

Pick up and loading cost a carrier equally per haul regardless of the road. Securement and coordination and delivery cost carriers equally per job regardless of the road. Dividing those fixed costs across 2,830 miles leaves very little per mile. Dividing the same costs across 350 miles leaves over three times as much per mile.

Open transport accounts for the other half of the equation. Open transporters haul more vehicles per haul and do so far more frequently than enclosed transporters.

The corridor is helpful as well. I-80 is the main transcontinental highway, and it runs through the middle of the country. The corridor from the Pacific Northwest to the mid-Atlantic is consistently traveled by all carriers.

Open transport

The Compass traveled on the open trailer. This is a modern-day compact SUV with factory paint, meaning that it didn’t require what an enclosed trailer provides to classics or exotics.

In such a journey, the difference between open and enclosed trailers would be significant. For a daily driver crossover, which will have a new place to park, open trailer is a logical choice.

Ground clearance didn’t matter in this case. The Compass is lifted enough to make ramp angle irrelevant for loading and unloading, and that made the process fast and easy on both sides.

Transport summary

• Origin: Eugene, OR 97401

• Destination: Arlington, VA 22206

• Distance: 2,830 miles

• Service cost: $2,105.00

• Cost per mile: $0.74

• Vehicle: 2019 Jeep Compass

• Condition: Operable

• Trailer type: Open

• Route: Eugene, OR → I-5 north to Portland → 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 2015 BMW M235i from Ladera Ranch, CA to West Lafayette, IN

We recently completed delivery of a 2015 BMW M235i from Ladera Ranch, CA to West Lafayette, IN. This transport covered a distance of 2,094 miles via an open trailer and cost us $1,631.00 or $0.78 per mile.

The BMW M235i was working perfectly fine when picked and drove on the ramp on its own. What was unusual about this transport was the trailer used. Normally, we do performance vehicles in enclosed trailers but not this time.

The route

The distance between Ladera Ranch and West Lafayette is 2,094 miles through the desert Southwest and plains, ending in the corn belt.

Ladera Ranch is located in south Orange County; hence the shipment uses the I-5 North towards the Los Angeles Basin, and there joins the I-15 North towards the Cajon Pass and Barstow.

At Barstow, the cargo uses the I-40 East towards its destination. The interstate covers the long middle portion of the route. It starts by covering the Mojave Desert and entering Arizona through Kingman and Flagstaff, crosses into New Mexico and passes through Albuquerque before continuing through the Texas panhandle to Amarillo and passing through Oklahoma City.

After leaving Oklahoma City, the cargo uses the I-44 towards St. Louis through Tulsa, Missouri and Springfield. From there, it uses the I-70 East into Illinois and enters Indianapolis where it switches to I-65 North. West Lafayette is located near the I-65 about one hour north west of Indianapolis.

When a sports car does not need enclosed

We move a lot of performance vehicles enclosed because it makes sense. Enclosed does not always mean it is necessary, however, and charging for something unnecessary means more money out of your customer’s pocket than needs to be.

This is our real test:

The first test: ground clearance. The ground clearance for the Corvette is around 4½ inches and requires a liftgate or extended ramps. The ground clearance of the M235i is around 5 inches with a standard front end, which is lower but still transportable with a standard ramp. No extra equipment, no upper deck only, so no added fees.

Next, replacement value. Enclosed is used in an effort to protect vehicles where getting a rock chip on them will result in monetary damage. This applies to collector cars and six-figure exotic automobiles. It does not apply to the ten-year-old production vehicle with the OEM clear coat.

Finish and trim follow. The M235i is painted body with modern clear coat, not chrome or hand-lining or paint from seventy years ago. Modern paint does what modern paint is supposed to do under highway conditions.

What the customer was going to use the vehicle for. A vehicle destined for a show or an auction is a very different matter than a car bound for the driveway and daily driver use.

This is how all four of the cars came out open on. We said so, and our client saved several hundred dollars by being open where enclosed would have been 2,094 miles more.

What $0.78 per mile reflects

Below eight dollars a mile is an excellent rate and two factors are responsible for that.

Distance is one. Costs of pickup, loading, securement and coordination, and delivery are incurred by a carrier equally regardless of the haul length. These expenses are fixed. The allocation of these across 2,094 miles reduces the burden per mile significantly. Allocation of these across 350 miles yields a result three times higher.

Open trailer is the second factor. Open trailers transport more units per load and operate much more frequently than enclosed ones and this is always priced into the quote. Were the vehicle transported on enclosed trailer on the same haul length, the result would have been noticeably higher.

The lanes assisted too. Interstate 40 and Interstate 70 are two of the main east-west corridors for freight transportation in the USA. And haul from Southern California to Midwest is a stable one. There were no shortages of carriers on that route.

Open transport

The M235i was towed on an open trailer, since that is how most of the vehicles in America travel.

Loading went smoothly because the vehicle was operational and thus could drive up the ramp itself. The approach angle demanded some attention with the front end, although not to the extent that the use of a liftgate or stacked ramps was required.

Straps were used for securing the car rather than chains, since with a vehicle that has performance suspension parts it is very important not to put any additional load on the control arms.

Transport summary

• Origin: Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

• Destination: West Lafayette, IN 47906

• Distance: 2,094 miles

• Service cost: $1,631.00

• Cost per mile: $0.78

• Vehicle: 2015 BMW M235i

• Condition: Operable

• Trailer type: Open

• Route: Ladera Ranch, CA → I-5 north → I-15 north through the Cajon Pass to 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 → I-65 north → West Lafayette, IN