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

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