Shipping a 2011 Mini Cooper from El Cerrito, CA to Nashville, TN
We recently completed the transportation of a Mini Cooper from El Cerrito, California to Nashville, Tennessee. The trip entailed 2,018 miles of travel via open trailer and the fee amounted to $1,794.00, averaging to $0.89 per mile.
This vehicle was functional when picked up. This is actually our smallest vehicle to date and this presents a common query that we have to answer. Why would the Mini, which measures only a little more than twelve feet in length, cost less than a full-sized sedan?
The route
This race that runs from El Cerrito to Nashville covers the Great Basin and Rockies and the plains as well.
El Cerrito is located in the eastern part of San Francisco Bay north of Berkeley. In the beginning of the journey one gets to Interstate 80 east and travels via Sacramento and through the Sierra Nevada by Donner Pass and goes through Nevada by Reno and Winnemucca and Elko to Salt Lake City.
Then the journey follows southward and eastward via I-70 and runs through the Rockies of Colorado by Grand Junction and Denver. Next it runs westward to Kansas to Kansas City and further to Missouri.
The last part of the journey is southeastward via I-24 through Paducah and Clarksville to Nashville.
Why a small car does not get a small price
It is fair for the customer to expect price to correlate with size. That is correct; however, not in equal proportion. The Mini stands out in the extreme right end of the scale where the correlation ends.
The slot for the vehicle is a slot regardless whether it carries a Mini or a Camry. The carrier considers the load as slots in vehicles and not in inches. It makes no difference whether the load in that slot is a Mini or a Camry – it still requires a complete pick-up and complete loading/unloading and inspection.
That is why the cost savings are limited. The size difference between a Mini and a mid-size sedan is around four feet – which is not enough to open an additional slot for another vehicle on the trailer that will provide the carrier another fare.
However, the additional cost for the extra large cars is substantial because the full-size vehicle takes additional deck space and weight on axle capacity that could be allocated to another vehicle.
However, motorcycles are the actual exception here. A motorcycle actually occupies a small portion of a car spot, which is why three motorcycles can fit into the space of one car and cost proportionally less. This is actually a completely different vehicle type rather than a smaller car.
This is all that can be said about it in brief. Using a smaller car than a sedan will save you very little money. Getting a bigger car will require you to pay much more.
What $0.89 per mile reflects
There are two items behind this rate, and neither is the car size.
First is distance. The fixed cost of pickup, loading, securing and coordinating and delivering gets divided up at 2,018 miles. When this same amount is divided by a shorter distance, the cost per mile is nearly doubled.
Next is open transport. Open-bed trucks move a greater number of vehicles than enclosed trucks, and this factor is already figured in every quote.
This job is a combination of positives and negatives. The West Side of the Salt Lake area to Nashville is a pretty heavily traveled corridor on the I-80, as is the I-70 going across the country. But Bay Area to Nashville is not the busiest lane of the highway in the US. And this prevents us from getting into the seventy cent territory on some of our coast-to-coast jobs.
Open transport
The Mini was loaded on an open trailer, because most of the cars that are transported through this country are done using an open trailer.
This is a factory-coated production hatchback, and an enclosed trailer is only available for cars that have to worry about rock chips. An enclosed trailer will have cost us $2,018 more miles that we don’t need.
Ground clearance was never an issue. While the Mini may ride lower to the ground than many other cars its size, it is still well within what an ordinary ramp can handle, meaning that no liftgate was necessary.
Transport summary
- Origin: El Cerrito, CA 94530
- Destination: Nashville, TN 37210
- Distance: 2,018 miles
- Service cost: $1,794.00
- Cost per mile: $0.89
- Vehicle: 2011 Mini Cooper
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: El Cerrito, CA → I-80 east through Sacramento and over Donner Pass → Reno and Elko, NV → Salt Lake City, UT → I-70 east through Grand Junction and Denver, CO → across Kansas to Kansas City → St. Louis, MO → I-24 southeast through Paducah, KY and Clarksville → Nashville, TN
Shipping a 1953 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup from Huntington Beach, CA to Columbia, TN
Not long ago, we completed the transportation of a 1953 Chevrolet 3100 pickup from Huntington Beach, CA, to Columbia, TN. The distance covered was 2,000 miles, the truck was shipped in a closed container, and the total cost of the shipment was $2,900.00 ($1.45 per mile).
However, the 3100 was operational upon pickup, and it is seventy-two years old. “1953 Chevrolet 3100” is one of the least informative descriptions our customers can put in their requests. This is why we ask for more information when transporting a vintage truck like that rather than a modern SUV.
The route
The 2,000-mile drive from Huntington Beach to Columbia goes through the desert Southwest and mid-South.
Huntington Beach is located near the coast of Orange County. The driver drives through inland to I-405 and I-15 north and passes through the Cajon Pass to reach Barstow.
From Barstow, the drive takes I-40 east until it reaches Columbia. It passes through the Mojave Desert and into Arizona via Kingman and Flagstaff, then moves into New Mexico through Albuquerque before entering Amarillo, which lies in the panhandle region of Texas.
The drive continues on the same interstate via Oklahoma City and Little Rock to Memphis in Tennessee where it ends up at Nashville. From here, the driver moves onto I-65 southward to Columbia.
Three trucks with the same name
An Advance Design Chevrolet from 1953 can show up for pickup in any of three quite diverse cars, and the order form makes no distinction among them.
The first is an original survivor. Almost as delivered. Which means drum brakes throughout, no brake power assist, six volt electrical system and mechanical everything. Six volts is important for pickup, because the cranking effort is less than what a contemporary driver expects. A marginal battery that starts in the shop may not start on a cold morning, which was discussed in another older vehicle.
The second is a restored original. Correct to period, but a rebuild. Often much more valuable than the survivor, but mechanically the same. The difference is what a scratch costs.
And then there is the restomod. Modern chassis or heavily modified running gear. Disc brakes and twelve volts, possibly a modern V8 engine, maybe even air suspension. This has become a common build and totally alters the handling mission.
Air ride is the one to single out here. A truck with an air suspension can rest against its bumpers because of the bleeding of the system. A truck that once had six inches of clearance while being driven might not have any at all the following morning. And the driver who has never been aware of the air ride system will only learn about it at the wrong time.
The value range can be equally large. The same three words could refer either to some rough survivor or a multi-thousand dollars build. This is why we first have to know how much the truck is really worth before we allocate the driver for it, and this is why it would be better for you to tell us the actual value.
It’s easy once we know everything. It’s hard if we learn about all this from the very beginning.
What $1.45 per mile reflects
Two opposing forces exist.
Enclosed service forces the figure higher. Enclosed trailers transport fewer vehicles per run and are more expensive to operate in addition to being less prevalent in the fleet. This surcharge applies to every enclosed shipment.
Distance drags it lower. With 2,000 miles of travel, the fixed costs of picking up and loading and securing and delivering are divided over a long haul, which is why the figure comes to $1.45 compared to $2.42 for the short haul.
The corridor looks good. I-40 is a major transcontinental route, and southern California to Nashville is a well-run route.
Enclosed transport
The open alternative was not even worth considering. The enclosed standard for a vehicle of this vintage can be seen below, and the driving distance resolves the issue. Two thousand miles of desert and plains conditions do not need to be exposed to seventy-two-year-old paint and chrome.
Chrome is the particular part of interest for an Advance Design truck. The grill bars and bumpers and trim add considerable value to the vehicle, and pitting of the chrome by rocks and other road hazards cannot be polished out.
Securing was accomplished by tying down the tires instead of chaining the frame. The 1953 Advance Design did not have tie-down points designed into it, thus tying down the tires eliminated that question. The truck was started once at pick up and once at delivery and was otherwise left alone.
Transport summary
- Origin: Huntington Beach, CA 92648
- Destination: Columbia, TN 38401
- Distance: 2,000 miles
- Service cost: $2,900.00
- Cost per mile: $1.45
- Vehicle: 1953 Chevrolet 3100 pickup
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Enclosed
- Route: Huntington Beach, CA → I-405 / I-15 north through the Cajon Pass → Barstow → I-40 east through Kingman, Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Amarillo → Oklahoma City, OK → Little Rock, AR → Memphis and Nashville, TN → I-65 south → Columbia, TN
Shipping a 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV from Las Vegas, NV to Park City, UT
Our team recently completed the shipment of 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV from Las Vegas, NV to Park City, UT. The distance was 444 miles via open trailer, costing $726.00 and totaling $1.64 per mile.
The car was driveable at pick-up time. Our blog contains information about full electric cars and standard hybrids. PHEVs represent a third situation, and customers want to know which regulations apply.
The route
The 444-mile run between Las Vegas and Park City is a climb from the Mojave into the Wasatch.
The area code 89149 is located in the northwest of Las Vegas. The drivers soon get on the I-15 highway and drive through the Moapa Valley and Mesquite, crossing the northwest of Arizona via the Virgin River Gorge.
From St. George, the I-15 highway enters Utah and keeps rising to the north as it drives through Cedar City, Beaver, and Fillmore. Further, the road passes through Nephi and Provo until the Salt Lake valley.
Near Salt Lake City, the road changes to the east and goes on the I-80 highway that climbs the Parleys Canyon into the Wasatch Range. Park City is located at the height of 7,000 feet, therefore, the driver parks in Kimball Junction.
Shipping a plug-in hybrid
The PHEV lies in the middle of the two classes that customers have known until now, and the solution is simpler than the underlying technology would suggest.
Its transportation is identical to the transportation of any other vehicle. No special trailer and no special equipment. The carriers move plug-in hybrid vehicles regularly and the high voltage system is not a problem for them.
The fuel volume should be the usual one. About a quarter of the fuel tank. This will help to transport the vehicle on board and drive it after loading without increasing the unnecessary weight of an already overloaded trailer.
The battery charge does not have to be full. Since there is a gas engine in a PHEV, the level of battery charge is not as important as in a full electric vehicle. A regular charge will suffice. There is no need to charge it before loading and nothing has to be plugged during transportation.
It’s heavier than the other two options, though. This is what you should know. A plug-in hybrid will have both the traction battery and a combustion engine, meaning that a CX-90 PHEV will weigh over 5,000 pounds, which is more than a corresponding gas SUV and even than a full EV of similar size. The carriers will make a complete pack with those statistics.
So say “PHEV” on the order instead of only the model name. A CX-90 and a CX-90 PHEV will be different weights. That is why we check up the trim and drivetrain instead of the model name.
Why $1.64 per mile
And then there are two, with the first taking precedence.
The distance comes first. With the distance of 444 miles, this is a short haul and short hauls will always have a high per mile cost. Whether the distance is 444 miles or 2,600 miles, pickup and loading are equally costly for a carrier and likewise with securement, coordination, and delivery. For a short haul like this, the fixed cost has very little distance to spread out and it takes precedence. And at $726.00, this is the cost to consider.
Vehicle weight also pushes the cost up by reason of the above. The three-row plug-in hybrid makes greater use of the weight capacity of the trailer than the sedan does.
The lane here is a favorable one. Las Vegas to Salt Lake City via I-15 is an extensively used lane.
Open transport
The CX-90 was transported in an open trailer, which is the standard selection regardless of whether the vehicle is new.
The vehicle is a new family SUV with modern factory paint. Enclosed trailers are reserved for vehicles where getting a rock chip represents an important cost issue, which is not the case for a new mass-produced SUV destined for use in a driveway. Open is also the logical solution in this size range, because enclosed trailers are limited by maximum height and length dimensions that a three-row SUV approaches.
Ground clearance was never an issue. The CX-90 is tall, so ramp angle was not an issue, and loading was very quick.
Transport summary
- Origin: Las Vegas, NV 89149
- Destination: Park City, UT 84098
- Distance: 444 miles
- Service cost: $726.00
- Cost per mile: $1.64
- Vehicle: 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Las Vegas, NV → I-15 north through Mesquite and the Virgin River Gorge → St. George, UT → Cedar City, Beaver and Fillmore → Nephi and Provo → Salt Lake City → I-80 east up Parleys Canyon → Kimball Junction → Park City, UT
Shipping a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL from Mound, MN to Bloomingdale, NJ
Not too long ago we concluded delivery of a Mercedes Benz 560SL of the year 1988 from Mound, MN to Bloomingdale, NJ. The trip took 1,209 miles with the open trailer and the price was $1,100.00 for total mileage of $0.91.
The Mercedes 560SL was operable and driven up the ramp by itself. It is important to mention that being operable means something different on a cold winter day in Minnesota than what it is mentioned in the spec sheet.
The route
The 1,209-mile drive between Mound and Bloomingdale goes through the upper Midwest region and Great Lakes area into northern New Jersey.
Mound is located on Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis. Drivers take the drive east out of the Twin Cities area, getting on I-94 and driving east through Wisconsin through Eau Claire and Madison, and onto Chicago.
From Chicago, drivers go east following I-80 going through northern Indiana and Ohio past Toledo and Cleveland into Pennsylvania. I-80 passes through Pennsylvania at Clarion and Bloomsburg to Delaware Water Gap.
Bloomingdale is located in Passaic County in northern New Jersey highlands, so the driver finishes at I-287 and NJ-23.
What “operable” means on a cold morning
This is the one thing that can trip up owners of older cars in colder states, and when it happens it’s expensive.
A car that starts when it’s warm in the garage doesn’t necessarily start when it’s cold outside on the driveway. A thirty-seven-year-old car works much harder at ten degrees than sixty degrees. A car said to be running in October does not have to run on the day you pick it up in January.
Batteries don’t crank as well when it’s cold. This is the number one reason for problems during winter pickup but it is also the easiest problem to avoid. If the car hasn’t been driven recently, then you should get it on a tender before your truck arrives, or at least the day before.
Operable and inoperable are two different loads at different rates. As explained in our discussion regarding an inoperable Range Rover, an inoperable vehicle will have to be towed using a winch since all carriers may not necessarily have them. An operable vehicle booked and which fails to start when the driver gets there is a headache for the person driving rather than an issue of documentation.
So please let us know about your doubt. If the booked vehicle is inoperable but it starts, then it’s an added advantage. But if the booked vehicle is operable and fails to do so, it’s an unsuccessful load and rebooking.
The other factor is road salt. The northern states use lots of salt on the roads and this can come under the open deck if moving in the winter months. If moving in the winter season with an old or valuable vehicle, then it’s always good to quote enclosed transport.
What $0.91 per mile reflects
There are two other factors that contribute to the figure.
Distance is the primary factor. At 1,209 miles, fixed costs of pickup, loading, securing, coordination, and delivery have quite some distance to spread across. In the case of short distance transportation, the fixed costs per mile are more or less double.
Corridor is the second factor. Interstate 94 and Interstate 80 from the Twin Cities to New York metro area is an established freight corridor with major markets on either side.
Open transport is the third factor. The higher frequency and larger volume per trip of open trailers as compared to enclosed trailers are always considered in any price quotation.
Open transport on a classic
A Mercedes-Benz R107 SL is a car that increases in value over time and a lot of owners transport theirs encased. The customer decided to transport this car open, which is an acceptable option and a choice that belongs to him/her.
Transportation in an encased trailer ensures safety from all kinds of external influences during the entire journey but is more expensive. Transportation of a vehicle open is a usual way of moving cars in this country and under good weather conditions the danger is not great. What changes the game plan in case of transportation of a car like this is the winter season and the presence of salt.
Mercedes-Benz 560SL is equipped with both removable aluminum hardtop and soft folding top. Depending on which one is installed, the car is always transported closed and locked and the mechanism is never operated while in motion. In case of the removable hardtop being detached from the car and transported separately, it should be covered as well.
Tires are strapped with soft straps instead of chains being placed around suspension.
Transport summary
- Origin: Mound, MN 55364
- Destination: Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
- Distance: 1,209 miles
- Service cost: $1,100.00
- Cost per mile: $0.91
- Vehicle: 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Mound, MN → east through the Twin Cities → I-94 east through Eau Claire and Madison, WI → Chicago, IL → I-80 east through Toledo and Cleveland, OH → across Pennsylvania via Clarion and Bloomsburg → Delaware Water Gap → I-287 / NJ-23 → Bloomingdale, NJ
Tempus Logix vs. Montway: Reviews, Services, Coverage & Costs Compared
If you have been looking for a car shipping company for a night or two, then you must have come across Montway Auto Transport Services. They are the biggest automobile transport broker in the US and are literally everywhere you look!
Biggest doesn’t always mean best. Every car that we ship is handled by a personal coordinator who knows your name, route and delivery time. This is exactly the difference between us and them, and the reviews will tell you the same story too.
We are a US transportation company and only provide domestic services. We ship in all 50 states as well as Alaska and Hawaii. All of our carriers operate in the US and that is exactly the reason behind our expertise in the lanes!
What we stand for
There are three main components of each booking we make.
First of all, customer satisfaction. You’ll be assigned a dedicated coordinator from quoting to delivery. Not a ticket number or a call queue or some kind of automated system. One individual who will have your shipment on their radar and will answer your calls.
Secondly, lower rates. We operate a network of 25,000 carriers and we offer competitive prices and explain what the quoted number really means. No hidden fees after you’ve made your mind up about us.
Third, professionalism. We are licensed and bonded under USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120. We have an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau and our carrier cargo insurance covers up to 1 million per claim. Every statement listed above is easily verifiable.
One nation, done professionally. We are a national network of carriers within the US territory. No international shipments and no customs brokers or third-party freight forwarders in the middle of your relocation process. Just good old US highways and American ports for the Alaska and Hawaii trips.
Tempus Logix vs Montway, side by side
| Metric | Tempus Logix | Montway |
|---|---|---|
| Google rating | 4.9 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.6 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| BBB customer review score | 4.8 – 4.96 / 5 | 4.43 / 5 |
| BBB rating | A+ | A+ |
| FMCSA licensing | USDOT #3117533 / MC #86120 | USDOT #2239816 |
| Dedicated coordinator per shipment | Yes | Call center model |
| Cargo insurance ceiling | Up to $1M | $250K supplemental |
| Service area | All 50 states, US domestic | Nationwide |
| Alaska & Hawaii | Yes | Yes |
| Open transport | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed transport | Yes | Yes |
| Motorcycles & ATVs | Yes | Yes |
| Boats | Standard service | Case-by-case only |
| RVs & trailers | Standard service | Case-by-case only |
| Heavy equipment | Yes | No |
| Expedited service | Yes | Yes |
| Military discount | Up to 10% | Yes |
| Cancellation fee after dispatch | Ask us for current terms | $249 |
| Carrier network | 25,000+ | 30,000+ |
Sources: BBB business profiles, Trustpilot, Google, ConsumerAffairs, Forbes Home, Cars.com. Current as of August 2026. Ratings move over time, so check them yourself before you book with anyone. That includes us.
Higher ratings on every platform
This is the number that really counts, so let’s just say it right out:
On Google, we have 4.9 out of 5 stars. Montway comes in at 4.7.
On TrustPilot, we have 4.6 out of 5. Montway has 3.7.
On the BBB customer reviews, our rating stands at 4.8 to 4.96. Montway has 4.43.
Three independent review sites. And we’re ahead on all three.
This is due to one key structural difference. For a broker moving more than 200,000 loads annually through tens of thousands of individual carriers, being consistent is extremely difficult. This means that every load is associated with a driver that the broker does not hire.
We constructed the company without that problem. This volume of shipping is intentional. It’s what allows for your freight coordinator to continue being assigned to you instead of just shuffling the load from desk to desk.
Customer satisfaction and care, in practice
When you read our reviews, regardless of the platform, you’ll see that there’s something different about us. Customers will mention the name of the individual who handled their shipment. They thank the particular coordinator by name.
This is not the case for call-center based services and gives you the difference between the two types of services.
With our service, you have one coordinator. The same person handles your quote to delivery. They already know everything about your vehicle and pickup address and don’t need you to explain things over and over again.
In addition, there are no surprises. You’re informed when the carrier is chosen, when your vehicle was picked up, and when it’s en route. It’s also mentioned that customers do not need to call and ask about anything.
However, with our service, there is no confusion during delays that inevitably happen in this business. A truck breaks down, a window breaks, or some other thing happens. What can make your day bad or awful depends on whether the person answering the phone already has your file open or not.
Recurring clients appear in many of our testimonials; there is even one about their ninth order from us after twelve years. No one returns nine times to a business that views them as nothing but a ticket.
Read them yourselves. Search for Tempus Logix on Google, or visit our pages on Trustpilot, BBB, and Transport Reviews. We also respond to bad reviews; you can check that out as well.
Read our reviews on any platform and you will notice something unusual. Customers name the person who handled their shipment, They thank a specific coordinator by name.
All 50 states, and nothing outside them
Tempus Logix is a US transportation company. We haul throughout the country and no further.
This is by design, not omission. Domestic automobile shipping and international vehicle delivery are separate enterprises. The former requires customs documentation and foreign carriers, foreign ports, and freight forwarders not controlled by your broker. Enterprises that perform both are running two enterprises.
We run one, and we run it well. All the carriers in our network of 25,000 have US roadways to haul on. All our coordinators are working US hours and know US lanes. If you have an inquiry about a truck stuck anywhere from Denver to Chicago, he or she knows the route.
What that covers:
- All 48 contiguous states, door to door
- Alaska by inland transport and barge
- Hawaii by inland transport and ocean freight to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island
- Open and enclosed trailers on every route
- Cars, motorcycles, ATVs, boats, RVs, trailers, heavy equipment, and freight
But if your car is heading overseas, then our company will not suit you, and this will be mentioned on the very first call, rather than after you have already made the deposit payment.
Alaska and Hawaii shipping, handled directly
Moving goods to the islands or up to Alaska is not like moving anywhere else and we take it very seriously indeed.
Hawaii moves in two legs because a car cannot be driven to the islands. We arrange inland transportation from your doorstep to any west coast port, normally either Long Beach or Seattle, before handing it over to ocean transport. Door-to-port or port-to-port moves are available and we will deliver it to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
In Alaska we follow the same pattern. First there is inland transportation to Port Tacoma or Seattle followed by ocean crossing using barges, after which we deliver to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
This is where it gets tricky. The ocean leg never goes wrong. The handover does. Sailing times are fixed and if the inland hauler drops off a day late, you cannot expect your car to catch the next one after an hour. It sits around till the next sailing, which may be weeks away.
This is done through a schedule controlled by one of us, rather than an automatic dispatching system. This is the reason why we insist on guaranteed time slots for pick up at these times.
See also: Alaska Car Shipping and Hawaii Car Shipping
What we ship as standard that others take case by case
Automobiles, motorcycles, and powersports shipments are part of the Montway standard offering. Boats, RVs, and trailers get special treatment in their terms: each shipment is custom handled based on availability of carriers. You ask, they look into your shipment and sometimes it gets a thumbs up. Heavy equipment, however, does not even feature in their offerings.
On our side, everything falls under our standard offering. Cars, motorcycles, ATVs, boats, RVs, trailers, heavy equipment, and freight transported on either open or enclosed trailers and quoted the same day you call us.
The distinction lies in the specifics. Suppose you have to send a boat along with a truck to the same destination; you would not want one broker to handle your truck and a gamble on the boat. Mixed shipments and unusual vehicles are quite usual here.
Insurance and terms, in writing
Cargo coverage. The carriers we work with have cargo insurance with coverage of up to $1 million dollars. At Montway, it’s the coverage provided by the carrier plus the additional supplemental coverage of $250,000.
For an everyday commuter, one is enough. But if it’s something special and rare with a high cost of replacement, then it’s the cap that matters. Ask us. Ask them. Ask all brokers you are working with, and make sure it’s in writing.
Cancelling. It costs Montway $249 dollars to cancel after a carrier has accepted your order, which has been mentioned several times in their BBB complaint file as a charge that was incurred by a customer without being aware of it.
Ask us how it works before you go ahead and order something.
Where Montway has an edge
We’re not going to claim that they don’t have any.
They are the largest brokerage firm in the industry, dealing with more than 30,000 carriers. In those regions where there are no many people or carriers, this sheer size of their network can work to your advantage by having more trucks available that are coming towards you.
If your pickup is hard to reach and time is all that you need, then their reach matters.
In all other cases, consider which one would be ready to recognize your call when you make it.
How to compare any auto transport broker
Whomever you go with, go through this checklist. It takes 10 minutes, and it weeds out all the scammers in this business.
First off, check the FMCSA license. Go to their site, enter your carrier’s USDOT number and MC number. We have ours: USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120. Many of the brokers operating on the internet have no FMCSA license at all. This means that there is no way to hold them accountable.
Check the rating on several different sites. Any company can have an impressive profile on one website. Do the comparison between Google, BBB, Trustpilot and Transport Reviews.
See how they deal with negative reviews. Every transport has its problems. The difference between the good and the bad brokers is not that the good don’t have any complaints but how do they respond to them.
Check the terms of cancelling and deposits in writing. Find out what will happen in case of a cancellation before the carrier was appointed and after. Most conflicts in this business stem from this issue.
And request cargo insurance limit. Find out if the insurance is primary or contingent and what is the limit. For anything of value, this is the most important question you could ask.
Get a quote
Our emphasis is on customer satisfaction and care, along with reduced costs, and this is evident through our high ratings on every independent platform.
Anywhere within the United States, in all 50 states, and in all types of vehicles – open and enclosed. Provide us with your route information, type of vehicle and timeframe, and you will receive an actual number and a live representative, and not just another lead form selling your phone number to 6 different companies.
Tempus Logix is a licensed and bonded auto transport brokerage operating under USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120. Comparison figures are drawn from publicly available sources as of August 2026 and may change. We encourage readers to verify independently.
Shipping a 1994 Toyota Supra from Marietta, GA to Lakeland, FL
We finished the shipping of a 1994 Toyota Supra from Marietta, GA to Lakeland, FL not too long ago. It was a 494-mile haul on an open trailer costing us $850.00, which means a per-mile rate of $1.72.
The Supra was running at the time of pickup. This being a 494-mile haul, we have a short haul here, which always carries higher per-mile rates. We should state this point clearly since the most common issue in our industry is when the quote is not where it should be.
The route
The 494-mile drive from Marietta to Lakeland is a direct line along the peninsula corridor.
Marietta is located in the northwestern side of Atlanta. The trip involves joining the I-75 south through the city and further through the cities of Macon, Tifton, and Valdosta before entering into Florida at Lake City.
Further, I-75 joins Gainesville and Ocala until Wildwood after which the road heads for the Tampa Bay region. From the I-4 junction, the journey moves eastward where Lakeland is located along the I-4 Highway in Polk County.
What happens if no carrier accepts your price
This is the question nobody tells you to ask, and the one that makes the difference between an actual quote and one that gets the booking.
There is no quote unless there are carriers that will accept it. A broker doesn’t move your car. A carrier does. If the price the broker quotes is below the price carriers in that lane will accept, nothing will happen. Your car will remain where it is, the pick-up period will pass, and you will be making phone calls.
Lowball quoting is a common practice. Some companies quote below market in order to get the booking and the deposit, and later come up to you to ask for more once you have committed to them. Industry term for such outcome is a car that will not dispatch.
The giveaway is the quote which is substantially lower than the rest. If four companies fall into a relatively narrow price range and one is way lower, this is not a better deal. This is a completely different business model. Just ask that company directly how things will proceed if no carrier accepts, and see if the answer is clear.
And then there is the proper version of lowballing. Broker must quote at the price which carriers in your lane accept. Market prices can change after booking, and what must be done in this case is to tell you the story and give you the options. Not to keep quiet and hope for the best.
Short haul looks expensive and is not. At $1.72/mile this Supra move looks expensive compared to coast-to-coast at seventy cents. Loading cost a carrier the same on every job, just like securing and unloading. And if there is only 494 miles to do that, these costs cannot be dispersed over much road. Customer who asks for coast-to-coast per mile quote on short haul is asking for a non-dispatch quote.
Ask the question then. “What happens if no carrier accepts at this price?” Every good broker has a straightforward answer.
What $1.72 per mile reflects
There are two variables and the former is more important.
Distance is the most important variable. With 494 miles it is a short run. As can be observed, all those fixed expenses affect only a short distance and hence they affect the per mile figure very much. It is $850.00 that is important.
It is beneficial due to the corridor too. The I-75 route running from Atlanta to Florida is among the busiest truck corridors in the US and is being used constantly in both directions. In some other corridor the same short distance would have costed more.
The open transport reduces the costs too. Open carriers are more efficient than enclosed carriers.
Open transport on an appreciating car
A fourth-gen Supra is significantly more valuable today than it was a decade ago, and for such a vehicle, it is a common choice to select enclosed. Our customer opted for open, which is his prerogative.
We offer our clients to make a choice while we do not decide anything for them. Enclosed option is more expensive but offers protection from road debris and weather during the entire journey. Open option is how most vehicles in this country travel, including many valuable ones, and on a 494 miles ride in moderate weather the exposure will be low. Both options are legitimate.
The only thing we demand regardless of the chosen transport type is the paperwork. On an appreciating car, condition report both at pickup and delivery becomes even more relevant than on an ordinary car, and pictures prior to loading into the truck are worth ten minutes.
Securing involved the use of soft straps over the wheels and not the chain securing of the suspension, which is especially important when it comes to cars equipped with aftermarket suspension, like the majority of Supras of this generation.
Transport summary
- Origin: Marietta, GA 30060
- Destination: Lakeland, FL 33811
- Distance: 494 miles
- Service cost: $850.00
- Cost per mile: $1.72
- Vehicle: 1994 Toyota Supra
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Marietta, GA → I-75 south through Atlanta, Macon, Tifton and Valdosta → Lake City, FL → Gainesville and Ocala → Wildwood → I-4 east → Lakeland, FL
Shipping a 2016 Honda Odyssey from Stanwood, WA to Lakeside, CA
A recent job involved shipping a 2016 Honda Odyssey that traveled 1,315 miles from Stanwood, Washington, to Lakeside, California, for a charge of $1,100.00, or $0.84 per mile.
The Odyssey could be started and drove itself up the ramp to begin the shipment. Minivan on a long haul from north to south is most often a family moving, and that begs a question that needs an answer. When does one coordinate the shipment of a car with a move?
The route
The drive of 1,315 miles from Stanwood to Lakeside is the distance of the West Coast along one interstate.
Stanwood lies north of Everett in Snohomish County. The drivers start from I-5 south and travel along it through Seattle and Tacoma, cross the Columbia River and enter Oregon at Portland, and proceed along the Willamette Valley through Salem and Eugene.
Afterwards, I-5 passes the Siskiyou Pass into California and proceeds through Redding and Sacramento down the Central Valley past Stockton and Bakersfield and then crosses Tejon Pass on the Grapevine into the Los Angeles basin.
Then I-5 travels south through Irvine and Oceanside to San Diego. Lakeside lies inland in East County, and therefore the truck completes its route on I-8 and CA-67.
Timing a vehicle shipment around a move
Most vehicle transports are booked as part of a larger move, and they are not always necessarily compatible. Here is what actually matters.
Never book until you know your arrival date. Vehicle transport is much easier to schedule according to an exact arrival date than an estimated one. Let us know about the uncertainty in your closing or lease start rather than making guesses.
Your household goods and your car follow separate schedules. They use different companies and different networks and different schedules. If a moving company gives you a two-week delivery window, this has no effect on the time of your vehicle’s delivery and vice versa.
A time gap is expected and should be planned for. On a trip such as this one, transit takes several days after the pick up. If you go ahead, you will arrive before your vehicle arrives. Short-term rental of a vehicle at the destination is normally less expensive and less complicated than trying to fit the transportation schedule into the move schedule.
With two vehicles, two strategies apply. Families who own more than one vehicle commonly drive one vehicle and ship another one. This is a great strategy, and it means that you will have one car available at the destination while the second one is in transit.
Try to keep from loading it up. Minivan looks like extra cargo space during the move and this temptation is very strong. But our 100-pound weight limit is valid. Items must go in the rear cargo area and below the window line, and personal items are not covered by the cargo insurance of the carrier.
A person needs to be available at both ends. An adult has to be present in order to release the vehicle at the pick up and receive it at the delivery point. This doesn’t have to be you, but it has to be someone and we need to know their name and number in advance.
And tell us if the delivery address changes. Address changes during the middle of a move take place all the time and it’s much easier to deal with them prior to dispatch than after.
What $0.84 per mile reflects
Behind the rate there are two key factors.
Distance is the first. Being 1,315 miles away gives the fixed costs of pick-up, loading, securing and delivery sufficient distance to spread out, but not that large one that allows a coast-to-coast rate fall to below 70 cents.
The second factor is vehicle size. The Odyssey measures slightly above 200 inches in length, providing some deck space that is longer than in case of a sedan and shorter than in case of a full-size SUV. It occupies a regular spot in the cargo hold without making trouble.
As for the corridor, it is the best possible. I-5 is the main north-south corridor for transporting goods in the West Coast and is constantly used from both directions; the Seattle and San Diego markets are at each of its ends. Availability of carriers was not an issue.
Open transport
The Odyssey went out on an open trailer, which is the only sensible way to move a finished family car.
Enclosure is required for vehicles where rock chips can be considered a monetary concern. A nine-year-old minivan bound for its new home does not fall under this category, and at more than 1,315 miles, the extra cost of enclosure would not be worth it for such protection. We already made that clear.
Ground clearance never came into consideration. The Odyssey was at standard ride height, making the ramp angle of no consequence in either direction.
Transport summary
- Origin: Stanwood, WA 98292
- Destination: Lakeside, CA 92040
- Distance: 1,315 miles
- Service cost: $1,100.00
- Cost per mile: $0.84
- Vehicle: 2016 Honda Odyssey
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Stanwood, WA → I-5 south through Seattle and Tacoma → Portland, OR → Salem and Eugene → over the Siskiyou Pass → Redding and Sacramento, CA → Stockton and Bakersfield → over Tejon Pass → Los Angeles → Oceanside → I-8 / CA-67 → Lakeside, CA
Shipping a 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque from Valley Cottage, NY to Boynton Beach, FL
We just finished transporting a 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque from Valley Cottage, NY to Boynton Beach, FL. It involved traveling 1,258 miles in a closed car carrier for the cost of $1,700.00 – that is, $1.35 per mile.
The Evoque was driveable at pick-up. It is high time we defined what enclosed transport is all about since we are using the term all the time.
The route
The drive of 1,258 miles between Valley Cottage and Boynton Beach is the East Coast corridor practically in its entirety.
Valley Cottage is located in Rockland County north of New York City. The drive goes south through the New Jersey Turnpike, and drivers get onto I-95, driving past Philadelphia through Delaware to Baltimore.
From there the interstate drives past Washington DC, through Richmond in Virginia, through Fayetteville and Florence in North Carolina, and Savannah in Georgia before going into Florida north of Jacksonville.
The drive then continues south through Daytona Beach, Melbourne, and Fort Pierce. Boynton Beach is located in Palm Beach County, so the delivery is made either at I-95 or Florida Turnpike depending on the destination address.
This is one of the most traveled lanes of traffic in the US, and enclosed carriers travel it all the time.
What enclosed transport actually is
What is enclosed is not just one thing, and the distinctions are more important than most people appreciate.
Hard-sided trailers have walls made of metal and roof made of metal. Complete protection from weather and road debris and visibility. This is what everyone thinks of and the highest level commonly available.
Soft-sided trailers are a metal frame with heavy-duty fabric sides. Still completely enclosed from road spray and debris, but a lighter structure than hard-sided and also less expensive. An acceptable solution, not a second-rate one, although hard-sided is better for high-end vehicles.
Then there is two-deck or single-deck. Most enclosed trailers have double-decks. Single-deck carriers have fewer vehicles but with more space and this is usually what a collector or an owner of exotic needs.
With liftgate or ramps. The hydraulic liftgate allows raising the vehicle to the level of the deck, eliminating any angle of approach. Absolutely necessary on a low car and completely unnecessary on an SUV.
The capacity is why the difference in price. An open carrier usually transports seven to ten vehicles. An enclosed trailer usually carries two to seven vehicles. Fewer cars on the same cost of gas and the same driver time and mileage explains most of the price difference.
But it is not climate-controlled. This is the most popular misrepresentation. Enclosed transportation provides protection from the weather and debris. It does not provide temperature control, and whoever says it does is exaggerating.
What $1.35 per mile reflects
There are two factors behind this number.
The first is enclosed service. The fewer number of trucks per shipment, the high cost of operation, as well as less trucks of the company’s fleet operating on the route all contribute to the premium and this premium does not depend on the route but applies to every enclosed booking. If the truck had been left open, the number would be much lower.
Distance makes the opposite impact. As the distance is 1,258 miles, the cost of fixed expenses such as pickup, loading, securement, and delivery have quite a long distance to distribute over, which makes it lower compared to a shorter enclosed route.
Another factor is a lane. It is one of the busiest lanes in the country for trucking, and enclosed trucks are moving in both directions there throughout the whole year.
Transport summary
- Origin: Valley Cottage, NY 10989
- Destination: Boynton Beach, FL 33472
- Distance: 1,258 miles
- Service cost: $1,700.00
- Cost per mile: $1.35
- Vehicle: 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Enclosed
- Route: Valley Cottage, NY → New Jersey Turnpike → I-95 south past Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC → Richmond, VA → Fayetteville, NC → Florence, SC → Savannah, GA → Jacksonville, FL → I-95 south through Daytona Beach and Fort Pierce → Boynton Beach, FL
Shipping a 2025 Mazda CX-5 from Malibu, CA to Surfside, FL
We recently completed the shipment of the 2025 Mazda CX-5, which traveled from Malibu, California to Surfside, Florida. The trip was 2,776 miles on an open trailer and the cost of $1,998.00 translates into $0.72/mile.
The vehicle was operational during pickup. This is an across-the-country shipping operation and it covers all aspects of the procedure, therefore a good one to discuss from start to finish. Customers want to know what happens once they place an order and the truth of the matter is that the process is much more defined than they may think.
The Route
The route of 2,776 miles goes from Malibu to Surfside starting in the Pacific Ocean side of the nation and ending in the Atlantic Ocean side of the nation.
The city of Malibu is found on the Pacific Coast Highway, northwest of Santa Monica. Motorists drive east on I-10, climbing up from the Los Angeles basin through Palm Springs, across the Colorado River at Blythe.
Most of the drive will be done using I-10. It traverses Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Cruces, enters Texas at El Paso and travels through Fort Stockton, San Antonio and Houston into Louisiana, and then down along the Gulf coast via Baton Rouge and Mobile.
The interstate heads through the Florida panhandle to Tallahassee and on to Jacksonville, after which the motorist turns to the south using I-95 through Daytona Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale, and then to Surfside in the barrier island north of Miami Beach.
What actually happens after you book
There is an established sequence of auto transport process. Being aware of it means getting rid of most worries because silence in this case means that everything is fine.
The first step is quoting. We assign a price depending on route and vehicle and trailer types. There is no need to pay yet and no service has been arranged.
Next step is booking. You approve the order, share pickup window and addresses and contact information. At this step we check any specifics, like modifications, personal belongings, access problems at either end.
Carrier assignment is the next step. We offer this load to our carriers and assign a carrier that runs your lane. It is the most invisible step and the step where all the work is actually done. We make sure that carrier is certified and insured and has good safety records.
Next comes dispatching. Carrier accepts the load and the schedule is confirmed. A deposit is a regular thing at this stage because a real service is already arranged.
Next step is the pickup call. Driver contacts you directly to coordinate pickup time, it usually happens the day before or on the morning of delivery date. In case of a full-size carrier being unable to reach your address, the location of pick-up is coordinated at this stage.
Loading and Bill of Lading come after that. Driver performs an inspection of the vehicle with you, registers the condition and signs with you. This document will be your baseline for the entire transportation process.
Next comes transit, it takes one week to ten days on this run. The truck makes several stops to load and unload the other vehicles and takes mandated rest breaks, it may park for overnight too. Long pauses in this process are quite normal.
Next comes the delivery call. Driver contacts you once more to coordinate delivery, it usually happens with one-day notice and again on the morning of delivery day.
Delivery and final inspection of the vehicle come after that. Inspect the vehicle together with the driver according to the Bill of Lading before signing. Usually balance is paid at this stage, often to the driver directly.
The step customers usually worry about most is the period between booking and dispatching.
What $0.72 per mile reflects
Three key factors worked in favor of the customer.
The first was distance. It costs the carrier just about the same to pickup and load the cargo, as well as secure the loads and coordinate them, regardless of the distance traveled, and these costs do not depend on the distance at all. Once distributed across 2,776 miles, the per-mile cost becomes minimal.
The second factor is open transport. Open-top trailers can haul more vehicles at once and make more trips than enclosed trailers, and when traveling the long distance like that, the difference grows dramatically.
Third, it is the corridor itself. The I-10 through the southern tier and I-95 along the peninsula of Florida are among the most traveled freight corridors in the country, and from Southern California to South Florida is a regular route.
Open transport
The CX-5 was shipped via open trailer, which is how the vast majority of vehicles in this country are shipped.
The CX-5 is a production compact SUV with factory clear coat. Enclosed shipping is intended for those vehicles where a rock chip constitutes a significant monetary concern; in 2,776 miles, the premium for enclosed shipping would be significant for this vehicle, which doesn’t require the service.
Loading was easy, since the vehicle started, and the CX-5 is high enough off the ground that the ramp angle was never a problem. Security was achieved with soft straps around the tires, not chains on the suspension, our normal method for securing any vehicle.
Transport summary
- Origin: Malibu, CA 90265
- Destination: Surfside, FL 33154
- Distance: 2,776 miles
- Service cost: $1,998.00
- Cost per mile: $0.72
- Vehicle: 2025 Mazda CX-5
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Route: Malibu, CA → I-10 east through Palm Springs, Blythe, Phoenix and Tucson → Las Cruces, NM → El Paso and San Antonio, TX → Houston → Baton Rouge, LA → Mobile, AL → Tallahassee and Jacksonville, FL → I-95 south through Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale → Surfside, FL
Shipping a 2010 Ducati 848 EVO from Eagle Mountain, UT to Vallejo, CA
Recently we have finished the delivery of the 2010 Ducati 848 EVO motorcycle from Eagle Mountain, UT to Vallejo, CA. The distance between these two locations is 727 miles and was transported in enclosed trailer. Our online cost calculator showed the price $764.00 for this service while the coordinator working on that order reduced the price to $685.00, which is $79 less.
This difference is worth considering since it helps to clarify the following customers’ question. Is the rate shown on the site the final rate?
The route
The 1169-kilometer journey from Eagle Mountain to Vallejo traverses the Great Basin using one interstate only.
Eagle Mountain is located in Utah County, which is south-west of Salt Lake City. Travelers drive north along Interstate 15 and then take Interstate 80 westbound.
Interstate 80 goes all the way through the Bonneville Salt Flats until it reaches Wendover, passes all of Nevada from Elko and Battle Mountain and Winnemucca to Reno.
Once in Reno, the interstate goes up Donner Pass over the Sierra Nevada and enters California via Truckee and Auburn until reaching Sacramento. Then the interstate proceeds southwest to Vallejo, which is located at the northern part of San Francisco Bay.
What the website price is, and what it is not
This particular calculator will instantly give you a price on the basis of the route and the type of the vehicle and the trailer. This is a real quote and not a lead capture tool since many people make bookings using the exact same figures.
It is a snapshot without human intervention and here are some of the things that can be done by a coordinator that the form cannot.
Check out what exactly is happening on that route this week. The calculator quotes a price on the route. The coordinator can find out whether the same carrier is doing Salt Lake to Bay Area runs with extra space, which the algorithm could never predict.
Applying a discount for which you might be eligible. There are several discounts like military, returning customers, multi-vehicle discount and others which are not automatically applied for an anonymous online quote. You should let the coordinator know if you might be eligible for any such discount.
Using your flexibility. We discussed in our recent discussion on the west coast move that more the flexibility you have, more is the number of carriers you get to choose from. A form cannot ask you about the flexibility while the coordinator can.
Calculating the vehicle price accurately. A motorcycle requires much less space than a regular car. The calculators take care of it. However, the coordinator can ask you follow-up questions about a specific bike.
And what it does not mean. It does not mean that the web quote is higher so that you can bargain with it. It only means that the instant quote is conservative by nature and sometimes a conversation can yield something which the form couldn’t see. In this case, the conversation yielded $79.
What $0.94 per mile reflects
Two factors explain this rate.
First is the deck-share rate for motorcycles. As noted above, when we moved a Honda CBX, the motorcycle occupies a fraction of the deck share used by a car on a trailer, and this rate is based on that share, not on a full deck share. Comparing the rate per mile for a motorcycle with the rate for a sedan is meaningless.
Second, of course, is distance. This is not a short move at 727 miles, but it also is not a very long move that could reduce the cost even further by spreading out the pickup, loading, securing, and delivery fixed costs.
The lane helps here as well. The route through Salt Lake City and up I-80 to the Bay Area is a steady lane in either direction, which helped the coordinator find space in the lane.
Enclosed transport and a superbike
Every motorcycle we arrange is packaged, and the supersport is no exception.
The 848 has a fairing, which is easily broken and costly to replace on a motorcycle from that generation. No additional bodywork exists for the engine, exhaust, or controls as the fairing on that motorcycle is all there is.
There is only one difference between securing a supersport motorcycle and a regular bike, and that has to do with its clip-on handlebars. A motorcycle without a crossbar means that the straps must be attached to the fork tubes or triple clamp instead. Someone that has only ever tied down motorcycles with standard handlebars may have trouble with this.
It was loaded into a front wheel chock with its suspension fully compressed by the straps to prevent any rocking during the course of 727 miles.
Transport summary
- Origin: Eagle Mountain, UT 84005
- Destination: Vallejo, CA 94590
- Distance: 727 miles
- Website quote: $764.00
- Price paid: $685.00, a $79 discount
- Cost per mile: $0.94
- Vehicle: 2010 Ducati 848 EVO
- Trailer type: Enclosed
- Route: Eagle Mountain, UT → I-15 north to Salt Lake City → I-80 west across the Bonneville Salt Flats → Wendover and Elko, NV → Winnemucca → Reno → over Donner Pass → Sacramento, CA → Fairfield → Vallejo, CA
