Shipping Costs These Days?

[DrumBob]

Can someone give me an idea of shipping costs for a car these days? I'm assuming rates have gone through the roof lately with the price of gas. Do most shippers charge per mile? And are there any other charges after mileage? 

[John_S_in_Penna]

It depends where you are, and from where you are shipping.

The big carriers with enclosed multi-car tractor-trailers are

most cost-effective across the country east and west,

or half-way across the country.  They aren't at all competitive

when transporting just one or two states away from you.

 

Last year, when gas wasn't cheap but before the cost increase,

it was about $2200 to $2400 from Arizona or California to

Pennsylvania by enclosed trailer.

 

For shorter hauls, one-car enclosed carriers are well priced.

There are a few such guys on the forum, such as Bill's Auto Works,

who do that for a living.

Edited March 28, 2022 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

If a car is inoperable, that is more work for the carrier,

and there is an extra charge.  Otherwise, you'll get a

firm quote from the carrier before-hand, and there should

be no extras.

 

If you see a car in, for example, Montana, you should get

a quote before you make the offer.  For some out-of-the-way

routes, you may wait until the carrier goes near there, and

the cost isn't as efficient either.

[DrumBob]

Just for fun, I got a shipping quote from Dallas to my home in northwest on a promising car I found on Hemmings's website. I was told it was $1650 on a covered truck, and $1250 uncovered. That was in the ballpark of what I expected.

Edited March 29, 2022 by DrumBob (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

Don't fall for one of the thousands of "companies" on the internet that are just middlemen with a fly-by-night business. They simply post your load on Central Dispatch for half of what they quote you and wait for someone desperate enough to take the job. The Boris or Igor shows up with rickety equipment and tie downs from the grocery store to take your car. Or worse, they run your credit card and nobody ever takes the job and it's virtually impossible to get your money back. So stick with either known companies that actually own their own trucks or find a professional broker who has been doing this a long time and has a good reputation (not easy to do). 

 

Remember, in shipping you get what you pay for and enclosed is always worth the few extra bucks it costs.

[63RedBrier]

If I were to get into the old vehicle transport business, I would have to charge at least $60/hour for my time, plus expenses.  Expenses would include FUEL, tolls, overnight stays.  Does this sound reasonable?  Am I missing something?  I just sold an El Camino and it went from the Washington DC area to West Palm Beach.  The driver showed up with a beautiful new Chevy GAS pickup and $9k aluminum trailer.  He said he was getting $1k for the transport which I thought was light.  He left my house about mid-afternoon and said he would have the car in Florida by noon the next day.  I hope he found a back-haul for his trip back north... 

Edited March 29, 2022 by 63RedBrier (see edit history)

[Str8-8-Dave]

I just moved a Porsche 911 from King of Prussia PA to Port Huron MI, a distance of 628 miles enclosed for $990.   The price was a pleasant surprise as it was initially estimated at $1180. Advantage Auto Transport, Palm Coast, FL.  I'd never heard of them but the dealer I bought the car from, Motorcars of the Main Line, suggested them.  Car arrived in a 2-car trailer pulled by a Dodge Ram P/U, unscathed. 

[DrumBob]

You always have good advice, Matt. I appreciate you taking the time to educate me on things like this. I'm sensing that you have to be careful in every aspect of buying an old car. 

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, DrumBob said:

I'm sensing that you have to be careful in every aspect of buying an old car. 

You do have to be careful, Bob, but it's no different

from any other venture.  A good tree trimmer, a good

electrician, longer lasting clothes, a knowledgeable

accountant, take some experience or asking of references.

 

It's not really full of perils;  but it is full of pleasure.

[Pilgrim65]

West coast shipping good and very competitive 

Alex real gentleman , great to deal with

[John_S_in_Penna]

14 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

The[n] Boris or Igor shows up with rickety equipment and tie downs from the grocery store to take your car.

 

Matt, once again you explain things well--with a "way with words!"

[Lahti35]

On 3/27/2022 at 11:33 PM, John_S_in_Penna said:

If you see a car in, for example, Montana, you should get

a quote before you make the offer.  For some out-of-the-way

routes, you may wait until the carrier goes near there, and

the cost isn't as efficient either.

I had this exact scenario a few years ago, did everything right and it still went wrong.

 

Got a quote from a reputable shipper (not a broker) accepted it, bought the car and waited for the appointed pickup time. Time came and went and them some more time came and went and then the shipper dropped the shipment because he couldn't get another pick up out that way, whining about not making money. He never once mentioned needing another shipment in the area when he quoted me a not insignificant price. Left me stranded with a paid for car 26hr round trip from home. Ended up massively inconvenienced collecting the darn car myself... shipper even had the audacity to check in later to make sure it worked out ok! I never would have bought the car if shipping had not been arranged first as was done.

 

Shipping is always a gamble, though the risk may be small with reputable carriers, no shipping is 100% for sure until it's in your driveway.  

Edited March 29, 2022 by Lahti35 (see edit history)

[Trulyvintage]

Actual Text Message Exchange Today

 

 
 

Jim

[John_S_in_Penna]

The text messages above seem like a legitimate

inquiry.  Before buying a car, someone wants an idea

of the cost to transport it.  Wise buyers factor such

costs into their offers.

 

Similarly, if someone was buying a 1962 Oldsmobile

with a bad transmission, he'd rely on a knowledgeable

person to find out approximately what the repair would cost.

He wouldn't get a firm quote, but such a consultation 

would help him decide.

 

I'm always grateful for courteous advice others give me.

Good people make the hobby very satisfying.

[Trulyvintage]

1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

The text messages above seem like a legitimate

inquiry.  Before buying a car, someone wants an idea

of the cost to transport it.  Wise buyers factor such

costs into their offers.

 

Similarly, if someone was buying a 1962 Oldsmobile

with a bad transmission, he'd rely on a knowledgeable

person to find out approximately what the repair would cost.

He wouldn't get a firm quote, but such a consultation 

would help him decide.

 

I'm always grateful for courteous advice others give me.

Good people make the hobby very 

 

I transport vehicles for vehicle owners.

I provide transport rates to vehicle owners.

 

I am not an auto transport broker.

 

Anyone considering buying a vehicle 

should be prepared to transport it

themself - they should be prepared

to fly or drive out and drive it home.

 

I advise folks to put the money into

the vehicle & drive it home if possible.

 

If that is not possible - they should

be prepared to go after it themself

with their own equipment and trailer 

it home themself.

 

If that isn’t possible - they should be

prepared to pay someone for every 

mile required to go pick it up 

and deliver it according to their

required timeframe.

 

There are more than  12 million miles

of roadway in the lower 48 states.

 

The odds that anyone who drives 

the truck pulling the trailer that 

your vehicle will be transported on

or in - is anywhere near when you

want your vehicle transported ….

are slim …

 

Most folks will not wait for 

a trip to be built involving a vehicle

drop off within a reasonable distance

of where they want their vehicle picked 

up & a vehicle pick up within a reasonable

distance of where their vehicle needs

to be dropped off.

 

The trip itself is simple.

 

Getting to the pick up location

and from the drop off location

to the next haul can involve

driving more miles than your

transport job.

 

Now - more than ever - every mile 

driven has to be paid for with

#2 diesel averaging $5.00 nationwide.

 

I just drove from Phoenix to Seattle

to Cleveland and I paid just over 

$5.00 a gallon on average … 💰

 

 

Jim

 

 

[Chris Bamford]

1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

The text messages above seem like a legitimate

inquiry.  Before buying a car, someone wants an idea

of the cost to transport it.  Wise buyers factor such

costs into their offers.

 

The OP's query was probably not wasted. I expect he's culled the list of prospective carriers if he does purchase the car. 

[Trulyvintage]

2 minutes ago, Chris Bamford said:

 

The OP's query was probably not wasted. I expect he's culled the list of prospective carriers if he does purchase the car. 

I provide transport for vehicle owners.

Not for folks shopping for a vehicle.

 

This - is my 16th year and I am 

booked thru April.

 

Jim

[alsancle]

A buddy just round tripped a car down to Amelia from New England.   Enclosed transport, single car.   Cost was close to 5k.   But basically white glove service.

[Trulyvintage]

On 3/27/2022 at 10:37 PM, DrumBob said:

Can someone give me an idea of shipping costs for a car these days? I'm assuming rates have gone through the roof lately with the price of gas. Do most shippers charge per mile? And are there any other charges after mileage? 

Transport Cost For Any Vehicle 

Is Determined By:

 

Actual vehicle

Running or rolling

Modifications and/or extra parts

Actual overall measured overall length

( height - width - curb weight 

might be required )

Pick up & drop off zip codes 

Open or enclosed transport

How long you are willing to wait

for vehicle pick up

 

The unloaded miles ultimately

determine the transport cost.

 

The longer you are actually willing

to wait to have your vehicle picked

up - the lower the cost of transport.

 

#2 diesel prices appear to have 

stabilized at a record high.

 

I am recommending that folks 

buy close to home and go

pick up a vehicle themself

if possible.

 

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

I picked up this modified VW Bug

yesterday in Fairport Harbor, Ohio

and shortly after loading the air ride

system leaked down leaving it

sitting on my enclosed trailer floor.
 

I have always loaded & unloaded

vehicles using a remote control

electric winch - I never drive vehicles

in or out of my custom enclosed

car hauler trailer.

 

This particular VW Bug has a deep

sump - which - if driven on or off

a trailer - can catch and break

open - allowing the oil to leak

and destroying the engine.

 

 

 

 

 

Jim

[edinmass]

Let’s see......buy a 3500 series dually desiel for say 100k, buy a nice featherlight trailer single hauler for say 35k, then figure in fuel, depreciation, maintenance, drivers labor, hotels, tolls, traffic, weather, and the chance of damaging a car.......down time away from home.........so the real question is........why is enclosed transport so cheap? I know what the 18 wheeler drives expect to make for a days pay..........I wouldn’t even consider it for three times what they make after everything is paid...........ever try and unload a twenty million dollar car on the side of the road with traffic wizzing by at fifty mph in a 25 mph zone? Truck drivers are the salt of the earth.......and you want to talk about a job that is a grind? 

[Matt Harwood]

4 minutes ago, edinmass said:

Let’s see......buy a 3500 series dually desiel for say 100k, buy a nice featherlight trailer single hauler for say 35k, then figure in fuel, depreciation, maintenance, drivers labor, hotels, tolls, traffic, weather, and the chance of damaging a car.......down time away from home.........so the real question is........why is enclosed transport so cheap? I know what the 18 wheeler drives expect to make for a days pay..........I wouldn’t even consider it for three times what they make after everything is paid...........ever try and unload a twenty million dollar car on the side of the road with traffic wizzing by at fifty mph in a 25 mph zone? Truck drivers are the salt of the earth.......and you want to talk about a job that is a grind? 

 

I just learned recently that the drivers don't get paid for the time they spend sitting around at shows. We paid Reliable to haul the Marmon to Amelia and paid for the shipping part, but the four days that Roy sat there babysitting the cars and getting them out of the truck when we wanted to drive it, putting it away when we were done, well, he got paid zilch. That feels wrong. I'm glad I tipped him well.

 

I agree with you--it's shocking that transportation is as affordable as it is.

[edinmass]

Real car guys spend seven days a week in the shop or playing with their cars.......

 

Real road musicians play almost every night for months at a time away from home........

 

Real truck drivers are at home in a parking lot 3000 miles away from their base location.........

 

Some people love their work......even though it’s difficult, hard on family life, and doesn’t necessarily pay lots of money..........roadies need to be on the road............regardless of their particular nitch they serve........

[Trulyvintage]

Second night in one of my regular motels

In Ohio - I need to change out a leaking

power steering pump on my truck before 

I proceed further …. 
 

I am going to replace the pressure

and return hoses too - about 

6 hours of work.

 

Got my parts together today … 👍

 

Yesterday the high was low 30’s.

Today the high was low 40’s.

Tomorrow is supposed to be

in the 60’s so I will do it then.

 

Which - is fortuitous - because

there is bad weather today - tomorrow 

and continuing Tuesday on my

route from here to Florida.

 

One of the interesting facts that

Ed discovered while researching 

the White …. 🙇‍♂️
 

The military White truck drivers

during WW1 had to also be proficient 

mechanics able to work on their

trucks when they needed maintenance 

and service.

 

Truck Drivers - in the past - were

a respected and well compensated 

trade - that has only changed relatively 

recently by some in the Public.

 

During hard times - Truck Drivers

would pay for meals for folks down

and out - stop and lend a hand to

a motorist in need.

 

I Transport To Travel.

I Travel To Tell Stories 

From The Road.

 

You can share my adventures:

 

YouTube @ 

 

 

 

Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005456325407

 

 

Jim

[edinmass]

As any true driver knows.........it’s NOT the destination.......it’s the Journey that brings you joy. Live life wherever you are..........every road is a new adventure..........unless your in Nebraska.......all the shit there looks the same!

Edited March 30, 2022 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Trulyvintage]

If I didn’t share stories from the road …

 

Ed would have never seen my one 

minute video on Facebook.

Which led to a message exchange.

Which led to Ed being the new

Caretaker of the White … 👍

 

My latest contribution was helping

to place The 1915 Telescoping Apartment

with The Volo Museum in Volo, Illinois:

 

@ 

 

I arranged with owner/builder Herb

to video over a two day period.

 

I will be transporting the camper 

along with a smaller parade car

from Florida to the museum

in the near future 👍

 

Jim

 

[edinmass]

The 1910 Chalmers is fantastic.......too bad so many collectors are afraid of the really obscure marques. They are twenty times more difficult to service, but I think they are fifty times more interesting.

[Dandy Dave]

8 hours ago, edinmass said:

As any true driver knows.........it’s NOT the destination.......it’s the Journey that brings you joy. Live life wherever you are..........every road is a new adventure..........unless your in Nebraska.......all the shit there looks the same!

Not bad on the eastern end of Nebraska. Then you get mired down in that Gumbo on the Western Side. There's an old farmer with a good team of horses close to every mud hole looking to get your money when there's mud in your eye. 😬 Dandy Dave! 

[John_S_in_Penna]

10 hours ago, edinmass said:

Let’s see......buy a 3500 series dually desiel for say 100k, buy a nice featherlight trailer single hauler for say 35k... ever try and unload a twenty million dollar car on the side of the road... 

Since we're not snobbish here, we can also say,

Buy a good used diesel, a used trailer, unload a

$20,000 car;  and a single man may really enjoy

time away from home.  He might not be taking the

job reluctantly.

 

Isn't it great to enjoy your work?  That's why there

is such variety.  Someone may enjoy accounting

and tax law in a warm, closed office;  someone may

relish the outdoors and heavy work away from home.

[Restorer32]

A one truck one trailer hauler refused to haul for us because he "only hauls for the actual owner".  In our case our client lived in Paris and bought a car in California for us to restore and this one horse shipper refused the $2500 (12 years ago) haul unless the actual owner contracted with him. I even had the owner's Power of Attorney. We are a restoration shop and ship cars often for clients we are working for.  Why he refused our money and repeat business is beyond me.

[Trulyvintage]

That was me.

I have been in business since 2006.

I transport two vehicles at a time.

I work directly with the owner.

I have transported vehicles for

folks living outside the lower 48 states.

I deal directly with vehicle owners.

If the vehicle owner is too important

or too busy to deal with me - they can

go elsewhere.

 

 

Jim

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

Drum Bob, I can assure you that most people in the 

hobby are friendly and helpful, and go out of their way

to be so.  Everyone has his own way of doing business.

 

You'll find just the right car, and fine people to work with

when the time comes.

[1912Staver]

If nothing else , we do encounter a good number of quirky personalities in this hobby. There has been a few times where the projected / estimated shipping cost has been the make or break factor on whether or not I was going to purchase the car. For many years I had a job that was extremely difficult to book time off outside of my scheduled vacation. Nearly impossible in fact as I had to be replaced by a certified substitute to comply with Federal Marine Crewing regulations. And my employer was always short of Certified relief personal. Vacation was scheduled in November of the previous year. If the trip could not be fit into my regular days off or vacation time I had reserved months previous I had no option other than a commercial hauler.

 Having a firm quote for transport prior to closing the deal was a must !

Edited March 30, 2022 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[Trulyvintage]

Auto Transport Is a unique service.

 

I operate a business and the

challenge ( more now than ever )

is not to lose money driving down

the road.

 

Unlike automotive repair - there is

no constant fixed location for

the service to be performed.

 

No one wants to wait for auto transport service

once they need it - they want

a price to be honored when the service provider may be hundreds

of miles away or more - that is why I don’t provide auto transport

quotes anymore unless someone owns a vehicle that needs transport.

 

In the past I would provide transport quotes

to folks contemplating 

buying a vehicle - then they would call 

weeks or months later 

expecting me to honor it when 

I was no where near where 

the vehicle needed to be 

picked up.

 

Your vehicle transport is always part

of a larger constantly changing

trip - a piece in a jigsaw puzzle.

 

A vehicle needs to be dropped off

relatively close to where your 

vehicle needs to be picked up

and a vehicle needs to be picked 

up relatively close to where your 

vehicle needs to be dropped off

to make your trip relatively affordable.

 

Every driven mile has to be paid for.

 

I have - in the past - built trips involving

multiple pick up and drop offs of 

vehicles - only to have the schedule fall apart because of

a cancellation - that affects every vehicle scheduled on the trip.

 

I try to keep my two car trailer full

as I travel the country - that is a challenge in itself.

 

I do one trip at a time - direct from

pick up to drop off.

 

If I have availability along a route

for a second vehicle

and/or I have an empty 

trailer to a scheduled transport - I post

availability as my schedule dictates.

 

Jim

Edited March 31, 2022 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

2022-03-31_10-24-24 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Snapped this shot from my jobsite on monday morning. I thought of these kind of threads when I saw the trailers. This is a side street/dead end road in a very large town a few miles outside of Wash DC. My first thought was, I would hate to be the guy that bought that chevelle and know that its sitting on some side street in the city!  Later that day, a guy showed up with a single car trailer hauling a prius. He unloaded and put the prius on the big trailer with the other 2. Took the small trailer away and came back and hooked up. He was driving an F350 diesel 5th wheel rig with an auxillery fuel tank behind the cab. I struck up a conversation with the guy ( I would talk to a tree if I thought it would talk back to me) and he was heading to Iowa with all 3 cars. The chevelle and Pickup were costing $1400, the prius $800. I have no idea where they started from. He has 2 trucks and the 2 trailers. We discussed the cost of doing business and the told me the insurance alone on 1 truck was $2500 a month. He was eastern european, seems like a theme. Every once in awhile I will travel for a job, this week I was going back and forth from DE to DC spending a couple of hours each day on the interstate. It was surprising to me how many of these type of transporters we passed.

[1912Staver]

Pre pandemic I would see rigs like this very frequently hauling late model , used , Canadian pickup's Down to Washington State for resale. New trucks were selling somewhat cheaper in Canada than the U.S. Our economy and $ is somewhat weaker than the U.S so in order to keep new vehicle sales robust the manufacturers discounted a bit for Canadian buyers. So the ones that were late trade ins , lease returns etc. were also selling at a discount compared to the U.S. market, used truck  prices. 

 The price difference was enough that many trucks sold new in Canada ended up in the U.S. as used vehicles. 

 The pandemic made all this much more difficult and I don't think it is happening as much any more. But for about 5 years seeing a load of late model pickups heading South was a daily occurrence.

[Walt G]

On 3/29/2022 at 9:18 PM, edinmass said:

Real car guys spend seven days a week in the shop or playing with their cars.......

So are the rest of us UNREAL?? Or part time enthusiasts?  Ed we are friends but I totally and completely disagree with what you stated.

WEG

[Trulyvintage]

1 hour ago, TAKerry said:

2022-03-31_10-24-24 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Snapped this shot from my jobsite on monday morning. I thought of these kind of threads when I saw the trailers. This is a side street/dead end road in a very large town a few miles outside of Wash DC. My first thought was, I would hate to be the guy that bought that chevelle and know that its sitting on some side street in the city!  Later that day, a guy showed up with a single car trailer hauling a prius. He unloaded and put the prius on the big trailer with the other 2. Took the small trailer away and came back and hooked up. He was driving an F350 diesel 5th wheel rig with an auxillery fuel tank behind the cab. I struck up a conversation with the guy ( I would talk to a tree if I thought it would talk back to me) and he was heading to Iowa with all 3 cars. The chevelle and Pickup were costing $1400, the prius $800. I have no idea where they started from. He has 2 trucks and the 2 trailers. We discussed the cost of doing business and the told me the insurance alone on 1 truck was $2500 a month. He was eastern european, seems like a theme. Every once in awhile I will travel for a job, this week I was going back and forth from DE to DC spending a couple of hours each day on the interstate. It was surprising to me how many of these type of transporters we passed.

So - instead of storing vehicles 

in an outside yard - the cars are

left unattended on an open trailer

on a public street ?

 

I guess that’s one way to save money.

 

Jim

[dship]

On 3/30/2022 at 6:23 AM, Dandy Dave said:

Not bad on the eastern end of Nebraska. Then you get mired down in that Gumbo on the Western Side. There's an old farmer with a good team of horses close to every mud hole looking to get your money when there's mud in your eye. 😬 Dandy Dave! 

I have quite a few paternal relatives (Shipman/Shagley) in Redcloud, NB... it's in southeast NB right over the KS border.

[BlueDevil]

On 9/24/2021, I paid $1550 to Florida Pigeon Transport LLC to get a '30 Model A from Colorado Springs, CO to Atlanta, GA enclosed.

[John_S_in_Penna]

2 hours ago, Bills Auto Works said:

...I believe when a customer locks a spot on my schedule at a certain price, I hold that price regardless... 

 

...tried my best to treat every person who inquires about my service with respect & make them feel that their needs are important to me & my business...

 

...I gladly pass along  contact information for the other transporters that I trust to the folks I cannot get on my schedule. 

 

When good words are expressed in good action,

everyone benefits.  Thank you for an inspiring business philosophy.