Shipping our trucks

[nibs]

Ok, so a few of you that have been following my build thread know that my father has been kicking ass on the body and paint of my truck while I have been overseas. Well, the time has come and its looking like my baby is coming home now!

The only thing is that there is about 1000 miles between our door steps... He lives in Colorado just north of Denver, and I live in southern California pretty close to the San Bernardino area. We though about driving his truck with a trailer, but the cost of fuel to get it to Cali and then drive back, would be pretty expensive, not to mention time consuming.

Now I am looking into getting it shipped out on a truck, and then flying him out here for when it gets here.

Here are my questions and concerns
-Would you put it in an inclosed? or not worry about it and do an open trailer?
-If you say open, have you ever had any damage done? due to weather, people, road gunk, or the operator?
-What has been your average price to ship it?
-Who do you prefer to go through? you know anyone that does it?

Ive never had to do this kind of thing before, so Im just trying to calm some nerves...
Here is a pic for your click!(its the truck in question by the way)