Shipping Recommendation (truck not running)

[Curt - TN]

It looks like the title work is finally complete for the 57 GMC I am getting so now I have to figure out the best way to get a truck that is not running from CA to TN.

Do you all have any recommendations on anyone you have used? I have seen uship.com where you can get bids.

[OrrieG]

Do a search for auto shippers, then send a message to one of the brokers for a quote. In a few minutes you will be swamped with quotes from a lot of national and local companies. I did that with a truck I wanted to ship. Some were "agents" for independent haulers, some national companies with their own drivers. All were very competitive, I am going with a regional company with their own drivers, insurance, bonding, etc. Note that non-running adds about $150 to the cost. Make sure the seller gets some info from the driver, at least a shipping truck plate number.

[joedoh]

any reason you cant just take a couple days with a borrowed trailer and go get it yourself?

there are a few reasons why I ask, the first is, when shipping a car there is what you WANT it to cost and what it will ACTUALLY cost, and those two numbers are usually separated by $5-800.

the second is, when shipping a car there is the time you WANT it to take and the time it will ACTUALLY take. people think "I pay, a week later I have" but what happens, especially with the cheaper companies, is the pickup is staged, meaning it gets dropped at a depot (usually a tow lot) and there it sits until they have one or two or four cars going the same direction. this can take up to a couple months. Not a big deal if you are waiting on your investment collectible muscle car that is just going to hold down the concrete in the garage. a bigger deal when its a project you are all fired up to work on.

the third reason is what I saw on the highway a couple days ago, a guy with a double rollback hauling a 71 454 chevelle ss and a 72 stingray, the straps must have given a little and the bumper point of the stingray had wiped out the license plate area of the chevelle. I winced on what that would cost the hauler. The plates were from two different states so I assumed it was a for-hire hauler.

picking it up yourself though, is an experience you will never forget good or bad. take your best friend, your kids, your wife; talk in the truck and stop at weird out of the way places or even tourist traps. If you cant borrow a trailer, rent a uhaul trailer in or near the city where you are picking up. they have low speed limits but will haul an engineless truck. chances are though you know someone with a trailer just sitting in a side yard. before you leave do a lot of research on how to strap a truck onto a trailer.

I have picked up cars all over the nation and driven them home. my wife still tells the stories, its worth it!

[Curt - TN]

Originally Posted by joedoh

any reason you cant just take a couple days with a borrowed trailer and go get it yourself?

there are a few reasons why I ask, the first is, when shipping a car there is what you WANT it to cost and what it will ACTUALLY cost, and those two numbers are usually separated by $5-800.

the second is, when shipping a car there is the time you WANT it to take and the time it will ACTUALLY take. people think "I pay, a week later I have" but what happens, especially with the cheaper companies, is the pickup is staged, meaning it gets dropped at a depot (usually a tow lot) and there it sits until they have one or two or four cars going the same direction. this can take up to a couple months. Not a big deal if you are waiting on your investment collectible muscle car that is just going to hold down the concrete in the garage. a bigger deal when its a project you are all fired up to work on.

the third reason is what I saw on the highway a couple days ago, a guy with a double rollback hauling a 71 454 chevelle ss and a 72 stingray, the straps must have given a little and the bumper point of the stingray had wiped out the license plate area of the chevelle. I winced on what that would cost the hauler. The plates were from two different states so I assumed it was a for-hire hauler.

picking it up yourself though, is an experience you will never forget good or bad. take your best friend, your kids, your wife; talk in the truck and stop at weird out of the way places or even tourist traps. If you cant borrow a trailer, rent a uhaul trailer in or near the city where you are picking up. they have low speed limits but will haul an engineless truck. chances are though you know someone with a trailer just sitting in a side yard. before you leave do a lot of research on how to strap a truck onto a trailer.

I have picked up cars all over the nation and driven them home. my wife still tells the stories, its worth it!

I would like to pick it up myself and I have a good diesel truck and an enclosed trailer to do it with but it is over 2000 miles each way. Between the fuel cost and having to take vacation the math just does not work.

I did some math and at the $1000 to $1500 price I have been getting quoted to ship it I figured it would cost me at least $800 in fuel plus the vacation time so even at $1500 it is a better deal for me.

The truck is a project and if it gets an extra scratch I can live with it becasue it has a lot to start with

[63 & 64 Bowties]

One thing I would suggest, use a company that has an office in your home state.
Several years ago I had an issue with a transporter damaging a car that I bought and was being shipped to me. I live in VA, the broker I used was in NY and the trucker was based in another state which I don't remember where, but it wasn't in my state.
I called the broker to file a claim (estimate about $2,000) Several months went by and it looked like they weren't gonna pay up. I went to see an attorney about filing suit. I got the bad news, I would have to file suit in NY, not here in VA. Luckily, the broker finally paid up, but if they hadn't, my only recourse would have been several trips to NY.

[R&B51]

I needed a rolling chassis transported from Ohio to Oklahoma. I put it out for bids on Uship. Ended up using RD Warren transport. 567–525–1585. He does vehicle delivery on open or closed trailer. Price was good, communication good, arrived and handled carefully, even helped me get it from is trailer into garage. Really nice guy. I would use him again.

[73kay]

One thing I've noticed on ubid is they start out high but if you wait a week or two and let them fight for it. Your save a good bit of cash. But that all depends on your timeframe.

[dirish]

Used a place out of Portland Tn. Sorry no name but on time, friendly and price was fair. That may be a start?