Shipping Rate?
 

I just got a quote to ship my Camaro from Toronto to Houston for $2500 US. That’s similar to going from Detroit to Houston plus a couple of hours. Anyone get a quote recently to compare this to? Enclosed and insured…

That’s not to bad. The car is to special for the guy not to pay that.

That's pretty similar in distance and price to what it cost to get enclosed shipping for my Chevelle from Oregon to Iowa last fall.

Just curious...but who did you get a rate quote from?

I know it can now be a real PITA to complete the DOT importation paperwork for US Customs now days. Does that rate include all the customs paperwork? I use TFX for that specific reason as they help with most of that and include the brokerage fee for Rutherford Intl to handle all the customs end of it from the US side in Buffalo.

I just shipped a car from PA to FL, enclosed and insured for $1,700. The car was around half the value of your Camaro...

I paid that much 17 years ago to ship mine from London to LA. Enclosed & fully insured.
Sounds like a good rate to me! Good luck!

Thanks guys!

That rate is from TFX. Brokerage is an additional US$670. I’m thinking about resisting my car with freight and brokerage included in the selling price as that seems to be what is holding up the sale. And the green one just sold for $80,325 with fees!

I will never buy a car from canada again. Beware. The price every carrier promised changed on an hourly basis. Complete nightmare. Fwiw. They offered a set price to florida from toronto. Im 1300 miles closer and the price was 600 higher.

Shippers bid out the work, I guess you'd want to use a shipper/broker who has an excellent reputation and you'd insure the car as well. I know one guy shipped a car from AZ to Chicago and it was $1700 one way so $2500 sounds pretty fair.

Thanks guys. I’ve used TFX at least once per year on average since 2000 and never had an issue. They are getting this run too as the car is going to Texas.

Congrats, Mark! :headbang:

Thanks Bruce!

So you got the deal closed ??
Congrats.
The haul rate is fair, for the distance, and people need to understand that IS a long haul. The extra $670 for paperwork to the gubment is nothing but a rip off.

Agreed.

I've imported two cars from the UK. I handled the paperwork myself and drove to the port(Brunswick, GA) and picked the cars up myself.

Note: Apparently the authorities frown on firearms in a vehicle in shipping ports. Who knew?

Also note it's not just about the money. It is the time that it takes. I tried to ship some cars over 1,500 miles last year. I was told they would pick them up, but that they would have to sit in a warehouse in Arizona for 3 months. THEN they would be delivered. The cost was $1,700 per car. Apparently alot of the drivers for the big companies we all have used, are leaving and going to work for Walmart. So I said to myself, NO WAY am I going to let hundreds of thousands of dollars in cars, sit in a warehouse. I did the math and did it myself one car at a time. Just about killed me, but it's done in a few days. All cars safe and sound. AND I saved $2,400! However I will NEVER do that again. It took a toll on my health. Open trailer, sleeping in the cab of my truck with a gun with extra clips. At rest stops I would back the trailer up until the trailer was against a wall or a brick building. That way it could not be rolled off while I am dead asleep. Couldn't fit through drive-thrus. So I would call the restaurant and they would say, I am sorry sir, we can't bring food outside. I said I am pulling a trailer and can't fit. I then offered them $10 to bring it out. Worked every time, about 10 times. Chic filet, Popeyes etc ... Danny

I hear ya', Danny. I drove 1,400 miles a couple weeks ago and the age issue became apparent when I had to stop twice and nap for a couple hours. As little as 5 years ago, I would have turned that non-stop, or 1 stop for a 2 hour nap.

I never stop to sleep at night, I always time my route to drive thru the night and sleep sunrise to whenever. I park in open lots where people will be going in and out to discourage any activity in daylight.
As for food, most of the big truck stops now have fast food and convenience stores attached with plenty of well lit parking while going it to get food. I always eat in the truck, unless I have a clear line of site to the trailer.

Car Hauling
 

I actually did the last trip in 27 hours. I drove straight through just under 1,700 miles. Longest I have ever driven non-stop in 45 years! Those big truck stops like "LOVES" etc. are good. But I don't always get close enough to feel like I can leave the car. People don't want to get involved. If they see guys cutting the straps on your trailer and rolling if off your trailer on to their trailer, 90 percent of the people would say/do nothing. That's just the way it is now. I pee in a peanut container and make it happen. However I don't think I would ever do it again. Over 10,000 miles total. Now in my 60's it's a rough go. Besides, I am running out of money to buy cars... ... Danny

Boy am I ever glad I read this post. Talked about being shocked.

Is it really that bad out there when you have a car on a trailer? Do you really
have to sleep in your vehicle, go to truck stops only where you can keep an eye on your trailer, carry weapons or just never sleep?

Trust me, I am not naive but this is crazy.

I would like your input as this is going to have an impact on my plans going forward.


Paul

Depends entirely on the vehicle. Most of what I have brought home has been projects and basket cases, nothing worth tens of thousands of dollars.

BUT, I would never stop at a motel/hotel and leave the rig and car in a lot completely out of my sight. I have an open trailer and having whatever I'm hauling in plain sight just feels like too much temptation for opportunity thieves.
As for not sleeping, that is a personal choice. I prefer to limit the exposure of what I am hauling by staying on the move. I may be wired a little different in that regard from most people. I was an owner/operator for 40 years and did long haul during the winter months when the construction trade slowed/stopped in the frozen north. As a result of the long haul years, I greatly prefer to drive at night. There is a LOT less traffic and I get thru any major metropolitan areas before morning rush traffic. When I get tired enough to sleep in daylight, I stop for a few hours.

As for carrying a weapon, I will never have one in the vehicle with me. If there is any chance of being stopped for a driving violation, or forbid, an accident and you are found with a weapon in the vehicle, especially a loaded one, the reason you were stopped or crashed becomes secondary to the loaded weapon charge. If you only stay in your state and have a permit, shouldn't be a big deal, but carrying a loaded weapon across state lines becomes a REALLY big deal and your rig and whatever is on/in it is confiscated and impounded. The LEO's then become the thieves.

count on at least $1.00 a mile ? I just had a old Anglia gasser hauled from Chula Vista California just south of San Diego to Manheim PA which is a major Auto transport hub due to the Auction. And at $2700 it was the Cheapest i could find, and i have lots of friends in the car hauling business.

I would never recommend carrying a weapon. I took a big chance of losing everything. However I would NEVER carry a weapon without it being loaded. Why bother... Like what was said, tail light out, search of the car, and bye bye your classic car. Not like they will take great care of it, and you can just go swing by and pick it up. It will be gone or ruined in some way almost for sure. Alot less traffic at night is correct and great. Ya just have to push through it and make it happen. Use my trick for fast food. Worth every penny. ... Danny

Thanks guys for your input, always willing to learn the easy way.

Paul

Milwaukee to Austin last month was $2,300 with Reliable. I thought that was a bit high, but I wasn't going to take a chance with this car. When they arrived I knew I made the right choice, they took care of that car and didn't move it once.

FINALLY found a great broker that my friend who is a classic car dealer uses. Had my Regal T shipped enclosed from Omaha Nebraska to SE Michigan for $1050 plus $50.00 broker fee. Car was delivered in under 24 hours from time of pick up. Couldn't be happier. Those Russian delivery drivers are machines.

I'd rather pay more for someone who is prompt then look for a deal only to find out the car sits somewhere.

GM Powertrain, nice to see GMHTP mentioned on here, I used to write for the magazine.

That statement right there is the way to go. I made the mistake years ago of looking for a deal and my transport turned into a nightmare. The next time I transported a car I went with a known transporter.

I went through this a couple years ago with a guy who bought my 1961 Pontiac 409. Leaving SW Ontario out to British Columbia. Was all rush rush. Wanted me to OVERNIGHT the ownership AND include shipping. That was a big F@CK NO. So he arranged shipping though another guy in our area. So I asked: "Do you want the ownership MAILED to you or left with the car"? He preferred mail. It took the 5 days for ownership to get there.

He was pissy I didn't overnight express it since the car is no longer in my possession? I offered to keep MY insurance from Haggerty on the car for $50.00 till it arrived. THEN shipper says the car will site in the trailer for at least 6 weeks since he didn't have a second car for the route yet and the guy was being cheap! He did have a second car in 6 weeks. I emailed him back and said I CAN'T jeopardize my standing with the insurance company because your being cheap and told him I have cancelled my insurance.

Hell I even help with his taxes! In Bc you only pay tax on the car. So I had 2 receipts, 20% was "the car" and 80% was "the engine & trans"....

What a nightmare. I will try to help in anyway I can, but some people are just TOO needy