Soon I will need to have my new F250 transported from Granger IA to Ocala FL around 1300 miles.

I made the mistake of doing a general search online and my cell and email have been blowing up since. I’ve gotten quotes anywhere from $700 to $2000, but don’t know what to make of them other than the lowest one is probably the sketchiest….

I’ve never arranged this kind of thing before.
How does one CYA but not get hosed??
What’s reasonable pricing to be expected and how do I vet these companies/drivers?

 

The only way to for sure CYA is to use a big name company, but they cost more.
$700 quote is going to be an independent driver, and just up for grabs on a load board like uship, and may take forever.

Horseless Carriage, Reliable Auto Carriers, others like them are top of the line, but most expensive.

A decent rate will be in the $1.10 to $1.50 per miles range.

 

we used a company called Sherpa from CA to IN... was about 1400. but they had good reviews. What I learned is ALL these car haulers listed on line are brokers who hire trucks. It was stressful trying to pick one but in the end I didnt go the cheapest. I believe you get what you pay. for. We got quotes from 900-1700 for a subaru going to my sons college.
Good Luck

 

My one experience with getting a truck shipped from Washington state to New York absolutely sucked. Beware of brokers is my advice.
They'll promise you the moon and offer a good price. Then they'll post it up on an internet board that truckers check for loads. Your load will sit there until a trucker bids low enough that the broker will make money for doing essentially nothing.
It's all a big game of finding a truck going your way, with a chance of a backhaul or grabbing a nearby load at your destination to get him somewhere else. It totally sucks. If you can deal directly with the person doing the hauling by all means do so. With rising fuel prices I don't know if there will be any real bargains out there.
I'm still getting occasional emails from trucking outfits when the one time I used one was 5 or 6 years ago. I would be so leary of having some unknown transport a brand new truck that far. If at all possible I'd consider flying in and driving it home.

 

Why not take a flight up there and bring it back yourself? Mini-vacation.... That way you will be able to inspect it first-hand.

 

That's what I would do, drive it myself then fly back, you could do it in just a little over 2 days easily.

 

Would $700 even pay the fuel?

 

Great question. Especially seeing that the last time I let my F 250 get below 1/4 tank the pump shut itself off at a station pre programmed $90.

 

Sure would, plus haulers take more than one vehicle at a time, often making numerous pick ups and drops as they go along.

 

I’m considering that. Twenty hours of driving and two overnights isn’t sounding that great though. Just did that on a Uhaul last month from Texas to Fl- not fun at all but was a necessity.
For this trip, between taking off a day of work, plane tickets and hotel it’s about a wash cost wise. Oh yea, plus 300 in gas.

 

Yeah, but then you know who is transporting it and how it is being taken care of.
Were it me, I would do the whole 1300 mile drive in one stint, then fly back, no motel, sleep on the plane and when you get back.
You could do it much cheaper than hiring it done, do it on your days off work.

 

Lot of difference between a U-Haul & a new Super Duty. I guess it's all personal preference. I like driving & traveling so it would be an adventure for me. We did it in '18 when I bought a F-350 from a dealer in Raleigh, NC. It was fun. We did it in '20 with my current truck but my wife drove me to Daphne, Al. to pick it up. Whatever you decide, congratulations on your new truck!

 

The other thing is, if this is a new truck being bought from a dealer, ask the dealer if they have a hookup with a transport company.
They may get a discount with one of the bigger companies.

 

I’ve seen Reliable carriers all the time here in Fla. What other reputable companies come to mind?

Bowtieconvert- yea the Uhaul was torture LOL.
I’m admittedly not very tolerant of long drives, and the crappy ride and lack of cruise and power stuff of that F350 box van was far from my new trucks comfort and drive-ability.

 

Intercity Lines, Passport Transport, Horseless Carriage.
Just be sure to ask anyone you talk to about a quote whether they use only their own trucks or are they brokering hauls to independents.