Need to get truck from Nashville, TN to Redding, CA

[RopinFool]

Hey all, I am looking at buying a truck located in Nashville, TN and need to get it to Redding, CA... . i have checked out some of the auto transporters on the internet and the standard rate seems to be between 1000 to 1500 which seems a little high but I have no idea what it should be... was wondering if anyone knew of any more affordable options?



Thanks alot



Grant

 

[ETanchak]

thats not bad a friend of mine wanted $500 to go from va to florida

 

[HBarlow]

A useful piece of information to provide along with your question would be the truck's configuration ---- SRW or DRW? That could make a big difference in what it can be transported on.



Harvey

 

[GAmes]

According to PC miler the practical route is 2342 miles, the shortest is 2318 miles. Even at $1500 that is only 65 cents a mile which is a bargain with the current price of fuel.

 

[Mundgyver]

So why not just buy yourself an airline ticket and make a nice road trip / vacation out of it

 

[MMeier]

I get $1. 50 a loaded mile per unit. However , for doing stuff on the cheap , check out www.UShip.com It's a Reverse EBay where people with out the proper operating authority and insurance , and God only knows what for eqiupment will haul your "stuff" for next to nothing, or less.

 

[DogDiesel]

try YTMAG

Try Yesterday's Tractor dot com hauling forum

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/haulquery.pl

They have people traveling with empty trailers and those who want stuff moved (mostly want moved cheap).

Wayne

 

[RopinFool]

sorry guys, it is a 2003 2500 shortbed 4x4



Thanks



Grant

 

[jtsandbird]

i'd pay the money or fly n drive it myself. i go to nashville from southern california every year and stay a month. you will save 30 hours each way of drive time if you fly plus the price of diesel is no longer the deal it used to be after leaving california's state line after the hurricane season last year.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Depends what you want. For $1000 you could drive it out, fly back and stay in hotels every night. Or just pay up and send it on its way.



For less money you could take a risk with a non insured carrier or try to get a TDR member to do it!

 

[ThompsonS]

DId you tell them it was a 3/4 ton truck?

and get a firm, in writing, quote?



If its a firm quote, 65 cents a mile is a very good price.



I called many places to get my 3/4 ton Suburban hauled, but once they found out it wasn't a Camry or Accord, they all wanted $3 a mile to haul it.



I could get an 18 wheeler to haul it for that.

I know fuel is expensive, but please... .



they will load it with 2 other vehicles and gross $9 a mile?



not from me they wont.





I wound up driving up and getting it myself.

A TDR member offered to haul it for cost, but we couldnt find a trailer big enough for a Burb.



Turns out I didnt get as good a deal as I thought.



Has some play in the steering box, A/C doesnt work right, back brakes not working due to mud, etc.



SHould have just turned around and driven 8 hrs back home without it.



Buy a cheap round trip ticket, so you can fly back home if the truck is not what you want. Just dont mention to the airline that you might not use the return leg, they will charge extra , way extra, like triple, for 2 one way tickets than one r/t ticket. never figured out why its way cheaper to buy 2 r/t tickets than 2 one ways.

 

[MMeier]

I called many places to get my 3/4 ton Suburban hauled, but once they found out it wasn't a Camry or Accord, they all wanted $3 a mile to haul it.



I could get an 18 wheeler to haul it for that.

I know fuel is expensive, but please... .



they will load it with 2 other vehicles and gross $9 a mile?



not from me they wont.





I wound up driving up and getting it myself.

Probably will get $9 a mile GROSS. . Now take into account whats what here, after expenses, maintenance, permits, IFTA, insurance food, tolls, if any that $9/ mile gets cut down real effin quick ! Just for your info also, know it all, alot of our 1 ton trucks are indeed 18 wheelers in the eyes of the law, mine is, have apportioned plates, insurance @ 600 a month, quarterly IFTA returns, NM weight /distance tax, subject to inspection at any given time, did you ever stop to think about that aspect of the biz? No, of course you didn't, did you? Soooooo..... tell me , are you one of those UShip regulars that look for someone to move your stuff for nothing... or less!

 

[ThompsonS]

Probably will get $9 a mile GROSS. . Now take into account whats what here, after expenses, maintenance, permits, IFTA, insurance food, tolls, if any that $9/ mile gets cut down real effin quick ! Just for your info also, know it all, alot of our 1 ton trucks are indeed 18 wheelers in the eyes of the law, mine is, have apportioned plates, insurance @ 600 a month, quarterly IFTA returns, NM weight /distance tax, subject to inspection at any given time, did you ever stop to think about that aspect of the biz? No, of course you didn't, did you? Soooooo..... tell me , are you one of those UShip regulars that look for someone to move your stuff for nothing... or less!

I used to own five 18 wheelers, 2 International cabovers, one Freightshaker cabover condo, one Freightshaker conventional, and two Ford LTL 9000s. so I know a little bit about the stuff you mentioned,



In 1995 when I sold them all, I was grossing $1. 25 a mile, and fuel was I think about $1. 50.







If I thought I could gross $8 or $9 a mile hauling cars, even with fuel at $3, Id rush out and buy as many trucks as I could.



If fuel is $3 a gal and the truck gets 5 mpg, and the trip is 500 miles, thats 100 gals or $300, for a one day drive, with 3 vehicles at $1200 each, thats a good haul! even at $500 each thats a good days pay.





Anyhoo, I am not paying that much.



I did have someone offer to go get it for $1. 50 a loaded mile. which was a good price.

never heard of Uship.

Most car haulers I know are running illegally with no ins, CDL or anything.

Using F-350's when they outta be using a bigger truck.

 

[BigPapa]

Grant,



I figured it up yesterday thinking I could offer to drive it there for you and fly back. I'm ready for a road trip. But from what I figured, it would cost you @$1000 for fuel, hotel, and plane ticket. I think you said you could get it there for that with no wear and tear on the truck or a chance of break-down or an accident.



Just thought you might could use the info,

Scott

 

[RopinFool]

Thanks for all the great input guys! I posted an ad on Uship just to see what people came up with... had two bids, both for people to drive it here, one for 1300 and one for 1000. I had previously had a low rate of 1099 to put it on an 18 wheeler transporter all the way to 1990 from FedEx to have them transport it. I had a friend tell me to try shipping it on a train, but further research revealed that this was probably the riskiest way of all!



I did the math myself on driving it back...



one way airfare to Nashville= $157 via Delta

Fuel Costs= 2500 miles, truck is supposed to get 20 mpg so that is about 125 gallons at 3. 30 a gallon= about 425 bucks

Unless I brought someone along it would probably require two nights in a hotel, so that is another 200. Then you have to eat so that is gonna be somewhere around 100 which brings the total to $900. So it really isn't worth it to me to do it myself (a weekend of rest is way worth 200 dollars to me!!!)



I feel really comfortable about the truck I am buying... it is an 03 3500 SRW 4x4 with a full DTT transmission, gauges, AFE intake, 4" exaust, a Bullydog downloader and a Quadzilla Box, with 60,000 miles on it, so really i am not to concerned about the truck not being what it is supposed to be or me not liking it!



I really was hoping that putting it on a full transport truck was gonna be cheaper (like around 600-800) but based on your input I was definitely dreaming!



I just want to get this truck out here ASAP so i can start having fun!



Grant

 

[MMeier]

Those clowns over on UShip that offer to "drive" your vehicle are most likely doing it because they want to go on vacation at your expense. They probably don't have a good running vehicle to call their own, much less get a commercial operation up to speed. Ask them to send you their operating authority and insurance and see if you hear from them again. Now, mind you, yes they could deliver your truck unscathed and all, but hell, why chance it? Accidents do happen mind you, errrant wildlife running out to greet you in the middle of the night, weather,etc. "stuff" happens! I'm supposed to be making a run from Oakland to Gerlach, north of reno around the 21st of August, any ideas , let me know.

 

[bighammer]

Those clowns over on UShip that offer to "drive" your vehicle are most likely doing it because they want to go on vacation at your expense. They probably don't have a good running vehicle to call their own, much less get a commercial operation up to speed. Ask them to send you their operating authority and insurance and see if you hear from them again. Now, mind you, yes they could deliver your truck unscathed and all, but hell, why chance it? Accidents do happen mind you, errrant wildlife running out to greet you in the middle of the night, weather,etc. "stuff" happens! I'm supposed to be making a run from Oakland to Gerlach, north of reno around the 21st of August, any ideas , let me know.

I could picture them loading it up, hooking a big trailer to it, and making a few deliveries along the way to make a little more $$$.

 

[dcoffman]

When I started trucking in 99 with my 3500 fuel was only $. 91 a gallon and I was getting $1. 35 a mile . After all came out I was clearing about $. 40 . So M&M I go along with you . The more you haul the more you clear. Someone with a Mercerdes will pay more than a person with a Chevette too. If I move truck I would charge more because they take more fuel,as does utility trailers.

 

[BGott]

Since it has performance mods you really need to go get it yourself. You can't trust anybody, not even a bonded hauler, to not crank those boxes all the way up and take it around the block. How would you prove who screwed up if there was a problem?