Getting a Backhoe Shipped

[bdog]

I have used uship a few times with good luck. Be careful though with something that size because there are lots of people on uship with trucks and or trailers not adequate for something that heavy that will try to haul it anyway.

I have a peterbilt and step deck and would haul it for $350 going that far but I am in Texas so that is no help to you.

It could be hauled safely on a tandem dual gooseneck behind a one ton dually.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have used uShip with good results.

I was honest with the weight of my backhoe and the cost was always exactly what they bid.

 

[TractorGuy]

Guess I'm fixing to find out. Just bought a BH that's 640 miles away. Seller says he has someone that will haul it for $2 a loaded mile. I went ahead and filled out a uship quote inquiry anyways just to see what comes back but the $2 figure sounds fair.

 

[Barnbuilder]

Find someone with a tandem rollback. The Bobcat dealer here has one. Maybe a rigging company. My JCB 212 weighed that and I used Uship when I sold it to ship it to Texas.

 

[davesl708]

You might try Freight Quote. Ask about filling a back haul. They do the search for a truck.
Might save a few $$

 

[wcampbell47]

I guess this is the right section for this topic.

I am looking into purchasing a used backhoe that is 155 miles away. I have no way to haul a 13000 lb machine so I will have to arrange to have it shipped. I figured going through uShip. They estimate $398. Anybody use them? Are their estimates accurate? Any special requirements I should ask for?

I am registered with Uship as a service provider. I don't haul much because I make more money with my tractor than hauling. As mentioned in the thread be honest with the weight. Check out the equipment the bidder has. Your backhoe is right on the edge of requiring a heavy duty equipment trailer or a tandem axle dual wheel mini float. I would not pull with less than a one ton truck. You can buy cargo insurance through Uship which may allow for a cheaper bid. Consider the haulers time in loading and chaining down the machine. In Texas I would have to chain down the tractor, the FEL and the backhoe separately to be legal. Doubtful his mileage is going to be much better than 6 to 8 mpg loaded. According to my calculations I would bid $2.40 per mile. That would pay me labor to chain it down, fuel, and a trip home with no back haul. Hope this helps.

 

[JJZ 109]

Be ready for an email and telephone onslaught if you sign into any online services that promise to find trucks for your load. Brokers will inundate you and promise the moon.
I once had a 1997 F Super Duty (F450) bucket truck sold to someone in a neighboring state. Also thought I had a truck lined up within a certain time window through one of these outfits. Broker kept promising, truck never showed up. Buyer got frustrated and backed out after almost 3 weeks of waiting.

 

[Copperhead]

The big problem is layers between the shipper and the hauler. Brokers will try to come in lower to line up the load, and they offer it at a poverty rate to a hauler. When they do that, it takes a long time to line up a reliable hauler to do the load. Average flatbed rates for the SE U.S. is right now at about 2.18 a mile. Florida comes in at under $2 a mile. Tampa area is averaging $1.88. The broker is going to take a cut of the action, so the rate has to be higher than these numbers to the shipper. And the OP is asking for a short haul. That adds a premium to the price also. If my semi was pulling a flat, and I was doing the job, I would not even consider for less than $2.50 a mile, and probably not even take it at that rate unless I was desperate. I could be persuaded at $2.75-$3.00, but that is depending on the deadhead miles to come and get the load. I would have to be close by to make it worth it.