Long distance equipment moving

aczlan · Sep 11, 2013

LD1 said:
Wow, yea for a 8k trailer, alabama to washington isnt gonna be cheap.
2500 miles give or take @ 10MPG loaded, about $1000 in fuel loaded. Then the return trip. Gonna cost close to $1600-1800 total in fuel. Might make it in 2 days, so figure a 5 day week round trip, 5 nights in a hotel, meals, looking at 3k just in expenses. Then you have to pay someone a weeks worth of wages......
I doubt anyone would ship that for under $5k. And if they are, I dont see how they make money:laughing: Sure if you had a semi w/sleeper and hit grocery stores, but worse fuel economy.
I saw that show once about shipping wars. Just dont see how they stay afloat with some of the pricing I seen.

The trick is finding someone heading back from that area to your area (deadheading) who has already been paid for the other leg of the trip and is looking for something to help with fuel going home.

Another option might be someone running a "wedge" car hauler as seen at: Shipping Boat Across Country - Recommendations? - Malibu Boats - General Discussion Area - TheMalibuCrew.com

Aaron Z

Furu · Sep 13, 2013

cockeyedMFer said:
call 1-888-736-8287. You may have to ask for commercial rentals as the website only shows only have dakotas and canyons.

I'll add that last year my Chevy K20 was totaled and the at-fault driver's insurance paid for a rental while my truck was at the estimator's. Told them I needed a truck for my daily work - including towing a trailer - and they gave me a clean, bare bones 2012 Chevy pickup. Their only concern was that my trailer wouldn't exceed the capacity of the truck.

That is a good contact for the company. Unfortunately they do not do one way rentals so I would have to drive both ways but still better than putting that much wear and tear on my vehicle. Overall they offer a pretty good deal.

LD1 · Sep 13, 2013

What kind of deal did they offer you??? and for what kind of truck??

Furu · Sep 13, 2013

LD1 said:
What kind of deal did they offer you??? and for what kind of truck??

Company rates were $425/week 1000 free miles then $.20/mile
After a discussion and then a days internal discussion they got back to me with $1200/week unlimited miles.
Vehicle 3/4 ton Ram most likely but some Fords.

mikehaugen · Sep 13, 2013

Well if you can do it in a week (which I sure would think you could) and about $2000-2500 in fuel it puts you at about half of the original quote. Plus you get a road trip out of it! I'm not sure about your situation, but to me that is a plus.

LD1 · Sep 13, 2013

Thats not terrible if you can afford a week for a road trip.

QRTRHRS · Sep 13, 2013

Furu said:
I question if there is a good or easy solution to my issue but thought I would turn to the group which has a large collective experience.

In the next couple of months I need to move a portable mill from Alabama to the Pacific Northwest. I have been quoted by the manufacturer that the folks they use charge $2.70 per mile. That is a bit over $7500 in shipping.:shocked:
Obviously I am looking at another option. One of which is to pick it up myself and tow it but don't want to drive there and back.
A solution would be renting a truck and towing but I am fairly certain that Penske and others do not allow you to tow a trailer that is not theirs. Their trailers are built for cars and thus will not handle a 30 foot trailer on top of their trailer most likely.
Are there any rental companies that anyone is aware of that will rent a vehicle for tow purposes? Any good ideas on a workable solution other than the shipping costs I mentioned.

Just a thought here. Have you checked with any of the LTL's like Old Dominion? The mill would have to fit in a 26 foot pup trailer and be boxed real well because the LTL's can beat freight to death at the terminals in order to stuff yet more items into a trailer.

aczlan · Sep 13, 2013

QRTRHRS said:
Just a thought here. Have you checked with any of the LTL's like Old Dominion? The mill would have to fit in a 26 foot pup trailer and be boxed real well because the LTL's can beat freight to death at the terminals in order to stuff yet more items into a trailer.

He said that its 30' long which precludes Old Dominion, ABF, etc.

Aaron Z

cockeyedMFer · Sep 13, 2013

What's the overall width and length of your load? Weight? Start and end zip code, and what's the delivery address situation - commercial, residential, farm etc?

I can talk to my freight broker Monday and see if he has any ideas. He always enjoys my "unique" shipments LOL