Best Practices for choosing a hauler

I need to have a tractor with a front loader and backhoe (about 9,000 lbs.) hauled from eastern PA to southeast TN (about 740 miles). I have placed the item on YT’s haul schedule and the UShip website.

I have received bids ranging from $620 to $3,650 which seems like a very wide range.
This is my first time having a tractor shipped and I want to avoid being scammed. What are the best practices for choosing a Hauler, is it best to pay C.O.D. or give a deposit up front? What kind of paper work should I fill out so once they load it up I can be pretty assured it will be delivered and not disappear

I have already been contacted by one person named Sean which I see has been indicated as a scammer on the YT hauler forum. I really want to avoid running into a problem so any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks, Ray

As I own a trucking company I know how I would like it done. As a hauler I would want the ser# and a picture as to the piece I'm picking up. I have been to place that had multi pieces of the same equip and only by a ser# was I sure I had the right one. C O D would be best way to go but I doubt anybody would do it that way. I would say a small down payment would be enough [10% of quote up to what you can stand to lose if it goes south]. I would also look at the middle of the road quotes [ I won't move for thes than $2-2.50 a mile depending on load size and weight] My over head is realativly low but my family likes to eat to. GET A COPY OF THE INSURANCE cargo and liability and call to see if it is still active and valid. Also when you do get your hauler lined up have the seller take pics of said equip on the trailer with plate # of truck and trailer and have the hauler & seller call when it has left and on the road. I HOPE THIS HELPS . There are alot of dirty so and so's out there oh get their US DOT # and you can check them out on www.fmcsa.gov WEB SITE FOR THEIR SAFTEY RATING.

I'm being a bit nit-picky here, but will try to clear up one item. Spent my whole working career in transport business, private, contract,& common carrier. Rather long, & seems confusing, but read it slowly, absorb each paragraph before moving on to the next one.
There is a big difference between C O D & Freight Collect shipments. Way more than 1/2 of people get them confused, customers & carriers alike.

C O D- this is the price of the item being shipped. It has nothing to do with transportation costs. This amount is collected by the driver when arriving at delivery point, before unloading. According to ICC (now DOT) rules, it must be cold green cash or certified check made payable to the shipper, unless the shipper notes & signs the original bill of lading that customer check is acceptable. The carrier remits this payment directly to the shipper. A small fee of around 1% is added to the freight charges to cover handling the money. C O D shipments can be either freight collect or freight prepaid. If freight collect, driver gets two seperate payments. One made to the shipper for price of the merchandise, other to the carrier for transportation costs.
It is used in case the shipper has doubts that the reciever will actually send payment for the items sold, or the reciever doubts that the shipper will actually send what he has already paid for.

Freight Collect- this designates that the reciever pays the transportation costs, including any money handling fees for a C O D shipment.

Freight Prepaid- this designates that the shipper pays the transportation costs.
On the standard bill of lading, there is a box on the right side in the fine print that reads "If freight is to be prepaid write or stamp here'TO BE PREPAID'_________". If this blank line is empty, the freight charges are automatically Collect. In case of dispute, this box rules legally, no matter if someone writes "prepaid" anywhere else on the bill of lading. On large sales the shipper will often absorb the frieght costs, on smaller sales shipper will add freight costs to the sale price of the merchandise

Freight Allowed- this is a collect shipment, reciever pays the freight, but deducts the freight costs when he pays the seller for the merchandise.
It is at the carrier's option to demand immediate payment or to extend 7-30 days credit, either from the shipper when loading a prepaid shipment, or from the reciever for a collect shipment.
Exception- household goods carriers (bed buggers) by law must be paid before unloading.
I know, clear as mud, but it covers the ground.
Willie

I"m in my 35th year in the trucking business and have done a number of hauls from this site. First and foremost...any hauler worth his salt doesnt need a deposit. The only time I have ever asked for a deposit is from people who have booked a haul in the past and backed out for whatever reason. Secondly, get their DOT number and insurance info and do your due diligence on both items. No DOT number or insurance? DO NOT USE THEM....PERIOD!!! Be totally honest with them about locations of pickup and delivery points...not referencing the next closest town in order to try to save yourself loaded miles (Dont ask me how I know this trick). Have a full understanding between you and the hauler as to when it will be picked up and delivered and if it will be coming to you direct or via somewhere else and if hauler will be hauling it himslef personally or hiring a subcontractor to do it. I always tell customers that seem wary to have the pickup contact call them and verify that I am legitimate and professional BEFORE I load their prized item. Lastly, have the agreed amount ready in CASH when hauler arrives with tractor. Pay him as he unchains the tractor. This has always worked for me.

Thank You; Rick, Willie and Super Trucker for your words of advice.

I agree with Rick any body worth their salt doesn"t need money up front.
I have hauled for people on this site and others, most times things go pretty smooth. I give daily check calls to let the person paying the bill know where I am each day if it is a longer haul. I also call when loaded. I offer to send a copy of insurance to party paying the bill also.
I have been on my own papers for 9years now.
I will also give references if asked, or if it will make the person more comfortable.