(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Hauling companines - WHAT A MISTAKE!

J

JDemaris

Well-known Member
I've been trying to find a way to move a small car from central NY to northern MI - via the USA route. 750 miles, more or less. NY to PA to OH to MI. I'm already pulling a loaded trailer and have no room to do it myself. So, in a weak moment I went on-line and filled out one of the many forms at a transport company for an "instant on-line quote." Well, none were instant. I also checked the part of the form that stated "email only" and no phone calls. That was a week ago. Now we get a dozen phone calls a day, every day and maybe 20 emails a day from various transport companies.

Almost every one has a story like . . "they just happen to be in my area and will give me a discount", or . . "a truck is near with a 15 foot space where my car will fit", etc.

Big mistake and will never do it again. They all want at least $1000. I'm just going to sell the car and buy another one in MI at some point. I wish I could find some old drunk somewhere that needs a few bucks and pay him I (or her) to drive it up and then give some drinking money once in MI. Oh well.
 
Those trucks don't run for free. The cost of equipment, price of fuel road tax, tyres, drivers wages etc.
The price quoted you is not out of reason.
 
Other than selling it, driving it is the most sensible option. Once I bought a car on eBay (wife questioned my sanity) that was almost that far away. Got a one-way senior citizens fare on Southwest for $66, flew there and drove the car home. It has proved to be one of the best bargains I ever got.
And as a plug for Southwest, the flight departed within one minute of the scheduled time, arrived 10 minutes early at the destination. Absolutely perfect in every respect.
 
jdemaris,

Here's a different situation, but with about the same results. I responded to an ad on the internet for a metal building a couple of years ago. Same offer - instant price, close-out building, once in a lifetime deal, etc. After days of waiting I finally received a phone call. The price was way more than I can afford, but it triggered a dozen phone calls and even more e-mail messages since then.

I've told their salesmen multiple times that I can't afford their buildings, but the calls keep coming. Irritating.

Tom in TN
 
Yes, I know fuel and all else cost money. But if someone was really "in my area" with an empty space on their truck already heading for Michigan - seems adding my car to that empty space would not cost them much more - regardless if it was on there or not.
 
(quoted from post at 05:29:27 10/24/13) I've been trying to find a way to move a small car from central NY to northern MI - via the USA route. 750 miles, more or less. NY to PA to OH to MI. I'm already pulling a loaded trailer and have no room to do it myself. So, in a weak moment I went on-line and filled out one of the many forms at a transport company for an "instant on-line quote." Well, none were instant. I also checked the part of the form that stated "email only" and no phone calls. That was a week ago. Now we get a dozen phone calls a day, every day and maybe 20 emails a day from various transport companies.

Almost every one has a story like . . "they just happen to be in my area and will give me a discount", or . . "a truck is near with a 15 foot space where my car will fit", etc.

Big mistake and will never do it again. They all want at least $1000. I'm just going to sell the car and buy another one in MI at some point. I wish I could find some old drunk somewhere that needs a few bucks and pay him I (or her) to drive it up and then give some drinking money once in MI. Oh well.
Click to expand...

$1000 is BS. The preception is that you are desperate to get this hauled, so of course they will try to cash in on you.Some of these haulers act like you owe them a living and they are doing you a big favor. Anyone who has space should do it for around $500, just to help cover expenses. It won't be long before many of these pricy haulers are belly up.
 
Haul a car 750 miles for $1000? Maybe a little high but not outrageous.


The federal reimbursement rate to drive a car is .565 per mile. That's the break even point for wear on a standard passenger vehicle - not to remiburse the driver for his time.
 
I've had outstanding success with price, availability, safe completion of delivery, and overall "good karma" with hauling by using one of a couple auto/truck towing companies in my area. They're both licensed in most states due to towing and recovery for commercial truck lines, etc. They have the ability to load/unload dead vehicles and equipment, proper insurance, and it's not uncommon for them to be traveling in the general directions I usually need something hauled. Prices are competitive with most of the "independents", while results are generally better. A win/win situation. NO ONE worth the risk involved will haul for 1960's prices. So, as long as I get a good bang for the buck, I'm not as hesitant to cut loose with the bucks.
 
I agree, sounds a little high, but not outrageous. It would take up about 1/4 of the truck, so $4K for the load.
 
I'm curious, what did you think it should cost?

I can understand your frustration with all the phone calls and emails, but a $1000 price is very realistic for what you requested ($1.33/mile one way). Northern Michigan, especially the upper peninsula is far off the beaten path.

It will likely still cost you $1000 if you sell your car and have to fix up another similar car.
 
true ... seems like if the trip was goin anyway it ought to cost less ,,, cept no one mentioned the toll road prices thru there ,,just drivin a car from Louisville to philadelphia cost over 30 bux in tolls ,, bigger rigs pay a whole bunch more
 
Why not just fly back to NY and drive it back yourself? Air fare shouldn't be over a hundred bucks.

And you could check on how much of your stuff at the NY place has disappeared already. . .
 
I would be shocked to see if anyone would drive that car 750 miles for $1000. Remember that they have to get back to the destination point too.
A friend of mine was an OTR driver for 3 years and he still get asked at times from his old employer to make a run from NW PA to Texas. He declines it each time they ask.
 
Trouble is,if anybody ever tells you they're "passing through" Michigan,they're feeding you a line of crap. We're a peninsula,nobody is just passing through. You've got to be going someplace here.
 
About three weeks ago I worked with David Green at DZ9 transport to ship a car from Ohio to Oregon. Cost was 1100$, picked up on time and delivered on time. A very positive experience.
 
Trucks don't drive with empty space. They keep looking till they find something to put on that space. The other part of the load aint paying the driver full rate to only use 2/3rds of the trailer. No such thing as extra space on a truck.
 
$1000.00 for 700 miles is less than I make and that is after Dart takes their cut. Plus they would be left in Mi. where freight is hard to come by. No reputable trucking company could do it for less.
 
Seems I did not successfully get my point across - or a few here are twisting things around a bit.

I'm not surprised at quotes over $1000 from many companies for normal point-to-point trips. I AM surprised with a price that high when someone claims they have an "empty 15' space" on their truck, they just happen to be in my area, and are heading to Michigan anyway. IF that story was true - adding my Subaru to their load would not result in much of an expense difference. Just about any money paid would be "gravy."

Also -when I contact someone for a quote and tell them specifically that I do not want to be contacted by phone - and then get bombarded with calls, each day since (and it's now been over a week) - they are out of line. No one will convince me otherwise.

As to "nobody" would drive that far for that price? Well, maybe not in today's world. I asked a few local guys and had no takers. My offer was food and fuel paid for, a place to stay one night, and train and bus tickets back home plus $400. So that amounts to $200 a day in their pocket. One day entails driving and one day requires riding in a train and a bus.
 

Really? You want your car shipped for $1.33 per mile?

Any decent driver's going to get 50¢ of that, leaving 83¢ to run a truck on.

65¢ per mile for fuel, That brings us up to $1.15 leaving 17¢ to play with.

Toll road miles will whack you on average 22¢ for all miles driven on them, but we won't count them since it is possible to avoid them but it would mean more miles.

17¢ to buy a truck trailer and maintain it, sounds like a hell of a deal to me.

I guess since you're comfortable giving some old drunk the keys to it as long as you fill the trunk with Bud, you wouldn't expect your trucking company to bother with costly little crap like load or cargo insurance would ya?

This very well may be one of the strangest posts I've ever read.

Put your butt on the gray dog, ride back and drive it up yourself.
 
Mike, that was my first thought too but then I realized he must have something against airlines because he offered a bus or train to a driver.
 
Did you actually read my post? Or perhaps you've
got a reading-comprehension disorder?

My complaint is not the cost of normal point-to-
point transport.

When somebody tells me "hey, I'm coming right past
your place, I have room and heading to Michigan" -
well heck yes - I can see transporting it for even
75 cents a mile. If it was me - and I owned the
truck - I'd do it.

So - as external_link often says - "just to be clear" .
. my complaint is two-fold. #1 is about the
people who say I'm getting a "super discount"
because they making the trip anyway (with room),
and #2 about the place I called passing my
contact info to a zillion other places who won't
stop calling me after I made it CLEAR I wanted on
calls - just a quote.

I have trouble with BS artists - and it seems you
do not.
 
Too bad I'm not in NY- I'd take that deal. But then, I love a road trip, and I've travelled further than that for no reason at all- and no money in my pocket.

Had kind of a deal like that about 30 years ago, when the kids were little- somebody needed a '74 Ford and vacation trailer moved from here to Anaheim, CA. I did it for fuel and expenses, plus plane tickets back. We made it a trip to Disneyland, fine time had by all. Turns out the most anxious part of the whole deal for the old guy was how he was going to get it in a space in the mobile park storage lot, because he didn't know how to back a trailer. I got it in in a couple of tries, and he was jubilant.

BTW, I did get a Moline 4 Star delivered from central Missouri to western Washington for 500 bucks, on a "space available" deal- took 6 months before everything fell into place, but I was very happy with the deal- even gave him a generous tip! So those deals are out there. . .
 
With all the good advice you have given over the last couple of years on this forum, you are not getting much of a return for your effort. I think like you said, they did not read the part about having a little space on the truck for your little car, not like it was the only freight on the truck. I don't like driving that far anymore at my age but your offer to pay someone what you said sounds more than reasonable to me. I used to have to drive over 500 miles to service training and do the driving on Sunday and it was just expected of you. No overtime.
 
JD, If you are still looking for a driver, It might be something I could do for you. Email me at my screenname and willsee if we can figure something out.
 
(quoted from post at 10:50:59 10/24/13) Did you actually read my post? Or perhaps you've
got a reading-comprehension disorder?

My complaint is not the cost of normal point-to-
point transport.

When somebody tells me "hey, I'm coming right past
your place, I have room and heading to Michigan" -
well heck yes - I can see transporting it for even
75 cents a mile. If it was me - and I owned the
truck - I'd do it.

So - as external_link often says - "just to be clear" .
. my complaint is two-fold. #1 is about the
people who say I'm getting a "super discount"
because they making the trip anyway (with room),
and #2 about the place I called passing my
contact info to a zillion other places who won't
stop calling me after I made it CLEAR I wanted on
calls - just a quote.

I have trouble with BS artists - and it seems you
do not.
Click to expand...

Oh, I have absolutely NO problem comprehending your post. I've done this for 40 years. I've been around this block at least one time.

You want a flatbed to show up at the location you parked your car and have the driver load it and haul it.
Do you have arrangements made for a dock to load this vehicle? Is the car parked at that dock?
Is someone there with the keys to gain entry?
Do you have a dock available to unload it at the destination?
Will someone be there to take possession and pay the bill?

You say if it were you, and you owned the truck you'd do it for 75¢. That would mean you had NO experience in this line of work and I probably wouldn't want you to do it.

What you're looking for is a buddy that'll do you a favor for expenses. What you shopped for is a trucking company.

You're unhappy with the calls? What part of the internet don't you understand?

YOU POSTED YOUR PHONE NUMBER, THEN SAID DON'T CALL IT!

You didn't contact trucking companies, you threw your name out on what equates to Craigs list, and are amazed that you're getting spammed. You can't have a problem with BS artists, you gave an entire world full of them your personal contact info.

Your final paragraph kind of explains the whole problem.
You quote external_link, and wonder what's flawed with your thinking.
 
Amusing. I'm only going to say that you have not learned much in your time on these forums. There are written rules and then there are those you learn as you go along. In terms of the latter...

#1 - Many tractor collectors are truckers.

#2 - Thou shall not in any way, shape, or form, expressly or otherwise, criticize the trucking industry. (this applies 10 fold to their rates)

#2A(II)(c)(1) - You may have to change your handle and get a new ISP if you do.


On a REALLY bad day you can get a good reaming just for criticizing UPS. Live and learn.
 
I have an uncle that sounds a lot like you-we call him CHEAP! You have to understand that if everyone were like you then every trucking co. would be out of business in no time. Do you think that the first person to rent space on that trailer is getting a special deal because they are only using "the first 15 feet of space? I think not so why should it be so much cheaper for you to get "the last 15 feet'? You say that you only want to pay for the little bit of trailer that you use because you are helping to fill the load, so you expect everybody else to pay full price for the entire trailer so that you don't have to! What if you were the first guy to fill up part of that trailer and paid full price for the trailer and then found out that someone else got to use your paid for but unneeded trailer space for way less per cubic foot than what you paid, I'm sure you'd be jacked about that too! If it is so easy to drive it to your place why don't you be the one to hop on the train and go back and get it? Bingo- now that would solve the problem!!!
 
(quoted from post at 11:28:41 10/24/13) Amusing. I'm only going to say that you have not learned much in your time on these forums. There are written rules and then there are those you learn as you go along. In terms of the latter...

#1 - Many tractor collectors are truckers.

#2 - Thou shall not in any way, shape, or form, expressly or otherwise, criticize the trucking industry. (this applies 10 fold to their rates)

#2A(II)(c)(1) - You may have to change your handle and get a new ISP if you do.


On a REALLY bad day you can get a good reaming just for criticizing UPS. Live and learn.
Click to expand...

Tractor 'COLLECTORS" never cease to amaze me.

They'll come on here and whine and moan about not finding parts or the availability of them, asking where to locate any, and completely ignore our host who sells parts and provides these BS boards as a perk, but never even look at her store side of the site.

They also put their info out on a trucking dating site, and never even post their loads on the "Hauling Schedule" on the left side of this board. Availing themselves of many quality haulers who do a great job at lesser costs than the majors, and most have been vetted through the feed back forum, also listed to the left.
 
"One day entails driving and one day requires riding in a train and a bus."

There may be speedy bus and train transportation available in NY, but I think you should recheck the bus and train services available in northern Michigan. Even Grey Hound is discontinuing service to many smaller midwestern towns. North of I-96 it gets pretty desolate fast in Michigan. I could be wrong, what big cities are you close to in Michigan?
 
LOL, don't say "nobody" passes thru. We did on our way to northern WI last week and will again in a few days on our way home. I'll give you a call tonight.
 
$1000 for 750 miles IS a deal. Many reputable auto hauler's prices start at $2.50 a mile.

As for getting all the phone calls....Ron pretty much nailed it, but there's more.......you're obviously looking for a deal. Any trucker that has empty space is going to want to fill that space ASAP. They don't want to mess around waiting for a return email, thus they call you.
 
Hi
I tried dealing with a few of them. one round here had low beds going out to Alberta, one way loaded back empty.
I wanted a tractor picked up on the way back, clown told me $2500. I said it"s a mile off a highway you are passing it drives on and off!, and i"m a mile from the highway you are passing this end. a 2 ton tractor won"t burn much more fuel than empty truck.
He said that was cheap he would normally want $3500 for just my tractor on the truck!.

In the end he drove home empty and another guy did it for $750 to cover his return fuel and loading/ unloading time.
So there are the odd guys out there with brains, that realize running home empty costs money!.
Regards Robert
 
Check out the hauling sched. on the right side of this site. I just did and there are a couple on there that may be what you need. Or-It may be simpler to come back by bus or train and drive it out yourself. Sorry to see you leaving NY but cant say I blame you. Cuomo Sr nearly killed this state 20 years ago and now Cuomo jr's going to finish the job.
 
Going home empty does not always cost money. I all you can get are lowball offers it's better for everyone to go without. You start taking these "a few bucks for gas money" loads and soon everyone holds out for someone to do it for gas money and you can no longer get paying loads. Even Dart tried cutting rates a few years ago. They soon learned that that didn't work and quit. They ended up cutting a lot of drivers for a while, but now freight rates are back up and everyone is doing good again.
 
I haul most anything you can get on a step deck trailer. High wide and heavy. I start at a 1.75 per mile for partials just to turn the key in the truck. Full loads are at 2.50 and up from there for oversize and higher for over height.
Toll is about 100.00 for the thruway in NY to get to Syracuse from PA line. If you have a 53 foot trailer it is double fare for the extra length unless they changed it lately.
So I would not load that car for less than 1750.00 for a trip to MI and I live in MI. There is no such thing as a back haul. I am insured for both liability and cargo. I carry 500,000.00 cargo more than needed. I also have ramps so can load without docks for most things if needed.
I quit loading most steel like coils,lumber,drywall and such as they don't pay the rate I want. I will also bounce back if the rate is not enough.
 
when I need something hauled, the tractor hobby seems to help.
I talk to tractor people and small dealers and they usually know someone. Talk to em face to face and we usually work it out.

I was in your situation years back.(only 500 miles one way though)
Hauling estimates were much too high for me, and I was doing it alone.
So, NOT FUN, but I hauled stuff out there, unloaded the trailer and truck, turned around and came back and got some more.
Math wise, I saved about one third of the $ estimate each round trip.
Would I ever want to do it again......NO
 
Hi
The guy that did it named his price so he was happy and Obviously wasn"t loosing .
The tractor was half way back from Alberta.
The first guy was trying to charge load price from Alberta, Basically ripping me off. If the second guy had said $1200 I would of still paid it, As it would cost me that in lost shop time and fuel.
Just proves that some guys are way to greedy, and the first guy is the one that was whining, about local people not supporting him. Well I wonder why. we aren"t all completely stupid !
Regards Robert
 
(quoted from post at 15:44:47 10/24/13) $1000 for 750 miles IS a deal. Many reputable auto hauler's prices start at $2.50 a mile.
Click to expand...

Yes, $2.50 a mile, whether you're the first car on the load or if he's "got room and headed that way anyway."
 
Sorry, I can't help this. Subaru? Really? And getting it cheap as the trucker already has a partial load? Come on. It sounds like to me the same thing that corporate america wants, American Quality for China's prices. It aint easy for truckers anymore; heck I remember watching BJ and the bear in the '70s and he hauled anywhere for $1.50 a mile and Diesel was $.45 a gallon then; today it's nearly $4.00.

And IF you don;t want to be called, don't give your cell phone number out. It's called the internet where anyone can ENTER and NET all of your information.
 
a few weeks ago, I helped my cousin prep a non driving, but steering and stopping MG for shipping to up-state NY. I think he said it cost about $1400 to ship from Portland, OR to NY.
Tim in OR
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Goose
The letter wasn't a scam after all....
2
Replies
23
Views
3K
504
5
T
OT - Health Update
Replies
9
Views
488
John P.
John P.
C
What is a Carburetor?
Replies
0
Views
627
CFS Carbs
C
T
OT - HEALTH UPDATE
Replies
7
Views
278
Jim L WA
J
K
'Inherited' not running 6610
2
Replies
27
Views
685
Kipling
K
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top