Can someone please recommend a reputable company to transport my car from Arkansas to California. I need one as soon as possible. I joined one of those website 'things' and I've just been bombarded with e-mails and spam!!! Thanks in advanced!
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Been there! The search function above is your friend, try these guys. Troy highly recommends them
Call Robert Martin
786-802-2081
I just contacted Robert Sunday about moving a car for me. He is very responsive and professional. Robert is a broker but he will still quote you a fair price while trying to get the car moved as soon as possible. Hisnspeed and price are limited by who he can find for a particular route at his quoted rate. He knows the market rates and tries to keep his prices competitive.
Keep in mind that Robert doesnt actually drive the truck. As a broker he lists the job on a national service network/exchange. Dont worry too much about that. If he knows you come referred by Troy he will be selective and only work with licensed/insured drivers he is familar with. He knows his stuff.
Open transport is cheapest and most abundant. Typically 1.50 per mile plus 100.00 (give or take) for your broker fees. Most shippers are looking for 2.00 a mile for running/stopping cars. Non-runners have extra fees. If you want to ship extra parts with the car, thats also extra. Typically most shippers allow up to 100lbs of parts in the trunk. Closed transport is typically 3.00-4.00 per mile, plus fees.
Refently I needed a car moved from Gardnerville NV to Morgan Hill CA. That's 230-260 miles. I tried uShip and all my bids were from other brokers and they wanted $500.00-600.00 for an open truck. I reached out to Robert. He was shooting to get it done for $450.00. He listed the job on the shipping exchange (think uShip on steroids) for $350.00. That $100.00 delta is his fee for listing the job and weeding out the spam / other brokers / meth heads with no insurance. The lower price of 1.25/1.50 per mile meant that it would take longer to find a driver. Depending on the route it could take 5 to 7 days to find someone at that rate. If you up the price to $2.00 a mile you will get more activity. Maybe 3 to 5 days? Some routes are easier (LA to SF). Others are harder.
If you use UShip you will learn that UShip just turns you the broker. The first replies you get on uShip will be from other brokers. They will have their own fees on top of the $40.00/45.00 UShip charges (and the $50.00 uShip charges the drivers!) After a day or so you will start to get contacted by actual owner operators and their bids are a little cheaper than the brokers.
Anyway... It's late and I'm rambling. Long story short, the days on $1.00 per mile for auto transport are long gone. Everybody has a fee and they are happy to pass it to you. Find someone who is licensed and insured!
Good luck!
Never ever get on line and fill out a quote request, you'll get hammered with fly by night Brokers calling and emailing for months to come after you have had the vehicle hauled. ( Some even sell your contact info ( enjoy the spam)
U-Ship is a poor Load Board for shipping aka a low balling Gypsie ill equipped carrier hauling your baby ?
Their is one truly professional Broker I dealt with for 9 years on a weekly bases: is " McNutt Auto Transport "
Most reliable carriers subscribe to " Central Dispatch " the, Load Board. Make sure who ever hauls your vehicle has a DOT number AND a Motor Carrier number ( MC is an owner operator) Make sure that they just don't tell you they are well insured , GET a current copy of the Insurance and CALL that insurance company to confirm current coverage . Then go on line and do a search of that transport company for customer feedbacks, in some instances you'll be amazed thay are still i business. Lastly you can go to USDOT web sight and enter the DOT and Motor Carrier numbers to get up to date information on DOT compliance , Out Of Service events, accidents and more that tell the entire history of a particular transport company.
You can bargain pricing especially when you are ( recommended) paying cash COD direct to the driver , that will put you at the top of the list as who doesn't prefer cash~
Finally, make sure that upon delivery to you ( daylight only) you carefully go over the car with a fine tooth comb WITH the driver present and note any damages on the Bill of Lading , if you don't do this, you have no recourse whatsoever.
Alan Merklin aka Drclock
former owner: 30 East Auto Transport LLC.
Just throwing another out there. Used UShip.com a few times. Always very happy. Had a Ducati brought up from SC for like $300. Guy picked it up in a rural home and brought it to my door. Recently had a racing kart brought to me (in Boston) from Ann Arbor. You put what you want shipped online and the bids come in. You can see the seller rating, insurance, etc. The bids are high when things start but setting down into the reasonable range. My bike started at $700+ then dropped to $300. May not be right for what you want but...
"Central Dispatch" - thats it! I couldn't remember the name!
Thanks doc!
As Ted explained.
Robert Martin knows that he is not going to continue getting referrals from me or other SOC members if he doesn't provide good service for all of us.
If you use anyone else, you are simply one guy to them. With Robert you are part of a group that will generate additional referrals if everything goes well.
Thanks everyone! I have already contacted Robert Martin and mentioned your referral Troy Sloan. I love this site!!!!!
See how this transpires...
Does someone know his e-mail address please..I've spoken to him already but just want to follow up via email.
