One in five trucks that are sold in the United States is sold to the great state of Texas. Texas also accounts for 15% of the country’s large truck sales, which is twice as high as California, the second-largest truck market in America. Needless to say, Texans love their trucks. With the new great migration, many people are moving to Texas and some are moving away, but the common ground is that everyone wants to keep their truck. Who’s to blame for someone who wants to keep their truck? With vehicle shortages and global shipping issues, it’s almost impossible to buy a new truck in this market. The question is, can you even ship your pickup truck? It’s bigger than those little sedans you see on the trailers on the highway. We’re here to say, yes, you can ship your pickup truck, but there are some things you may need to think about when shipping a truck.
Do Your Research
As they say, “No research without action, no action without research.” It’s foolish to go into something blind, especially when it comes to something as precious as your truck. There are tons of shipping options, and if you have a pickup truck, it’s easy to get through. A simple question will weed out a lot of auto-shippers. “Do you ship pick-up trucks?” That’s it. Most auto shipping companies will tell you they can ship a rocket ship to the moon on their websites, but when you actually ask them, they’ll tell you the limitations of their business. You can easily go through a few businesses with a simple phone call. Any quality shipping company will have live customer service representatives to answer any of your questions. This also gives you a good idea of how the company works. Are they friendly? Helpful? Do they sound like they’d rather be at lunch in Cabo than on the phone with you? If this is how they treat their potential customers, just imagine how they’ll treat you when they already have your money.
While you are on the phone with them, it may be a good time to ask about their insurance. There are tons of shipping company scams out there. Many don’t even plan on shipping their trucks. If you ask about their insurance coverage and ask to see the documents, they’ll be an instant winner who is legally licensed to do business with you.
Shipping Costs aren’t Cheap
Then again, neither is driving your vehicle on your own. If you’re at this step, you’ve probably called a few companies and gotten several quotes. Shipping a truck isn’t cheap. Gas prices are soaring, and the further you have to ship, the more expensive it’s going to be. However, when you think about it, driving your own car may be even more expensive. Many people don’t think about food, hotel stays, parking fees, and the wear and tear on their cars if they have to drive them themselves.
How to Ship a Pickup Truck
There are two main ways to transport your car on a trailer. There’s open transport and enclosed transport. Enclosed transport has a canvas cover or a hard shell that surrounds the trailer to help protect the vehicles from the elements. It’s a little safer, but if you’re shipping a larger truck, this may not be an option. Depending on the clearance, it may not fit inside the shipping container. If you want to discuss enclosed transport, it’s important to know the clearance of your vehicle. Let your sales rep know the size of your truck, and see if there are any good options for it.
Then there is open transport. It’s always cheaper and often quicker to ship your car by open transport. 95% of shipping trailers are open-top transport, so you’re likely to get a better deal with a quicker pickup if you choose this route. The issue is, with open transport, your truck is exposed to the elements. That means dust and debris could damage your paint or chip your windshield. But keep in mind that insurance you asked about earlier. They cover all of this under the driver’s insurance if anything goes awry. Plus, even car dealerships ship their brand new cars in open transport, so it’s really not that bad.
Last Check
You got your quotes, you know the companies are legit, and you know your truck will fit on the trailer. You’re all set. The last piece is to do what everyone must do when shipping their car. Check the Bill of Lading. This is a document that every car has when it’s shipped. The driver will do a full inspection of your car before they hitch it to the trailer. On the Bill of Lading they will include any prior damage, scratches, and issues. When the truck arrives, you sign the Bill of Lading and the transaction is over. But wait, don’t sign it yet. Do your own inspection of the truck. Make sure there aren’t any new dents or dings. The insurance company will look at the Bill of Lading as law. Make sure the law is on your side.
If you’re interested in shipping your pickup truck, Fort Worth Auto Transport is a fantastic option. They ship to all 50 states, including Puerto Rico, and have years of experience shipping trucks of all sizes. The best part is that insurance is included in their quote. No hidden fees and a world-class customer service team.
