Best method of shipping items that weight 1-2 tons?

Dan Seaver

Dan Seaver

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
898
The title says it all; I'm going to need to have a few items shipped that weigh between 2000 and 4000 pounds but I need a good shipping price.

Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
-Dan
 
Can you fit 'em in a USPS Flat Rate box? :D

Here's a site that compares some carriers.
 
I've had decent experience with Roadway. That said, see if you know anybody that works for a trucking company. If you can get in on an empty load between two points you can save some green. That's usually a "gotta know someone" sort of thing though.

-d
 
With the 'economic downturn' as they effectionately call it here, you may be able to find a private 'hot shot' transporter that you can bargain with.
 
Thanks for the help. $500 is slightly better than I expected so if I don't get a deal with a trucking company (unlikely I'm in the middle of nowhere...) its not a bad price to pay.

Thanks again!
-Dan
 
Dan Seaver said:
The title says it all; I'm going to need to have a few items shipped that weigh between 2000 and 4000 pounds but I need a good shipping price.
Click to expand...

How far does it have to go?

If you are receiving the item..........

Call some of your friendly local salvage yards, any good one will have a shipping discount, and see how much their price is to have it shipped to them. They should get a 50-70% discount. Add $100 'trouble fee' for them to unload with their forklift and set it in the bed of your truck.

If you are shipping the item, same deal. Ask them to ship it for you. Discounts abound among recyclers.
 
Dan Seaver said:
The title says it all; I'm going to need to have a few items shipped that weigh between 2000 and 4000 pounds but I need a good shipping price.

Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
-Dan
Click to expand...

A lot of companies get discounts up to 75%, but the key is getting everything shipped at a low class, higher the class, the more expensive. Our company gets 75% discount with everything shipped class 60 (low). PM me the two zips and actual weight and I might be able to help. A quote is free.
Jim
 
If your buying steel wow thats alot ,if you have a friend with a 1 ton diesel truck and trailer might be best to go get it.
 
Sometimes it is cheaper to move it yourself.

Many years back I had a friend who moved here from Hartford,Conn. He had a restaurant up there, and wanted to ship all his equipment down for his new store. The rates were exorbitant. Add to that the amount the trucking co. wanted to pack up and load the stuff and it worked out to be around $12,000, and they said they could have the stuff here in two or three weeks. I told him to get two one way tickets to Hartford. We flew up, got a good nights sleep, went down to Jartran and picked up the commercial truck I had reserved ( they never asked for my CDL, and I never said that I had one). We drove over to the storage warehouse, loaded the equipment with their fork lift, and headed for Norfolk. Ten hours later we were here. The whole trip and expenses cost $200 and took two days. My friend asked what he owed me, I said nothing, he gave my wife $1000.


Stacy
 
I wouldn't trust Roadway. We used to get aluminum extrusion from chicago delivered by them, typically at least one crate would have major impact damage, fork punctures etc. we started building in a 10% roadway factor to all of our orders, because 5-10 percent of our extrusion came in ruined.

There should be a rail line somewhere close to you, see what it would cost to get it on a train, up to the closest freight terminal, then on a truck to your place You gotta know someone who's got a suitable truck locally.

-Page
 
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