Truck Shipping

Written by:

Dash Lewis , Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

02/18/2024 08:08 PM

Key Points:

• The size of your truck, the distance you’re shipping it, and the type of transport you choose all affect the cost of truck shipping.
• The truck shipping process is nearly identical to shipping a standard car, except a truck is bigger and heavier so it costs a bit more to ship.
• Montway Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship are two of the most popular truck shipping companies on the market.

The process for shipping a pickup or heavy-duty truck isn’t very different from shipping a standard car. Most auto transport companies offer truck shipping in open or enclosed carriers directly to your door. In this article, we’ll map out the truck shipping process and spotlight some of the best car shipping companies for transporting trucks.

Featured Car Shipping Companies

Our #1 rated auto transport provider

Reputation: A+ rating from BBBCost: Military, return customer, and pay-in-cash discountsInsurance: Up to $100,000 of insurance included

844-601-0286 Get a Free Estimate On Montway’s Website

Best for Price-Matching

Reputation: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars on TrustpilotCost: Up to 10% off via MarketWatchInsurance: Fully insured from pick up to delivery

864-635-4879 Get a Free Estimate On SGT’s Website

Positive Customer Experience

Reputation: Top-of-the-line customer serviceCost: Quote won’t change after you bookInsurance: $100,000 in cargo insurance coverage

888-216-2214 Get a Free Estimate On Sherpa’s Website

Simple Online Process

Reputation: Shipping vehicles since 2015Cost: Military and multiple-vehicle discountsInsurance: Protects your vehicle up to $250,000

224-286-8173 Get a Free Estimate On Nexus’ Website

How Truck Shipping Works

Shipping a pickup truck is a fairly straightforward process. The steps you’ll take to transport a Ford F-150 from one state to another are the same as you’d take to ship a compact car, like a Hyundai Elantra. You’ll need to decide what transport method you want to use, compare truck shipping quotes from a few providers, and book the shipment.

Choose Truck Transport Services 

To help you decide between different shipping options, we’ve outlined a few below:

Open Vs. Enclosed Truck Shipping

First, you’ll need to decide whether you want to use open or enclosed truck shipping. Open carrier shipping is the cheapest option, as haulers can typically fit eight to 10 vehicles on the carrier truck. This allows the carrier to pick up and deliver cargo along a route. Almost all carriers offer open transport, so you’ll have more schedule flexibility.

Open transport does leave your vehicle exposed to weather conditions and road debris, so if you want extra protection for your truck during shipping, you may want to consider enclosed transport. Shipping your truck in an enclosed trailer helps shield it from inclement weather and other road hazards. Be aware that enclosed transport can be anywhere from 40 to 60 percent more expensive than shipping via open carrier.

Door-to-Door Vs. Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping

If you’re shipping between large metropolitan areas, you may have the option between door-to-door delivery and terminal-to-terminal shipping. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient option, allowing you to select the exact pickup and drop-off locations. With this method, you can have the carrier deliver your vehicle anywhere that’s legally and safely accessible. 

Terminal-to-terminal shipping is typically cheaper, as it saves on mileage and fuel costs. It will require more scheduling on your part, and the nearest terminals may not be close to your home. You will drop off and pick up your truck at a shipping terminal, in this case. 

The vast majority of truck shipments use door-to-door transport as terminal-to-terminal shipping isn’t always offered by shippers.

Compare Truck Shipping Quotes

Once you know the kind of truck shipping services you need, it’s a good idea to compare quotes online from several providers. You’ll get a better sense of what you’re likely to pay for your shipping needs and find the company that offers the best price. 

Shipping rates will depend on a few different factors, including the time of year, the size of your vehicle, and the time frame for your transport. A standard pickup time is usually within a week of booking, but most companies offer expedited delivery for an extra fee.

Complete the Truck Shipment

Once you’ve found a truck transport company that suits your needs, you can book the shipment. Some companies require a downpayment to secure the transport and others may offer a discount if you pay upfront in full. 

Once your shipment is booked, you’ll take the following steps:

1. Make sure the truck is in good working order. If it’s inoperable, notify the hauler immediately, as they may need to use a winch or other equipment to load your truck onto the carrier.
2. Remove all personal items from the truck.
3. Coordinate with the carrier to schedule a convenient pickup time.
4. When the carrier arrives, inspect the truck with them, noting any pre-existing damage. Sign the bill of lading, which confirms the truck’s current condition.
5. Track your shipment. Some companies offer GPS tracking while others provide frequent updates about the status of your transport.
6. Meet the carrier at the agreed-upon truck delivery location. Inspect the truck again for any damage incurred during transit. Sign the bill of lading again and pay the remaining balance to the carrier.

How Much Does Truck Transport Cost?

We reached out to a few of the top shipping companies for truck shipping quotes. On average, shipping a truck 880 miles with open transport costs $1,093 while using enclosed transport costs $1,619. This is a pretty big price jump for enclosed transport, and that’s because a pickup truck is one of the largest and heaviest vehicles to ship.

We also found long-distance shipping of around 2,015 miles, on average, costs $1,709 with open transport and $2,697 with enclosed transport. All quotes in the table below are for an operable 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab. We selected door-to-door shipping for each quote.

What Factors Affect Truck Shipping Costs?

Shipping companies weigh a few different factors when calculating auto transport rates. These factors include:

• Distance: Long-distance and cross-country moves cost less per mile but more overall.
• Transport service: Open auto transport is the most cost-effective way to ship a vehicle, but it will leave the car exposed to potential damage from road debris and weather. Enclosed auto transport offers more protection, but is much more expensive.
• Delivery method: Door-to-door delivery is more convenient than terminal-to-terminal shipping, but it does cost more.
• Car size: Larger vehicles, like pickup trucks or SUVs, can take up more space on a carrier trailer and are therefore more expensive to ship.
• Operability: An inoperable vehicle will take more time, effort, and equipment to load onto the hauler’s truck, so it costs more to ship.
• Season: Booking a transport during January and the summer months will be more expensive as these are the busiest seasons for the auto shipping industry.
• Fuel costs: If the cost of gas increases, the cost to ship a vehicle will increase as well.

Commercial Truck Shipping

In addition to personal vehicle shipping, there’s an entire industry built around moving heavy equipment and large trucks. Commercial truck shipping carriers move some of the following types of vehicles:

• Dump trucks
• Agricultural equipment
• Service trucks
• Box trucks
• Semi-trucks
• Oversize loads 

Some of these companies use flatbed trailers, step deck trailers, and lowboys for freight shipping. These trailers are long, flat, and low to the ground, making them optimal for transporting construction equipment, larger trucks, and shipping containers. If you have a smaller piece of machinery, you may be able to ship with the Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) designation, which will cut down on the overall price.

If you require commercial transport services, you’ll need to reach out to one of these companies directly for a quote. Many don’t provide online car shipping calculators as they’ll need more specifications to fully determine the cost of your transport.

Truck Shipping: Our Take

Shipping a truck costs a bit more than transporting a standard vehicle, but the process is largely the same. Most car shipping companies will transport pickup trucks, so before you commit to one company, reach out to a few others for free quotes. 

Recommendations For Truck Shipping Companies

We suggest sourcing truck shipping quotes from Montway Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship when searching for a provider.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

For nearly two decades, Montway Auto Transport has been a leader in the car shipping industry. The company has excellent customer reviews and affordable prices. It can ship trucks, cars, SUVs, and motorcycles anywhere in the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii. Montway offers an instant quote tool on its website so you can learn what shipping your pickup truck may cost you. 

Easy Auto Ship: Excellent Service Selection

Easy Auto Ship can move all types of vehicles across the country. One of its standout perks is that the company will pay for a rental car if your shipment is over 14 days late. The company also covers a car wash if your vehicle arrives dirty (which is very possible). Easy Auto Ship has over 25 years of experience and has shipped 123,000 vehicles at this point. 

Truck Shipping: FAQ

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about truck shipping.

How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies

Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
• Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
• Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Dash Lewis Content Writer