c/auto-transport-talk

Switched from open carriers to enclosed after a rock chip on I-10

For years I only used open carriers for my personal hauls because they were cheaper, about $400 less per trip from Phoenix to LA. Last March I shipped my 2007 Mustang on an open rig and a rock kicked up near Blythe, put a quarter sized chip right on the hood. Insurance covered it, but the hassle of filing, waiting, and repainting took three weeks. So I tried enclosed for my next move, a 2019 Tacoma from Tucson to San Diego. Cost me $1,100 versus $700 open, but the driver had proper tie downs and the trailer was fully sealed, no debris at all on arrival. I realized the extra cash buys peace of mind and protects the resale value, which matters when you're shipping something you actually care about. Has anyone else made this switch and gone back to open, or do most of you stick with the cheaper option?

0 comments

calebrivera•5d ago

Open vs enclosed transport, was the extra $400 actually worth it?

I booked open transport for my 2018 Civic from Denver to Salt Lake City last month, $650 total, and I was honestly skeptical anyone would pay double for enclosed. But when the driver showed up with a 3 car open trailer and my front bumper got sand blasted on I-80, I started second guessing myself. Then my buddy shipped his Porsche in an enclosed trailer for $1,050 and it arrived spotless, no rock chips, no dust even. Is enclosed just for show cars, or do we all need to factor in the route and weather before choosing? Who here has paid the premium and regretted it, or gotten lucky with open against all odds?

0 comments

abby_martin28•6d ago

Enclosed trailer rental in Phoenix taught me a hard lesson about weight distribution

Rented a 20 foot enclosed trailer from a U-Haul in Phoenix last month to move my 2018 Camaro from Mesa to San Diego. Loaded it with the car positioned too far forward because I figured more weight on the tongue meant safer towing. Big mistake. The truck felt squirrely around 60 mph on I-8, and the trailer started swaying bad near the Gila Bend stretch. Pulled over at a truck stop and moved the car back about two feet until the tongue weight read around 12% of total trailer weight. Night and day difference, the whole rig settled down and drove like it was on rails. Now I'm curious, has anyone else messed up their first enclosed transport and what did it cost you in time or gear? My sway lesson only cost me an hour but I hear horror stories about worse outcomes.

1 comments

matthewg63•11d ago

One dispatcher's note about my tiedowns made me rethink everything

I run a small hauling setup out of Phoenix and always used ratchet straps the same way for 4 years. A dispatcher at a yard in El Paso watched me secure a sedan and pointed out my front hooks were rubbing against the frame rail. He said the strap could wear through on a long run and snap mid-transit. I switched to axle straps and soft loops that afternoon, and now I check every hook point before I pull tension. It took one 10 minute conversation to fix a habit I thought was fine. Anybody else get a tip from a stranger that changed their whole loading routine?

0 comments

joel_singh84•12d ago

Switched from open trailers to enclosed after a rock chip nightmare

I used to ship cars on open trailers because it was cheaper, but last spring a rock took a chunk out of a customer's fender on I-80 near Omaha and I ate the $600 repair bill myself. Now I only book enclosed transport for anything over $20k, even though it costs about 30% more. Anybody else make that switch after one bad claim, or do you still gamble with open?

0 comments

linda_mason82•12d ago

Paid $900 upfront for a broker in Phoenix, car never showed up

Ngl, the broker ghosted me after I wired the deposit and the driver he promised never even had my VIN, so check if your broker is bonded before handing over anything, has anyone else lost cash this way?

0 comments

the_sarah•19d ago

My worst transport week ever involved 3 broken trucks and a blizzard in Ohio

Last February I had three rigs go down in five days, all with different issues. One threw a belt on I-80 near Toledo, another had a air line snap in Cleveland, and the third just refused to start outside Columbus. I spent 14 hours on the phone with brokers explaining delays while my customers were screaming about their cars being stuck. Has anyone else had a whole fleet fail at once, or am I just the unlucky one?

1 comments

hannahs71•22d ago

Can we talk about the worst load I ever took on a holiday weekend?

Honestly, this past Memorial Day I agreed to haul a 2018 BMW from Atlanta to Nashville on an open carrier. The customer needed it by Tuesday, but the yard was chaos and my ramp got bent by a forklift, so I lost 6 hours waiting for a replacement. Tbh, I could have turned it down, but $850 for one trip seemed too good to pass. Has anyone else taken a rush job during a holiday and regretted it, or do you think it's worth the risk for the cash?

0 comments

hunt.jana•22d ago

Hauled a restored Mustang more than 20 years old across 3 states, open trailer won me over in the end

I have used enclosed trailers for years moving classic cars, mostly out of habit and fear of rock chips. Last month I had to get a 1967 Mustang from Nashville to Columbus on short notice and the only option was open transport. I did the whole trip expecting the worst, checking the paint at every fuel stop. Not one chip, not a scratch, and the driver knew how to strap it down so the suspension could move without rubbing. The enclosed route would have cost me $400 extra and taken 5 more days to book. I get the appeal of full coverage but for a driver-quality car, open is honestly the smarter money move. Has anyone else switched sides on this after an actual haul, or am I the odd one out here?

0 comments

barnes.jamie•23d ago

Steel hauling crossbed vs flatbed, I switched after 11 years

I ran a flatbed for over a decade hauling coils and pipe, then took a 6 month contract pulling cars on a crossbed out of Denver. The load securement is totally different, straps on rails instead of chains over tarps, and my back feels better but the weight distribution gave me a few white-knuckle climbs near Raton Pass. Anyone else make the swap and stick with it, or end up going back to their old setup?

0 comments

reesecraig•23d ago

Has anyone used Freedom Auto Transport for shipping a car?

I'm looking to ship my car cross-country and came across Freedom Auto Transport . Has anyone here used them? How was the experience? Were they reliable and did the car arrive on time? Any hidden fees I should know about?

2 comments