Are you looking into shipping a box truck, but not sure how to go about it? If so, we can help! Transporting a box truck, though, can be tricky, mostly because of their size. Any size, really – they come in lots of them, after all. But whether it’s a small box truck, like a tiny U-Haul truck, or one of those massive Penske trucks, sometimes driving them isn’t an option.
When you’re shipping a box truck it’s important to know what to expect. This goes for the price you pay, the services available to you, and the kind of truck that will move it. There’s more, of course, but those are the basic factors that play a role in every box truck that is shipped.
Understanding what to expect when shipping a box truck is important. It allows you to budget effectively, to temper your expectations, and to just know what is going to happen. So read on to learn more about shipping a box truck. We’ll cover the different types of box trucks out there and how they’re hauled, we’ll discuss prices and what types of trucks work best for hauling box trucks, and more!
How shipping a box truck works?
When it comes to shipping automobiles, standard cars and trucks are hauled on regular auto transport trucks. But box trucks are too big for standard auto transport trucks. So flatbed transportation services are going to be required. However, there are a lot of different flatbed trucks out there that can haul vehicles. So, which one is right for you?
Well, it depends on the box truck. We mentioned they come in lots of different sizes. Well, the size of your box truck will determine the best kind of flatbed truck for you. Most box trucks can fit on a standard low boy or step deck trailer. These are some of the common flatbeds out there; they’re designed to haul tall or long vehicles, and cover most big vehicles.
A standard flatbed is good for vehicles that aren’t too tall. But box trucks are often tall, so shipping a box truck requires a trailer that will be able to get under height restrictions. Hence using a low boy or step deck trailer. A low boy is just a very low trailer, while a step deck has sections, including one that is lower than the others.
Low boys are best for really long box trucks, such as moving vans. Step decks tend to work best for smaller box trucks, like a personal U-Haul truck. But which flatbed is best for your box truck will depend on the dimensions of it, so be sure to have those handy before you book your shipment!
How much shipping a box truck costs?
How much shipping a box truck will cost will depend on how big it is, how far it’s going, what kind of flatbed will be needed, and more. The first thing you need to know before anything else is that carriers cannot take box trucks that have things inside them. Any items inside the box truck will need to be removed prior to transport. This includes personal items, and even lightweight things such as blankets or dollies.
Where you’re shipping from and to is important as well. The further a box truck has to be transported, the more expensive it will cost to ship. This is true of any vehicle. Distance is a crucial pricing factor because it determines how much time and fuel a carrier will need to transport a vehicle. The further they have to travel, the more fuel will be used, which means the more they have to pay to refuel. But the main factor will likely be the size and weight of your box truck. This is what makes the shipment truly expensive, because box trucks are hard to move. Since they require a flatbed truck, and flatbed trucks aren’t nearly as common as traditional transport trucks, the price goes up.
Bigger box trucks will cost more due to the larger size and higher weight. Auto transporters have to adhere to federal weight guidelines, of course, so the bigger the box truck, the harder it is to stay under weight. If the truck is too large, it may even have to be towed! Make sure to have the dimensions of your truck on hand when getting quotes for shipping a box truck. This will help prospective shippers accurately quote your shipment, saving you time and money on your search.
What to know about shipping a box truck?
You should understand that the price to ship a box truck is the price to ship a box truck. This means that haggling or trying to find the lowest price is likely to yield less-than-stellar results. Auto transporters have to make money, after all – they’re running a business. Those that are capable of transporting box trucks have to charge a premium price because, if they didn’t, they’d lose money!
Standby shipping is an option if you’re truly on a budget, but finding a flatbed truck that can haul a box truck can be challenging. If you’re not pressed for time it’s a good idea, but if you have any kind of pressing need for your box truck, it’s best to go with someone who can move it more quickly. This is why we said that the price to ship is the price to ship. It’s what auto transporters need to make money on shipping your box truck.
Please note that having the dimensions is crucial. No auto transporter will take a box truck without them, because they have to know if it will fit and if they will be able to clear underpasses during the shipment. The dimensions you should have on-hand when you start shipping a box truck are the length, width, height, and weight . The length and width help determine if it’ll physically fit on the transport truck. The height will determine if they can clear underpasses during transit. And the weight determines whether they will be able to stay under federal weight regulations.
The dimensions should be easily found online, but if you cannot find them, a tape measure will work just fine. For the weight, it’s best to try to get it online, preferably from the manufacturer. But a rough weight estimate should be fine for most auto transporters.
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For box truck transport, contact American Auto Shipping.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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