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Crash Course:
- Most car shipping companies will ship a pickup truck without additional hassle, but you’ll have less options if you want to ship a heavy-duty truck.
- Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, and SGT Auto Transport tend to offer the cheapest truck shipping costs.
- The difference between the cheapest provider and a more expensive truck shipper can be hundreds of dollars or more, meaning it really pays to get multiple quotes and compare.
Truck shipping is often easy for those looking to move a standard pickup truck, but drivers may face more challenges with larger vehicles. That’s because bigger models can be difficult to handle and carry extra weight that could increase your overall costs.
Regardless, our research team found four of the best car shipping companies that can handle nearly any truck shipping needs. Whether you’ve got a Ford F-150 or a heavy-duty truck with a lift kit, these providers should be able to quickly cover your auto transportation needs at reasonable rates.
How To Ship a Truck
The ease of transporting a truck depends largely on the type that you’re hoping to move. While it’s routine for auto shippers to haul a Chevrolet Silverado or a RAM 1500, that’s not necessarily true of very large trucks and more specialized models.
Below, we’ll explain the truck shipping process for both standard pickup trucks and heavy-duty models. Whether you’re moving a truck across the country or just a state over, we will run through some steps that could make the move easier.
Pick Your Truck Shipping Provider
The first step in truck shipping is to compare car shipping quotes online from various providers. By doing so, you’ll discover the best rates available for your vehicle. You may also be able to find out which providers will be able to serve your needs if you have a less standard model.
Compare instant quotes, per-mile rates, and truck shipping services to make the best decision. Most providers offer free truck transport quotes online that can then be discussed with a representative over the phone or through live chat.
Immediately picking the company that offers you the lowest rate isn’t always the best move. Trucks are significant investments, so it’s worth opting for a slightly more expensive but more reputable provider that will give you even more peace of mind about protecting your vehicle during transport.
Choose From Truck Shipping Services
Many of the auto transport options offered by truck moving companies are worth consideration, even if they could slightly boost your overall shipping cost. Here are a few of the most common services available to those who are looking at truck shipping:
- Open vehicle transport: While your truck will be exposed to the elements and to potential road hazards, open auto transport is the cheapest and most common service. It’s best for budget-conscious movers who are willing to risk potential damages.
- Enclosed vehicle transport: This service is better for truck owners who want to make sure that their vehicles are safe while on the road. You’ll pay far more for this service but would gain extra peace of mind knowing most risk factors are reduced.
- Door-to-door shipping: Those who are moving may prefer door-to-door transport since the truck is picked up and dropped off as close to a customer’s address as possible.
- Terminal-to-terminal shipping: On the other hand, although this option is not always available, truck owners can save money by opting for terminal-to-terminal transport. This means your vehicle’s pickup and dropoff points will be at predetermined locations that may not be quite as convenient for you.
- Expedited shipping: Rather than waiting one to two weeks for carrier availability, drivers with time constraints can pay extra for vehicles to ship within a few days.
- Single-car transport: If you don’t want your truck to be shipped alongside other cars, you can have it shipped by itself in a closed container. While this method could greatly increase your truck shipping costs, it will also keep your truck extremely safe.
You may need to check out non-standard shipping choices if you’re moving an inoperable truck, if your pickup truck has a lift kit, or if you own a lowrider truck.
Drop Off and Pick Up Your Truck
Once you’ve set up the truck shipping process, you must prepare the vehicle for transport. Remove all personal belongings from the truck on moving day and empty it of anything more than a quarter tank of gas. You’ll also need to inspect your car for damages prior to shipment and should also do so alongside the truck hauler.
When picking up the truck at your final destination, it’s important to perform another inspection. That’s because any new damages must be mentioned before you sign the bill of lading if you’d like to file a claim against the truck shipping company. The bill of lading is used to track the condition of your vehicle from start to finish and is what you’d use to prove that your car arrived in less than perfect condition. If your vehicle is fine when it arrives, you’ll be able to quickly sign off on the bill of lading and drive away with your truck.
Heavy-Duty Trucks Require Different Trailers
Heavy-duty truck shipping requires nonstandard services compared to regular pickup trucks. That’s because semi trucks, dump trucks, and other large trucks are often heavier and more difficult to handle than other forms of freight.
While your hauler will likely know which type of trailer your truck requires, you can reach out to customer support to learn more. A few common truck shipping options include flatbed trailers, flatbed trucks, lowboy trailers, and step deck trailers.
How Much Does Truck Shipping Cost?
Truck transportation costs vary based on which company you choose, the size and year of your truck, and where you’re transporting the truck to. Truck shipping companies often change prices based on mileage, so per-mile rates may be less for cross-country moves. If you’re transporting an oversized vehicle or a larger truck, prices will likely be higher than average.
Full-size pickups are more expensive to ship than sedans or crossovers, and prices climb quickly for larger models due to increased weight and the hassle of dealing with bulky vehicles.
Truck Shipping Quotes
Whether you’re moving an oversized model or a typical truck, you’ll find your best prices by getting personalized quotes from multiple companies. In the table below, we’ve listed quotes from our 2024 secret shopper study for our top providers with varying shipping distances and methods. The quotes you see are for a 2020 Nissan Rogue which, while not a pickup truck, has comparable shipping costs. Keep in mind that these are just rate estimates and that your top choices for cheap truck shipping may vary.
| Car Shipping Company | Cost Per Mile (535 Miles, Open Shipping) | Cost Per Mile (1,500 Miles, Open Shipping) | Cost Per Mile (1,500 Miles, Enclosed Shipping) | Cost Per Mile (2,445 Miles, Open Shipping) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1.06 | $0.64 | $0.88 | $0.47 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1.12 | $0.65 | $0.95 | $0.52 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1.29 | $0.72 | $1.04 | $0.56 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1.42 | $0.75 | $1.10 | $0.83 |
| AmeriFreight | $1.45 | $0.68 | $1.15 | $0.49 |
Truck Shipping Cost Factors
Again, the quotes we received for our shipments are likely different from the ones you’ll get to ship your truck. That’s because companies calculate shipping rates based on several factors that vary between jobs.
The following factors are among the most impactful when it comes to the cost of shipping your truck:
- Time of year: Car shipping is a seasonal industry, with business – and rates – picking up in the summer months.
- Shipping distance: Most providers use per-mile rates to calculate quotes. Costs per mile tend to go down as shipping distance increases.
- Shipping options: How you choose to ship your car can affect the price. Open car transport is usually the cheapest way to ship your car, but enclosed transport can offer more protection for an additional fee.
- Type and size of vehicle: Generally speaking, the larger and heavier your truck is, the more it will cost to ship. Uncommon or specialty vehicles vary in price from more standard ones.
- Shipping speed: If you need to get your car to its destination more quickly, some car transporters offer expedited shipping for an extra fee.
- Pickup and delivery locations: Door-to-door transport, in which a carrier picks up and delivers your car to a location you agree on, is the most common option. But some providers offer terminal-to-terminal shipping, where your car is picked up and dropped off at a centralized hub and at a discount.
Best Truck Shipping Companies
In our 2024 auto transport study, we named Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport. SGT Auto Transport, and Ship a Car Direct as the best truck shipping companies in the country. These providers offer winning combinations of competitive rates, a large selection of shipping options for trucks, and strong reputations for customer service.
Mercury Auto Transport: Best Overall
Availability: 50 states
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A
| Shipping Distance (in Miles) | Type of Transport | Mercury Auto Transport |
|---|---|---|
| 535 | Open | $565 |
| 1,500 | Open | $955 |
| 1,500 | Enclosed | $1,325 |
| 2,445 | Open | $1,145 |
Mercury Auto Transport emerged as our first pick for best truck shipping companies in 2024. The company consistently gave our researchers the cheapest quotes in our secret shopper study, or very close to them. But Mercury isn’t a discount provider in any way other than its prices. You’ll find plenty of shipping options with the provider, along with guaranteed pricing on quotes and glowing reviews from customers across the internet.
AmeriFreight: Best Value
Availability: All 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii
BBB rating: A+
| Shipping Distance (in Miles) | Type of Transport | AmeriFreight |
|---|---|---|
| 535 | Open | $777 |
| 1,500 | Open | $1,019 |
| 1,500 | Enclosed | $1,732 |
| 2,445 | Open | $1,199 |
AmeriFreight receives a 4.7-star average score on the BBB, showing that customers appreciate the company’s services. With AmeriFreight, owners looking for extra protection can opt for gap insurance through the company’s AFta plan. AmeriFreight is known to offer discounts for older adults, students, military members, medical personnel, and first responders.
Continue reading: AmeriFreight Review
Montway Auto Transport: Best Service Options
Availability: All 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii
BBB rating: A+
| Shipping Distance (in Miles) | Type of Transport | Montway Auto Transport |
|---|---|---|
| 535 | Open | $759 |
| 1,500 | Open | $1,129 |
| 1,500 | Enclosed | $1,649 |
| 2,445 | Open | $2,029 |
As a leading car shipping company, Montway Auto Transport has plenty of options to efficiently and affordably move trucks. The company offers door-to-door service, expedited truck deliveries, both open and enclosed shipments, and services to Hawaii and Alaska. Montway Auto Transport is generally known as a provider with low rates, and that claim is backed up by many shippers who use its truck transport services.
Continue reading: Montway Auto Transport Review
SGT Auto Transport: Best Customer Experience
Availability: 49 states, (excluding Alaska)
BBB rating: B
| Shipping Distance (in Miles) | Type of Transport | SGT Auto Transport |
|---|---|---|
| 535 | Open | $691 |
| 1,500 | Open | $1,080 |
| 1,500 | Enclosed | $1,559 |
| 2,445 | Open | $1,364 |
SGT Auto Transport has a lot to offer as an auto transport provider. The company’s quotes in our secret shopper study were all on the cheaper end of the price spectrum. SGT also has a wide range of options and specialty services, such as shipping for military personnel, expedited transport, and shipping for alternative vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles. The company also has a reputation for delivering excellent customer service throughout the auto shipping process.
Ship a Car Direct: Easy Online Quotes
Availability: 49 states (excluding Alaska)
BBB rating: A+
| Shipping Distance (in Miles) | Type of Transport | Ship a Car Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 535 | Open | $600 |
| 1,500 | Open | $975 |
| 1,500 | Enclosed | $1,425 |
| 2,445 | Open | $1,275 |
Affordable rates might be the main draw with Ship a Car Direct – the provider was one of the cheapest in our 2024 study – but there’s a lot more to like about the transport provider. The company offers a diverse set of shipping services, ranging from basic open car transport to white-glove classic car shipping, which candles your shipment with extra care. Ship a Car Direct is also known for its thorough vetting process, which removes drivers that don’t meet its rigorous standards from its network of carriers.
Truck Shipping: Conclusion
Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, and Ship a Car Direct are our choices for the best truck shipping companies in 2024. Each of them showed in our study that they offer reliable services, a diverse selection of shipping options, affordable rates, and a positive reputation among customers.
You’ll get the best prices to ship your truck – whether it’s a nimble Ford Maverick or an imposing RAM 3500 – by shopping around and getting quotes from at least a few providers. The ones in this article make a great place to start looking and all offer free quotes.
Truck Shipping: FAQ
Can I put stuff in my truck when I ship it?
Whether you can put stuff in your truck during the shipment depends on your chosen provider. Companies like Montway Auto Transport allow up to 100 pounds of personal items for a fee, but many others don’t. That’s because packing your truck full of personal belongings will increase its weight, making transport more expensive.
Is it better to ship or drive my truck?
While driving your vehicle is almost always going to be cheaper, shipping could be the right choice if you’re looking for peace of mind and want to avoid the hassle of a long-distance drive. You’ll also avoid putting extra wear and tear on your vehicle if you opt for truck shipping.
How should I secure my truck before it is shipped?
Immobilization is the best way to secure your vehicle before the shipment begins. Once the truck has been loaded onto its trailer, it should also be kept in place by a series of straps.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best car shipping companies.
- Prices: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, services, and shipping routes to give this rating.
- Services: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that an auto transport company offers an array of services. We take into account the availability of services, ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates, and insurance coverage options.
- Reputation: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, a company’s history of service, and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable car shippers operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
