- How to Enclosed Shipping a Truck?
- Here’s what usually happens
- Who has time for that?
- Does Shipping a Truck Differ Domestically or Internationally?
- International is a little different
- Enclosed Shipping a Truck Overland
- Enclosed Shipping a Truck Overseas
- Main Benefits of Using Exclusive Shipping Containers
- Main Benefits of Using Shared Shipping Containers
- The Benefits of Enclosed Shipping a Truck
- The General Process of Shipping a Truck
- Example Instructions to Prepare Your Truck for Transport
- The Next Steps
- Ready to get started?
How to Enclosed Shipping a Truck?
Are you looking to ship your truck and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Shipping a truck is a lot like shipping a car.
We’ve seen it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you’re looking to ship a truck, you’re going to read what we have to say.
Here’s what usually happens
You need to ship it by trailer or shipping container across the country, or even to another country. Driving the truck yourself is not an option. It’s not easy for you to take a week off work to drive across the country, or to follow your shipment across the globe.
Who has time for that?
So, you need a solution and you need it FAST.
Luckily, the solution is simple: use an automobile shipping and logistics company.
Enclosed shipping a truck is a simple process that you can use to ship your truck almost anywhere in the world. Enclosed shipping simply means that your truck will be placed in a trailer or container and shipped to its destination.
There’s no hidden gimmicks here, enclosed shipping is exactly like its name sounds.
If you choose to ship your truck by boat, your truck will be placed in a shipping container on a ship. Once the ship arrives at port, your truck will be driven off the ship, and then you or a proxy (like a courier, friend, or family member) can drive your truck to its destination.
If you choose to ship your truck by land, your truck will be placed in a trailer (although it may also be placed in a shipping container here too), loaded onto a low loader truck (unless the trailer is part of the truck), and then driven to its destination.
The process is simple, economical, and effective. Many people choose enclosed shipping to transport their trucks.
This method of shipping also has some of the most competitive shipping rates in the industry because of how popular it is.
That’s a win for you, especially if you are looking to complete your shipment on a tight budget.
Does Shipping a Truck Differ Domestically or Internationally?
When shipping a truck overland, this does not necessarily mean that you are shipping a truck internationally. Overland simply refers to the general method of transport, not to any sort of borders between a truck’s starting location and destination.
You can ship a truck via the enclosed method using a low loader or truck trailer from California to Florida for instance.
International is a little different
Internationally, you can ship a truck in an enclosed shipping container by truck from California to Vancouver.
You could ship that truck by land, simply driving North until you reach Canada. Or, you could ship your truck in an enclosed container by ship from a California port to a British Columbian port. When enclosed shipping a truck, there are many options available.
Shipping a truck overland and overseas are both great methods. Whether one is better for you will depend on your goals, your budget, the options available to you from the automobile shipping and logistics company, and your deadline.
Enclosed Shipping a Truck Overland
When enclosed shipping a truck overland, you can either use a truck trailer, or you can use a shipping container.
While many people believe that shipping containers are mostly used to ship vehicles overseas, shipping containers can and are placed on low loader 18 wheelers and driven around.
Shipping a vehicle domestically in the United States is a fairly simple process. The hardest part is choosing which company you want to complete the shipment and arranging your pickup and drop off dates.
Enclosed Shipping a Truck Overseas
You’re going to need to know a little bit about international shipping if you want to ship a truck overseas.
You can either use a shared shipping container, or an exclusive one. With shared containers, your truck is just one of multiple vehicles occupying the same space. Whereas with exclusive containers, your truck is the only vehicle occupying that space.
Each of these methods have their pros and cons. Keep in mind that many people are satisfied by both options, and no one method is better than the other. The option you choose depends on your shipping specifications and itinerary, as well as your personal preferences.
Main Benefits of Using Exclusive Shipping Containers
- Cost-effective
- Truck is protected from debris and foreign objects
Main Benefits of Using Shared Shipping Containers
- Quicker to be transported
- Truck is more secure
The Benefits of Enclosed Shipping a Truck
By using enclosed shipping, you are ensuring the cosmetic and operational quality of your vehicle remains intact. Once your truck is driven into its trailer or container, it is secured and locked. Unless you are using shared accommodations, your trailer or container will remain locked until it arrives at its destination.
There is no need to worry about dust, rain, rocks, or vandalism. Your truck is completely protected the entire journey. The only person who has access to your truck is the driver/courier assigned by the shipping company.
The difference with shared containers (if you do not own all the vehicles in the truck or if multiple destinations exist for the same container), is that the container will be periodically locked and unlocked.
You do not get the protection and ease of mind that goes into knowing that your vehicle is locked up for the entire journey. That being stated, exclusive container shipping is less expensive, so it is a cost versus convenience tradeoff.
The General Process of Shipping a Truck
First, you need to call up various automobile shipping and logistics companies in your area. Once they receive some basic information regarding your truck and the transport, you will receive a quote. The more details you can provide, the more informative and accurate the quote may be.
Things like intended date of departure and arrival, budget, operational status of the truck, and preferred methods of transport, are great details to provide. From there, after you have quotes from multiple companies, pick and choose the company you like best.
If you have requested enclosed shipping, you may be provided with several options, much like the California to Vancouver option explored earlier in this article. All you have to do then is sign a contract, and follow the company’s instructions to prepare your truck for transport.
Example Instructions to Prepare Your Truck for Transport
- Empty your vehicle of personal belongings
- Clean your vehicle inside and out
- Prepare any documentation requested by the company
- Make plans for the truck to be picked up by someone
- Make sure you have the truck ready to be transported by the departure date and time
The Next Steps
You now know the general process of enclosed shipping a truck. You also know the pros and cons of different enclosed shipping options. In addition, you know how to prepare your truck for transport. You have all the general knowledge you need to initiate this process. All you need to do now is start calling automobile shipping and logistics companies in your area and shopping around for quotes.
Ready to get started?
Give A-1 Auto Transport a call. We’ve been working in this industry for a long time and we know how to get your vehicle from point A to point B.
We don’t play games when it comes to shipping. Our goal is to get you the best price and to deliver your vehicle on time.