Enclosed Shipping a Truck

How to Enclosed Shipping a Truck?

Are you looking to ship your truck and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Moving a truck is a lot like a car.

We’ve seen it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you’re looking to move, you’re going to read what we have to say.

Here’s what usually happens

You need to ship it by trailer or container across the country, or even to another country. Driving 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 a company.

It is a simple process that you can use to move almost anywhere in the world. It simply means that it will be placed in a trailer or container and moved to its destination.

There are no hidden gimmicks here, it is exactly like its name sounds.

If you choose to move by boat, your truck will be placed in a container on a ship. Once the ship arrives at the port, it will be driven off the vessel, and then you or a proxy (like a courier, friend, or family member) can drive to its destination.

If you choose to haul by land, it will be placed in a trailer (although it may also be placed in a 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 an enclosed method to haul.

This method also has some of the most competitive 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 Moving Differ Domestically or Internationally?

When delivering overland, this does not necessarily mean that you are shipping internationally. Overland simply refers to the general method, not to any sort of borders between a starting location and destination.

You can ship via the enclosed method using a low loader or trailer from California to Florida for instance.

International is a little different

Internationally, you can move in a container from California to Vancouver.

You could haul by land, simply driving North until you reach Canada. Or, you could dispatch in a container by ship from a California port to a British Columbian port. When this, there are many options available.

Delivering 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 company, and your deadline.

Enclosed Method

When enclosed services overland, you can either use a trailer, or you can use a container.

While many people believe that they are mostly used to deliver overseas, containers can and are placed on low loader 18 wheelers and driven around.

Delivering 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.

Hauling Overseas

You’re going to need to know a little bit about international methods if you want to deliver overseas.

You can either use a shared container or an exclusive one. With a shared one, it is just one of multiple vehicles occupying the same space. Whereas with exclusive one, your truck is the only vehicle occupying that space.

Each of these methods has its pros and cons. Keep in mind that many people are satisfied with both options, and no one method is better than the other. The option you choose depends on your specifications and itinerary, as well as your personal preferences.

Main Benefits

• Cost-effective
• The truck is protected from debris and foreign objects

Main Benefits of Using Shared Containers

• Quicker to be hauled
• It is more secure

The Benefits

By using this service, you are ensuring the cosmetic and operational quality of your vehicle remains intact. Once it is driven into its trailer, it is secured and locked. Unless you are using shared accommodations, your trailer will remain locked until it arrives at its destination.

There is no need to worry about dust, rain, rocks, or vandalism. It is completely protected throughout the entire journey. The only person who has access to your truck is the driver/courier assigned by the 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 it 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, the exclusive method is less expensive, so it is a cost versus convenience tradeoff.

The General Process

First, you need to call up various companies in your area. Once they receive some basic information regarding your truck and the hauling, you will receive a quote. The more details you can provide, the more informative and accurate the quote may be.

Things like the intended date of departure and arrival, budget, operational status, and preferred methods, 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 the method, 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 it.

Example Instructions to Prepare It

• Empty it of personal belongings
• Clean it 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 it ready to be hauled by the departure date and time

The Next Steps

You now know the general process. You also know the pros and cons of different options. In addition, you know how to prepare it. You have all the general knowledge you need to initiate this process. All you need to do now is start calling companies in your area and shopping around for quotes.

Ready to get started?

Give A1-AT a call. We’ve been working in this industry for a long time and we know how to get your auto from point A to point B.

We don’t play games when it comes to moving. Our goal is to get you the best price and to deliver on time.