Shipping A Semi Truck

What You Need To Know About Shipping A Semi Truck

If you need to ship a semi truck to another destination to sell it, prepare for a freight shipping job, or for any other reason, you may wonder what to expect when shipping a semi truck. In this guide from A-1 Auto Transport, we’ll help you learn a little bit more about the basics, and what to expect.

How Are Semi Trucks Shipped?

Semi trucks are shipped by using… semi trucks! Whether your semi truck is inoperable or you just want to transport it to a different area without driving it yourself, it will be loaded onto a flatbed, RGN, or step-deck trailer and then driven to its destination by a semi truck.

Flatbed trailers are ideal for transporting semi trucks, as they can accommodate loads of up to 80,000 lbs, and can usually handle loads exceeding 48 feet in length. Semi-trucks may vary in size (length, width, and height), type, and model but the typical semi truck weighs between 10,000 and 25,000 lbs unladen, and is between 20-30 feet in length, so flatbeds have the capacity to handle semi-truck shipping needs as they can accommodate one – or sometimes more than one – semi truck at once.

How Much Will It Cost To Ship My Semi Truck?

The cost of shipping a semi truck is similar to the cost of shipping other types of heavy freight, and is usually charged at a per-mile rate. This rate will vary depending on a wide variety of factors, including the distance of the shipment, the size and weight of your semi truck, whether or not it’s running, and whether you choose door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal transport. If it's not running. forklifts may be used to lift and load it onto a flatbed or lowboy trailer.

• Distance of shipment – The price you’ll pay per mile for shipping is higher for short hauls. For example, you may pay $3 per mile for a 100-mile trip. But this price would drop as the distance grew – a 1,000 mile trip could be much lower per-mile. So the distance between the origin site and the destination.
• Size and weight of semi truck – The size and weight of your semi truck are important when determining how much it will cost to ship. As a rule, a smaller semi truck – like a day cab truck – will be cheaper to ship than a heavy-duty sleeper semi truck which have larger dimensions.

• Operability – Shipping an inoperable truck will incur much higher costs, since it will not be possible to simply drive it onto a flatbed or lowboy, and it instead must be lifted using a crane or other specialized equipment. Chains and straps are used to hold them in place on the trailer during the journey and driven by an experienced driver. If possible, you should avoid shipping a non-functioning semi-truck.
• Door-to-door vs terminal-to-terminal – “Door-to-door” shipping means the semi truck or pickup truck is picked up and dropped off at a location of your choice, such as a business parking lot. It’s usually more expensive than terminal-to-terminal shipping.
  In terminal-to-terminal shipping, you will drive your semi truck to a freight terminal, where it will be loaded for shipping. Then, it will be sent to a destination freight terminal, where you can pick it up.
• Additional insurance coverage – Heavy haul companies must have at least $100,000 in insurance due to federal law, but some semi trucks can be worth up to $150,000 or more, in some cases. You should contact your heavy haul carrier and check to make sure they have enough insurance to cover the value of your semi truck.

How Should I Prepare A Semi Truck For Shipping?

There are a few basic steps you should take to prepare your truck for shipping, such as documenting its condition with photos, removing all of your personal items, and draining most of the diesel fuel from the tanks.

• Document its condition and take photos – It’s a good idea to take photos of the outside and interior of your semi truck in order to have proof of its condition before it’s shipped. With experienced drivers handling your shipping, it’s not very likely that your truck will be seriously damaged on the road during shipping, but this can help you prove damage to your semi truck in the rare case of damage.
• Remove all valuables and personal items – This is particularly applicable for owner-operators. Make sure you remove valuables goods and items like TVs, computers, gaming consoles, and other such items, as well as any personal items or things you want to keep secure before transportation. The risk of theft is low, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
• Drain fuel, if required – Draining diesel fuel from the truck’s tanks can save hundreds of pounds in weight, and may be required for safety purposes by your heavy haul carrier. However, you should not drain the tanks completely, to ensure the truck has enough fuel to be driven on and off of its flatbed trailer to the ground.

Relevant Statistics

• On average, it takes approximately 3 to 5 days to ship a semi truck from one state to another.
• Nearly 90% of semis transported by rail are delivered on time.
• The cost of shipping a semi truck internationally can range from $5,000 to $10,000.
• Approximately 92% of semi truck shipments are transported using open trailers.
• The weight of an average semi truck shipment is around 40,000 to 45,000 pounds.

General Facts

• Shipping a semi truck involves transporting it from one location to another, often over long distances.
• Semi trucks are typically shipped using specialized trailers designed to safely accommodate their size and weight.
• Prior to shipping, the semi truck may need to be prepared by removing any detachable parts and securing loose items.
• Shipping a semi truck requires proper permits and documentation to comply with transportation regulations.
• Transporting a semi truck can be done by road, rail, or even by sea, depending on the destination and logistical requirements.

Need Help Shipping Your Semi Truck? A-1 Auto Transport Is Here For You

At A-1 Auto Transport, we work with a wide network of heavy haul trucking providers throughout the United States. If you need to ship semi trucks, dump trucks, pickup trucks, cars, or other vehicles – either within your state or anywhere across the entire country – we’re here to help.

So don’t wait. Find a heavy haul trucking carrier near you with the help of A-1 Auto Transport, and make sure your semi truck reaches its destination safely, on time, and on budget. Give us a call at (888) 230-9116, or contact our customer support online if you have questions or need more information and details about our semi truck shipping services. Fill out our shipping quote form and get your instant estimate.