Re: car shipper Passport
As far as pricing is concerned, I've learned a few things as well while arranging for the freight my company hauls. In order to cover fuel, driver pay and perdiem, vehicle maintenance, depreciation, tolls and taxes, a truck with a 53ft trailer needs to make about $1.80 per mile.
So for instance, if I wanted to have my '62 shipped from Hightstown, NJ to Milan MI for the Pure Stock drags (615mi), I'd expect to pay about $1100. But add to that the "extra" care the car receives, maybe add another $500. One car at $1600. would cover all the transporter's costs. The profit is in hauling 6 cars for the same rate in the same run.
Now with that kind of profit built in, a company could have mechanics who would keep the tractor and trailer in safe compliance at all times, and it would make certain it's drivers didn't violate the HOS (hours of service) rules and keep their log books up to snuff. People need to understand that this is not about Johnny who buys a truck and trailer and just starts to drive until he's tired. There are federal rules involved and there are DOT inspectors and state troopers on the watch to ensure these trucks on the road are safe and not about to cause harm to anyone. A driver can only be on duty for 11hrs a day, and then he must have a 10hr off duty rest. He can not exceed 70hrs within 8 consecutive days without a 34hr break. If a truck is pulled over and a brake line is chaffed or the slack adjusters are out of spec, that truck will be placed OOS (out of service). It will have to be towed to a place that can repair the problem. If a driver has violated his HOS time, the truck will also be placed OOS until he gets his 10hrs rest. It's a lot more complicated than that, but those are just some of the points to consider.
Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]
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