Another recent post about scams and car haulers made me decide to add this. My son-in-law and his dad did all the checking and hired a transport company to take three of my cars from NW Florida to central Illinois, 1033 miles. When I had three of my cars hauled from NW Florida to central Illinois our son-in-law left the same day with another of my cars on a flat bed and pick up truck. They left Dec 30 and got to central Illinois in 24 hours Dec 31st. in time to celebrate New Years Eve. It was over two weeks later before those three cars arrived. The dispatcher is in Miami, the driver had just bought a used Freightliner because his dually diesel blew the engine. He was a day late arriving at our house because the trailer lights had to be rewired. At the last minute the driver informed us rather than going north he was headed to Orlando for the weekend with family, 140 miles south of us. My cars sat in a drop lot for four days at DisneyWorld. We had scheduled the time so my cars would travel on dry warm pavement. By the time the driver left Orlando it had rained every day all weekend. He got 50 miles NE of where we live and the ****** went out. Had it towed to a dealership farther north. Sat for a week and we had no idea where my cars were. Unknown to the driver all three cars had everything from antique traffic lites, Model A grille shell, hubcaps, new radiators, and other **** in them. None were locked. All of this time he didn't bother to contact any of us why my cars were still in Florida. Dispatcher Miami, containers and ships in Miami. WTF? Were were thinking the worse. Finally the driver contacted son-in-law and said he also was having trailer light trouble and could only drive in daylight. Still no pictures or location. After the fact I could see lots of things I should have done for safety. The Freightliner only had cardboard with plastic over it with the company name and DOT info. I figured he got down the street and ripped it off! Lots of things can happen when shipping cars. Beware. With luck ours made it over two weeks later after driving in ice, snow, sleet, and rain. Actually the driver was good loading, tieing down and unloading. But we were sure worred for awhile. Even if they didn't take a trip on a container ship they could have been sold along the route or stripped of parts. We're not talking about '32 Fords or other expensive cars. But they are all I have. I'm not sure what else we could have done. We checked the company out and they were given good reports. But it all depends on the truck driver and things that happen along the way. We paid $1800 compared to as low as $1200 for safe delivery of three cars not running. Two have no brakes. Since we live on a dead end dirt road we had to take the cars 1/4 mile to the cross road making it easier on the trucker. He was old car friendly and claimed to live in Wisconsin owning drag cars. Still who knows?
There are 3 QUALITY transporters here on the Hamb: BenD, Racinman Rick & Myself. We all have ads in the Hamb O dex section where you can see hundreds of references from other Hambers & pictures of our equipment. None of us have 3 car trailers, but the extra money would have given you piece of mind & I guarantee you would have always known where your vehicles were at all times
Wow - at least the rig that was hauling your rides did not burn up like shown in another current thread here.
You failed to appreciate the power of the HAMB. I really like your wagon. Glad this had a happy ending.
****y deal for sure! I will NEVER do a company/shipper, which turns into a broker again.... Had a bad experience myself once.... Transfers, drop's, Bull ****! Then the ol'e "we need more" story...... Lucky for me- A friend at work=PD, made a call, and showed a lil muscle, and it went alright, but not as described.... At least I got it.... Glad I've found the HAMB, and it's shippers, because I will NEVER do that again! It's a BIG deal to have posessions shipped= Not knowing who the hell is really doing it, or if they give a ****! Worth more than an online quote? Damn Straight! Peace of mind knowing beats a deal anytime...... Glad things worked out. But the BS waiting game just plain *** ****s!
Hate to say it Bill, but when I contacted you guys a few months ago, all I got was excuses as to why each of you couldn't/wouldn't move my Desoto from California to Washington...
Very Sorry Steve, but I am always booked 3-6 weeks in advance & do not go across the Rocky mountain p***es during the winter months. Respectfully, I do not consider these excuses, but reasons why I could not do your transport. I will NEVER promise something I cannot do. Please try me again in the future.
Thanks guys. I know I should have checked the HAMB. But there were several reasons my son-in-law and his dad set it all up. Originally I was not going to haul the yellow '41 Ford back. My 1948 Chevy panel truck was gong to be the third car. I'd given it to my son-in-law so he decided to just bring a trailer, get it, and we could ship my other three for the price of two. The driver tried to talk us into unloading the panel and putting it on his trailer also for another $400. Still don't think it would have fit with the front and rear extensions out. Keep in mind none were running and two have no brakes. Not many companies will take those. Except for the worry and delay, not really a bad deal. Not knocking the owner/driver he had some bad luck after he agreed to pick the cars up on Dec 29th. His dually diesel pickup blew the engine. He told us he was finished. He was out of the car hauling business. Then when another transporter wanted $3000 to take his dually to Milwaukee he and his wife decided they've been hauling much cheaper and would buy another truck. Picked up the used Freightliner around Orlando, bought all new straps, etc. and told son-in-law he'd still take my cars back. But the pigtail on the Freightliner didn't match his trailer. Trailer World took longer than expected and still screwed up the wiring, his ****** went out 100 miles north of Orlando. The only parts that we didn't like was he never called until we called repeatedly and he never took any pictures to prove where he was. We even lucked out getting unloaded 1/4 mile from the new dead end lane where we are moving near a wide spot for a new 4-lane. It ain't easy getting around in some of these big rigs. This was all at the end of the year. I only wrote this to show things can and will happen. From 90+ degrees when loaded to freezing and snow. My poor cars!
Bill, you guys have every right to cherry-pick the jobs you want to do, but it would be helpful for potential customers if you listed your limitations in your ad to avoid disappointment and the waste of time... I ended up using Gold Coast Auto Transport, who broker it out, but had no issues with getting timely, quality transport.
I've temporarily forgotten the name of the actual company. It's national and either owned or at least operated by a woman in California. Then they get drivers who haul in the areas needed. I was a company trucker so know it can be a pain. For instance son-in-law and daddy were able to mostly drive straight thru with the panel truck on the yellow flatbed. They even took my 54" riding mower. When we retired to Florida 22 years ago I hauled six cars one at a time. I knew at all times where they were. But I ain't as young as I usedta wuz! Driving straight thru is something a trucker can't do anymore.
Lol, and I'm offering free transport from nc-ms and opposite for fellow hambers having this issue... I also have a shipping horror story which ended in me driving from nc-ca coast to pick up customers car that started out in Kansas...
I will never go through a broker, they can promise anything but its up to the trucker to deliver on their promises. The broker takes their money up front for basically doing nothing except lining up the trucker, that's who gets your down payment. Use the trusted and reliable guys that are here on the HAMB, they are first rate. In my case I needed to haul 9 cars from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Prescott, Arizona. I contacted truckers until I found one that would give me their whole truck for a fixed price. I paid them $4500 ($500 per car) and followed the truck with my truck and trailer that was hauling two bodies. My guy was from nearby in Minnesota and he was the best. He slept overnite right outside my motel in the sleeper of the truck and never shut the truck off. He kept all the running lights lit and said he would feel it if anyone stepped on his trailer. I even drove most of the cars on and off the truck. My only worry was bad weather with an open hauler and of course we did run into a severe thunderstorm in Salina, Kansas but luckily there wasn't any hail. Here's my load, a Deuce Fordor and Cabriolet in my trailer. I'm backing up the 5W up to the top deck. Its easier than it looks. My driver checking the height so we didn't chop any tops on the way down. Ready to hit the road for the 1500 mile trip. I even chose the route he took. On I-40 in Arizona heading west. We made to my new house safe and sound.
Vintagehotrods, That is an amazing sight!! & we appreciate the positive comments on our service! Love the wagon
That is quite a site. Some great cars on that trailer. Maybe there will be some more comments and photos of member cars moving to new homes. It seems to be a full time job for many. My ex-Canadian next door neighbor hauled boats and RV's for years.
Had a similar experience shipping a car from Pensacola, two weeks no communication.... 24hrs before the car was "supposed" to arrive I get a call from some individuals that I couldn't understand at all trying to get all my info for a drop off. Cancelled with the shipper whom didn't refund my money, got a new shipping service and had them to my door in 18 hrs with fantastic communication the entire way. It really seems to be a hit or miss service..... Good to hear your outcome was good in the end!
Over the years, I've had five cars transported. With the exception of ONE, all have been a real cr*p shoot! All kinds of reasons and excuses, wanting to up the fee to get a trucker to take the job, and having a P.O.'d driver almost abusing one of the cars. All were with "transport companies" that turned out to be "brokers" posting to a trucker/transport bulletin board. Gypsys, tramps, and thieves! I don't think I'll be having any more cars transported; anything bought over distance, I'll fly in and drive it back. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
These pics make me nervous, all those cool old fords up in the air, especially that '34 hanging over the front.
Nervous was an understatement when we headed into that thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain in the dark just south of Salina, Kansas. Luck was on my side that night.
My Ford was a tough move, no drive train, no brakes. I gave the HAMB transporters a shot, some were booked, some wouldn't come through NYC (one way tolls GW, Throgs Neck bridges are $66...). I was able to find a good broker and had my car delivered from Colorado to NY in a flat 55 hours. The general brokered transport business is like pros***ution less the pink-persuader and make up.
I have had experience with BenD and Bill at Bill's Auto Service. I rate both at AAAAAAA++++. I can't say enough good about both of them. Ben and Bill are super "go to" guys in my book. Over the years I have shipped a lot of cars overseas and the buyer always made their own shipping arrangments, usually with brokers. Damn, talk about horror stories.
I would highly recommend Bill's Auto Works! Even though I had to wait for 2 weeks to be scheduled, once he picked up my pickup in Michigan it was delivered to Connecticut within 24 hrs. He kept me informed to whole time.
I've had about a dozen cars transported and several roller ch***is and I will not let anything be hauled on an open trailer. It simply won't be released onto that venue. I've only had one vehicle damaged and that was a smashed hood on a 32 PU that went to England, (lots of buck p***ing on that one) I or my customers have always used one of the national carriers like Reliable or Fed X. I will certainly try one of the HAMB haulers next time I need something transported as long as it's inclosed.
vintage hot rods,...nothin like putting all your eggs in one basket,...lot's of faith there, glad everything went well.
Anything can happen, even if I hauled them. But I felt that being present every mile of the way and having as much control as possible, minimized the risk. The only thing I couldn't control was the weather, but then they could have been all destroyed sitting in South Dakota where we seem to have an entire town wiped off the map by a tornado every summer!
A friend was having his pride and joy moved 1700klms north to his new home / job when the driver missed a slight bend in the road causing the rig to capsize. The car was at the top front when loaded so needless to say it was the first thing to hit the ground. It was totally and although he received a full insurance payout it was NOT the outcome he really wanted. It was a fresh car (1948 Vauxhall) with SBC. Being resilient like most of us he bought another body and started rebuilding it. Things can go bad real quick and without warning
That is enough to make a man sick! MGTSTUMPY. So much sweat & blood goes into our vehicles, none of which can be measured in monetary value!
Ben D is one of the HAMB go to guys for me. He went out of his way & way beyond normal to deliver my 34 roadster from Iowa to Az in the middle of winter. Pic is his replacement rig after his regular tow rig gave up the ghost with engine problems. 1st pic is loaded & last check in Iowa. It didn't run so we had to push it in my garage & brakes were marginal at best. Kept me informed as to what was happening also. Yep Ben even discounted his fee for being a bit tardy. He gets my good guy award.
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