I feel your pain.
I'm in Mass as well, South Shore.
I've been dealing with this for some time. I also do restorations on antique tractors and other big items.
Yes we pay a premium for destination charges. New England is at the end of the line as far as most freight routes are concerned, but that isn't the only thing that piles on the cost.
Freight companies use a classification system for every item they carry, and it is bias against the a lot of the things we buy.
A silly (but true)example is that you can ship 1000 lbs of lead for $250, but to the same location, 1000lbs of ping-pong balls is $2,500. It is mostly about density ratios, but there are other completely arbitrary rules that define the classes.
Things like sheet metal, tractor wheels, etc. have high volume and low weight. That puts them in an expensive class. Also, if I remember correctly, The same size chunk of cast iron called automotive parts costs more than if it is called industrial equipment.
Finally there is the size thing. 12ft long is normal, 12'1" is Godzilla.
Shipped a grain truck lift from Minnesota to MA. When it was first strapped on the pallet it was 12'4" and the est. was $1800, had them cut 4-1/4" off the end and it went down to under $1100.
