The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Hauling truck-money up front??

Hello guys I need your help on this-I've got two guys willing to haul the 1 ton dump at a reasonable price. They both answered my ad on wanted to haul on YT. One guy says he will haul it from Ny to Penn. where he lives for .75 a mile-then when he gets another run down this way will charge me just under a 1.00 a mile to Tn. He wants $235.00 up front and balance on delivery. The other guy says flat rate of $690.00 from Ny-Tn. I want to go with the $690.00 but here's the sitch How do I go about this-and how do I know they will deliver my truck-and not just keep it and the money?? Do I pay them half up front-is this the norm or do I pay them when the truck is delivered?? Do I ask for a photo copy of his driver's lic or any other personal info? I'm just not sure what to do or how to go about doing it. I'm so afraid of scammers-Any one done this kind of thing before? I really need advice on this. Thanks :confused:

I'd go with the $690 straight shot guy, too.. having your truck sit in PA while he waits around for another load to bring back could take awhile.

You may want to ask for refrences.. other people he has done work for.. altho with that kind of price, it's probably just a guy with a gooseneck trailer doing it on the side for extra cash.. he may have not ever delivered a vehicle before.

The other thing to ask is what kind of insurance will cover your vehicle while being transported.

Accidents happen.. even with the most reputible carriers. If your truck ends up in a river, or damaged in any way during transport, who picks up the tab?

As far as payment is concerned, thats a good question.

If I was the dude hauling the truck, I don't want to drive 700+ miles to your place and discover "you dont have the money" or "your momma got real sick and had to spend the money on medicine".. i'd want some kind of assurance from you that i'm going to get paid.. so i'd probably require at least half down, and the balance paid upon delivery in CASH.

Now if i'm in your position, I don't know this clown, and for all I know this dude could take my money and go hit the bar.

Half up front, and the balance paid when delivered sounds fair.

Make sure you get something in writing that establishes who is responcible for damages to the vehicle during transport, and also specifies a date the vehicle will be delivered to you on or before.

Make sure that document has both your and the shippers full name, and physical address, as well as the address where the vehicle is to be picked up and delivered to.

So check refrences first, get something in writing, and all at the same time, understand that you're just as much a stranger to him as he is to you.

Oh thanks-yes the guy with the straight run is my first choice-He emailed me and told me carries insurance and required 50% up front, that I have no problem with. I will get it writing and ask for references also-good call-I never even thought of that. Now for two really dumb questions-what kind of battery can we use to start it up with it being on the original 6 volt system? He says the dump bed must be down to travel-my dad left them up so when it rained they wouldn't pool and rust- and secondly does it need to be running in order for the bed to be lowered? Thanks for your help-I'm getting excited about getting my truck down here!

Pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News at any good news stand. There are lots of LEGITIMATE auto transporters who advertise there and who will gladly provide proof of insurance, arrival times, costs, references, etc.and who have first class equipment.

I'd be leary of anyone who required a deposit if they had my car and who only claims to have insurance. Sounds like a couple of roofers I know.

My truck doesn't need to be running to lower the bed. 6V batteries are easily available... NAPA has them as well as Sam's club.

I think her situation is that she's called several "legitimate" auto transporters, and they all want over $1500 to do the job.

The person she's in contact with now is somebody that responded to an ad on Yesterdays Tractor and is probably your typical car/truck/tractor nut who has some free time and is down with making a few bucks.

For the average Joe just picking up side work, they can't afford to drive 700 miles with a truck on the back just to get stiffed.. sure they still have the persons truck on the back of their trailor, but that isn't doing them any good when they got a 700 mile trip back and $35 in their pocket.

You roll the dice when you buy any service from a private individual.. hell, you roll the dice when you buy a service from ANYBODY you've never dealt with before.

If refrences check out, and they're willing to put something on paper, you can save alot of money and help a person out all at the same time.

I assume this cat is going to haul this truck on a trailor.. you'll need to check with him to see if the vehicle needs to be in running condition or not.. some folks will only pickup a vehicle if it can be driven up on the trailor.. others have an electric winch or "come along" that they can pull it up on the trailor with.

All the hoists i've seen can be lowered with the engine off.. just hit the release lever and down it goes.. but if this truck has been sitting for awhile, it could be stuck (i.e. rusted cylinder arms, preventing it from going down)

You'd be well advised to have somebody locally make sure that hoist is going to drop before you send this guy out there to pick it up.

I've found that just about any 6V tractor battery available from local TSC or other farm stores works just fine with old bolts.. but again, if this truck has been sitting some time, don't expect to be able to just drop a new battery in and have it fire up and run.

Typical problem areas with dormant vehicles include corroded/shot battery cables, rotten/bad fuel in the tank, and/or crud in the tank (rust, leaves, dirt, etc)

Another thing that happens with vehicles that have sat for along time is the wheels get stuck. Usually because of rust. At the very least, your transport guy is going to require the truck be able to roll.

Regardless of who you use for transport, it's a good idea to have a man (or woman) on the ground at the pickup location to make sure things are cool with the truck and to verify the vehicle has been picked up, and by whom.

Remember you're paying the transport person to move the vehicle.. not fix it or get it running or prep it for shipping.

"Regardless of who you use for transport, it's a good idea to have a man (or woman) on the ground at the pickup location to make sure things are cool with the truck and to verify the vehicle has been picked up, and by whom.

Remember you're paying the transport person to move the vehicle.. not fix it or get it running or prep it for shipping."
Yes I am in the process of contacting a friend who is a mechanic (thank goodness) who will go up there and get it running and or make sure it rolls, lower the dump bed, and meet this hauler. the hauler just emailed me, says he can winch it up if it dosen't start- I will still have to get it down to the main rd. So either way It has to run and have brakes to get it down the hill and out on the main rd.-Say they couldn't get it running or the brakes aren't good enough, can I have a tow truck hook up to it and pull it down to the main rd or parking lot?

You might want to look at this Tech Tip on trailering by Barry Weeks.

Always good info to have.

Peg

Yes I have looked into several big companies that will haul-but I can not afford their prices-they do charge any where from 1200.00-1600.00. Believe me if I had that kind of money to spend on just the transporting I would go with one of those companies. I thank you for the info, and maybe I'm taking a risk with going through someone on the internet making a back haul, but I think as long as I get the proper info, and they are legitamate with references, signed papers or receipts-I think I will do ok. I will keep in mind all the good advice and let you know how it turns out.

Consider putting the money in escrow with a banker or CPA. You can get someone in your town to be your agent and contact a person in his town who will act as his agent for a small fee. Your agents can draft up a simple agreement accpetable to both parties that will cover the "You do this, and I will do that," to avoid the "he said, she said" stuff.

The agreement can specify how much of the escrow fund will be distributed by his agent before the work is done (pays for show up, loading, gas, food etc. on the road). Then when you get your truck and you are satisfied, you tell your agent (in writing) to release the remainder of the escrow fund to his agent and he gets his final payment.

This stuff can get real messy across State lines if anything goes haywire--questions of venue, standing, etc. which you can clarify ahead of time with a simple contractural agreement administered by a disinterested third party or parties.

You can probably get a draft contract somewhere on the internet that will cover your State, and be acceptable in his State as well.

OK, so I'm a fuddy-duddy. A few bucks for a fuddy-duddy now can be a lot less costly and keep everybody happy later on.

Ok thanks for your help! I think I have it all worked out, I do have an agent in NY-actually my cousin-she will be the go between. The driver carries insurance on the vehicals he transports-has provided proof he is a driver and owns his own company, has referances. He will also sign an invoice stating amount due on delivery-no up front costs to me, which we have both agreed apon. So I think I'm all set. I'm waiting for date and time to be settled and what part of the town he will be picking up the truck at. Where the truck is now, the driveway is too small to get his trailor turned around in so we will have to get it towed. All totaled with the towing it's going to run me $750.00-which I'm more than happy with.

I've been shipping trucks across country for twenty years and the only time I was ever cheated was when I paid a hauler up front. No legitimate hauler asks for payment before the job is done, always pay cod.

I've been in the hauling/towing business for a bit over 10 yrs now, N-E-V-E-R pay upfront!! That is a sure way to start a whole boatload of problems. No reputable outfit will charge upfront.

Also, the hauling company should be able to provide you with insurance documents, showing type/amount of coverage. Usually this is no problem.... unless they refuse to show any proof and just say "yeah, we got that insurance stuff..."

About any towing company would be able to assist you in loading/unloading your rig from the trailer, we do several of these a week. Best of luck and enjoy your truck!

I don't think she's dealing with a "professional hauler".. those dudes wanted to bend her over to the tune of $1600 for a 700 mile trip.

Altho, i've seen many "reputible" haulers on the web ask for a non refundable, or partially refundible deposit before picking up a vehicle or "locking in" your shipping date.

Another thing to think about-be VERY specific on your terms,requirements and needs for the haul;Gget EVERYTHING in writing.A reputable hauler will welcome a customer who does their homework,and will be only too happy to siggn a proper contract with plenty of detail,because not only does that protect the customer,it protects the hauler too.
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