Cost to Ship Bulldozer Per Mile

Cost to Ship Bulldozer Per Mile

Everyone’s been asking how much it costs to ship a Bulldozer per mile. So, let’s make it simple by giving you an example shipment. For this example, I have picked the Caterpillar D4 Crawler Tractor. It weighs 29,258 lbs, has a length of  10 ft, has a width of 10.25 ft, and a height of 6 ft.

For the example, lets say that it is picking up in Hastings MI and is going out Rogers AR. Total miles would be 767.2 miles. We would essentially have to find a step-deck that is heading that way and negotiate a price to have them pick this up. Knowing that a full sized stepdeck is 48-53ft long and has a capacity of 46,000 lbs cargo weight, we would have to run this as a dedicated load. Meaning we are going to pay the full line-haul rate. Stepdecks are a little more specialized, so we would have to assume it would be more than a flatbed.

Unfortunately, since they are more specialized, you should expect to pay 10-20% more than the average flatbed rate for that lane. Not to mention, it is over-width. To obtain necessary permits, the cost will increase $500-$1000 based on lead time. That means our total cost to ship the Caterpillar D4 Crawler Tractor would come out to be $2850-$3300. Still not bad when compared to the full line haul rate of $2000-$2250.

Other Things to Consider

The standard $2.00 to $2.25 a mile doesn’t apply to all shipments. There are a few constraints to consider.

1. Distance.
2. Location
3. Capacity

Distance is a very important factor in price. Coast-to-coast shipments are cheaper per mile than local runs. It is important to remember, whether you are going a long ways or running 50 miles down the road, you will still be paying for the drivers time.

Location is another factor that impacts the price. We get a lot of shipments that pick up in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and other states that do not have a very dense population. This can cause the rate to come up because drivers tend to be situated around bigger cities where loads are most likely to appear. We would essentially have to pay them to drive out and get the shipment (deadhead). This rule also applies to deliveries in remote areas. If you are 200+ miles away from a major city, be  prepared to pay a little more than the usual rate.

Capacity is the final constraint to consider/understand. Driver’s are constantly moving all over the country. When you have a surplus in one city, then the price goes down. The drivers will compete for loads. If you have a shortage of drivers in a city, then the price goes up because the driver will have their pick of the lot. The highest paying freight will be moved first.

Conclusion

We hope that this article sheds some light on shipping partial loads, tractors, booms, elevators or any other type of equipment. We are always fighting to get you the best price with the best service. We are a family-owned and operated company with strong values on the relationships we create. Give us a call and see how we can help you.

(313) 651 7080

Fide Freight Team