Do You Prefer Dealer-Arranged Shipping or Finding Your Own Carrier?
- Thread starter Big_Iron
- Start date
Polo Ardobie
Member
- Messages
- 32
I've done both, but I usually compare quotes first. Sometimes the dealer's shipping is surprisingly competitive, and other times finding your own carrier can save a decent amount.
Chairmann Ringer
New member
- Messages
- 13
Dealer shipping is often the easier option.
Iron_warrior001
New member
- Messages
- 25
- Location
- Arkansas
I usually get a couple of quotes either way. Sometimes the dealer offers a great rate, but it's always worth checking because the savings can be bigger than you'd expect.
winston_wisdom
Member
- Messages
- 59
- Location
- Houston, TX
Depends on three things for me. Distance, size, and if I'm financing.
If it's in the Houston area and doesn't require a lowboy, I've got a solid guy I use.
If it's larger or unique, that usually means more variation in quotes. In my experience, the shippers that dealers use are usually better at this. Dealers know who's reliable for larger loads. Maybe they have the sway to force shippers to eat extra costs or the dealer absorbs some of it. I'm not sure. But it's less likely they come back to me saying "oh, this is actually gonna cost $X more".
Generally I feel more comfortable using the dealer shipping. Then there's two parties who have an incentive to use a good shipper and hold them accountable.
If I'm financing it and they can put it all on one invoice I'll usually go with their shipping for simplicity. It makes virtually no difference on my monthly payment.
Either way, if you're sourcing multiple quotes and one is significantly lower than the others, watch out. They likely either (a) don't know what they're doing or (b) will hold your shipment to cover "unexpected costs".
If it's in the Houston area and doesn't require a lowboy, I've got a solid guy I use.
If it's larger or unique, that usually means more variation in quotes. In my experience, the shippers that dealers use are usually better at this. Dealers know who's reliable for larger loads. Maybe they have the sway to force shippers to eat extra costs or the dealer absorbs some of it. I'm not sure. But it's less likely they come back to me saying "oh, this is actually gonna cost $X more".
Generally I feel more comfortable using the dealer shipping. Then there's two parties who have an incentive to use a good shipper and hold them accountable.
If I'm financing it and they can put it all on one invoice I'll usually go with their shipping for simplicity. It makes virtually no difference on my monthly payment.
Either way, if you're sourcing multiple quotes and one is significantly lower than the others, watch out. They likely either (a) don't know what they're doing or (b) will hold your shipment to cover "unexpected costs".
Paul Adrian
Member
- Messages
- 30
Good point. I also like using dealer shipping for oversized equipment since they usually have experience with permits and route planning, which can save a lot of headaches.