Shipping help needed.

[cognos]

Bit off topic for the board, but I thought there might be some expertise here with shipping large, heavy, odd-shaped items...

I need to ship a motorcycle from Ontario, Canada, to California. I don't even know where to start.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Crofter]

Bit off topic for the board, but I thought there might be some expertise here with shipping large, heavy, odd-shaped items...

I need to ship a motorcycle from Ontario, Canada, to California. I don't even know where to start.

Anyone have any suggestions?

My experience has been in receiving heavy packages (wood cook stove etc.) from the US via the border crossing at Sault Ste. Marie.

There is a shipping and receiving company on the US side that receives the item and I take it through customs myself The same would work in reverse. They are a depot for all the major US carriers.

There may be a similar business on the US side not too far from you. I think the alternative is a brokerage firm that physically takes it through customs and does the paper work but that seems to add a big fee and at least several weeks in delay.

[JohnF]

Try YRC Reimer transport, the have sent stuff over the border for me (usually big heavy items!)  Their rates are reasonable although I've never sent a vehicle with them.  Here are some links:
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[Tug]

I have a valid motorcycle license....live in Ontario....and would love to travel....
Cheers
Tug

[Lloyd]

Hi Group,

Try giving www.freightquotes.com a try.

That is who I use, for heavy trucking now. They are basically a clearing house for independent truckers looking for a load. They register the load in their database, and truckers looking for a backhaul or load fill, then bid on the job.

When I had my perky/cats shipped, I contacted about 5 shipping companies, then FQ...what I noticed first off, FQ was = to the lowest price I could find. Then I noticed that FQ was using a shipper, that I had contacted, and my quote direct was about 20% higher than the same shipper through FQ...everything is licensed and bonded, all shipments are insured...they also can do customs.

Lloyd

[d34]

you can try this guy... dont know if he can travel to canada or not but he just delivered my motorcycle from AZ to MO...

Desert Eagle Enterprises
31821 N. 19th. Ln.
Phoenix, AZ 85085
936-499-4305

most likely you will have to leave him a message... he usually returned my calls within 2 hours...

[cognos]

Tug - you sure ya wanna drive this from Ontario to California? There's only one small spring under the seat, and the bike only goes about 50 MPH. God help you if it breaks down, parts are available - in Austria. Might be an "interesting" trip...

1952 NSU 251 OSL

In any case, thanks for the tips, I now have several quotes, from $1000 to $1500.

[mobile_bob]

cool old bike, but it makes my back hurt and bunghole pucker just looking at it
and thinking of a 2000 plus mile trek.

i don't think a guy would ever walk right again after such a trip on something like that.

bob g

[rl71459]

That is a cool bike!