Haulbikes Recent Shipping Experience

[Dimples]

Because motorcycle shipping questions come up periodically I thought to add my recent experience. In the past I have used both Haulbikes and Federated with excellent results. In July I bought a Guzzi in NJ to be shipped to me in South Florida. The Federated quote was $1050. and Haulbikes was $640 (using residential addresses). I went with Haulbikes and signed the contract and paid in full on July 19th with the bike ready for pick up.

The contract estimated pick up by August 10 and delivery by August 29. The bike was picked up on Aug. 15 after a few calls by me. It was delivered on Sept. 21 after more calls for an updated schedule. So, a little more than 2 months from contract to delivery. My only complaint is the 3 week delivery delay. Throughout the process they could not tell me when it would be delivered and finally emailed me on Sept. 15 that it would arrive between the 19th and the 21st.

I think the Haulbikes price is very reasonable and the trucks and drivers are excellent. Someone always answers their phone. However, you (both parties) need to have a flexible schedule because their contract dates are likely to be optimistic.

[Motormike]

I used Federal Shippers several times.  Always some damage to the bike, usually minor, like a rub mark on a saddle bag, or a mirror knocked loose.  But one time they really screwed me.  I'd shipped a Ducati Multistrada to the west coast and back.  While I was there at the loading dock to supervise the strap down on the trip out, I had to catch a flight, and simply dropped the bike off at the warehouse for the trip back.  Big mistake, the idiots strapped the bike down to the pallet while it was on the side stand, a big no-no on a Ducati, and used the handlebars for tie-down points instead of the front forks.  Completely ruined the tank paint.  The bike was still on the pallet when I went to pick it up and I blew a gasket when I saw it.  Went round-and-round with Federal for a damage claim.  Of course, they played the "pre-existing" damage card, as the ALWAYS do! I finally got about $600 or so out of them to settle, not nearly enough. I wouldn't use Federal again if they shipped for free.  I've used Haul Bikes once, and they were fine, overlooking that they (as you experienced) are slow as molasses.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I see Haulbikes still hasm't addressed a problem that arose when I shipped a bike from MD to Montana with them. Truck showed up just as a February snow squall started. The lift gate was slippery enough, but that polished hardwood floor was a skating rink!  It was all the driver and I could do to shuffle it (beautiful V7 Sport) into place and get some straps on it. It would really be a good idea to have some form of anti-slip surface added.   

[Guzzidad]

    Interesting topic as I recently bought a bike from a guy in Connecticut to be shipped to Tampa. I contracted with Haul Bikes and they are now past the estimated pick up window. Hopefully phone calls and e-mails will speed this process up.

[Stretch]

I've used HaulBikes a couple of times with no issues.

They're not usually the cheapest, though.

                                         -Stretch

[pehayes]

This is a timely discussion for me.  I'm planning to ship a bike to New England for an event in May.  Since it is a group activity, I need to guarantee the bike arrives on time.  Won't matter how long it takes to ship it back home to me.  It is a small vintage bike, so not practical for a cross country ride.  Its at least a five day trip if I haul it myself (and another five to get back home).  So, who do I use to haul it?  These stories of delays make me nervous.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[RinkRat II]

   I've used Federal twice. Florida to Arizona, Michigan to Arizona.  A little slow but I was in no hurry. No damage to either bike.  My $.02

    Paul B   

[SemperVee]

 Heard good things about Chad Mowery of MC transport.  One man band.   Spoke with him myself once. 610-823-8063 or by email at chaddmowery@gmail.com

[Motormike]

This is a timely discussion for me.  I'm planning to ship a bike to New England for an event in May.  Since it is a group activity, I need to guarantee the bike arrives on time.  Won't matter how long it takes to ship it back home to me.  It is a small vintage bike, so not practical for a cross country ride.  Its at least a five day trip if I haul it myself (and another five to get back home).  So, who do I use to haul it?  These stories of delays make me nervous.

If the bike absolutely has to be somewhere by a certain date, a private "concierge" style shipper is the best way to go, if often more expensive.  They usually only handle one or two bikes at a time, and in my experience, handle motorcycles much more carefully than the guys loading them into an eighteen-wheeler with all the rest of the freight.

[SIR REAL ED]

If the bike absolutely has to be somewhere by a certain date, a private "concierge" style shipper is the best way to go, if often more expensive.  They usually only handle one or two bikes at a time, and in my experience, handle motorcycles much more carefully than the guys loading them into an eighteen-wheeler with all the rest of the freight.

My experience as well.

[Perazzimx14]

I used Federal Shippers several times.  Always some damage to the bike, usually minor, like a rub mark on a saddle bag, or a mirror knocked loose.  But one time they really screwed me.  I'd shipped a Ducati Multistrada to the west coast and back.  While I was there at the loading dock to supervise the strap down on the trip out, I had to catch a flight, and simply dropped the bike off at the warehouse for the trip back.  Big mistake, the idiots strapped the bike down to the pallet while it was on the side stand, a big no-no on a Ducati, and used the handlebars for tie-down points instead of the front forks.  Completely ruined the tank paint.  The bike was still on the pallet when I went to pick it up and I blew a gasket when I saw it.  Went round-and-round with Federal for a damage claim.  Of course, they played the "pre-existing" damage card, as the ALWAYS do! I finally got about $600 or so out of them to settle, not nearly enough. I wouldn't use Federal again if they shipped for free.  I've used Haul Bikes once, and they were fine, overlooking that they (as you experienced) are slow as molasses.

Isn't this, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me?

FWIW I cringe anytime I see anybody strapping a bike down while its on it side stand. Also when they tighten ratchet straps dowm until the make a high "A" when plucked.

[kingoffleece]

I shipped three bikes ( two one time, and one at another time) with haulbikes.  100% satisfied.My Brother-in-Law is the transportation manager and 20 year former OTR trucker

[Motormike]

Isn't this, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me?

FWIW I cringe anytime I see anybody strapping a bike down while its on it side stand. Also when they tighten ratchet straps dowm until the make a high "A" when plucked.

Maybe, but sometimes you use what is available.  At the time, I had no knowledge of independent shippers.  Doubt I could have afforded them in any event. This was long before Uship, etc. With experience, I simply learned to stop shipping bikes with saddlebags attached, because invariable that's where the damage (contact) occurs.  I started shipping the saddlebags well packaged and protected via UPS with all my riding gear.  Worked pretty well. 

I don't think some people realize with the big national freight forwarders, your motorcycle is strapped to a pallet, loaded, unloaded, loaded, unloaded, as many times as necessary along a zig-zag route with multiple stops and multiple trucks.  The chance for damage is actually pretty high.  Attached is a couple of photos of a Honda VFR I once shipped to the west coast.  When it arrived, it was only held in place by just two straps, the two others having pulled completely out of the wooden pallet.  It was a miracle it didn't come loose and fall over.  Buyer Beware!!!

[Guzzidad]

   I finally got my bike delivered to Florida from Connecticut. Two and a half months. Kind of slow but I will say Haul Bikes drivers are very good at their job. And the price is right. It would have cost me more than twice the price to drive to Connecticut and back to fetch the bike myself.

[bottler]

I recently used Valy Express Inc of Plainfield, Illinois to ship my 1975 Eldo from Florida to LA. Valy had been contracted by Schumacher International Logistics to truck the bike to LA.

The bike arrived on time and in excellent condition. It was then shipped to Australia by Schumacher. Once again everything happened on time, on budget and without any damage to the bike.

Of interest was the fact that the trucking was more expensive than the sea freight.  Anyway the Eldorado runs very nicely and enjoys life in her new home.

Cheers

Bottler

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I've used HaulBikes and am friends with one of their drivers. They are the recommended shipper for the Motorcycle Cannonball events and Mecum auctions. I think it's good to know how they operate, which is that they have four different terminal locations in the USA and they drive in loops and transfer bikes at those terminals. Logistically that means they tend to not be a speedy option since they're not directly moving your motorcycle from point A to B, but they do tend to have reasonable pricing and they're specialized in transporting motorcycles. If your pickup or delivery locations aren't accessible by a semi-truck, then there's an added complication of getting the bike to an empty parking lot or somewhere that is accessible to them. The delivery date estimates I've received from them have been spot on. The only times I've had their price beat was by using uShip shippers, which are hit or miss.
They do run single story trailers too, not just the divided double decker.





I don't know who Bring a Trailer auctions use for motorcycle transport, but their quotes have been at least 2x the cost of what I've ended up going with each time I've bought a motorcycle at auction on BaT.

The Scooter Cannonball Run uses Motoshippers but I have no experience with them. Seems like folks who have used them were happy with their service for the event at least.

In the midwest I can recommend Carlan Cartage Transport. They're based out of Appleton, WI and run sprinter vans set up specifically for motorcycle transport.

[DoubleGuzzi]

It was then shipped to Australia ..

The only sensible statement here!  I do wish the UK would stop with this Americanized (sic) "shipping" via overland/flight nonsense.  It's haulage/transportation etc. Simples.

[Gliderjohn]

I used Haul Bikes in late 2021 for moving the Norge. They were still suffering the effects of -. It was over a three month process. When delivered in late January 2022. The driver and his partner unloaded the bike. I asked if they could wait to see if it would start after sitting that long in cold weather. If not I would need a hand pushing it into the garage. Well it started instantly and the one guy says "That sure ain't no Harley."
GliderJohn

[Ncdan]

I had an experience with Haul Bikes that was so severe that I would never use them again.
It was a totally bad interaction with the driver and the dealership and haul bikes sided with the driver and ended up charging me a 300.00 extra fee, they added it to my credit card, unauthorized.
I appealed the charge through my credit card and they worked with HB’s bank and got the extra fee removed.

[DoubleGuzzi]

I had an experience with Haul Bikes ..

Yikes! Glad that you got reimbursed. 

[blackcat]

I used Haul Bikes in late 2021 for moving the Norge. They were still suffering the effects of -.

Suffering the effects of what? C ovid?

[Motormike]

I used Haul Bikes years ago to ship a Road Glide from California to my home in the Atlanta suburbs.  As already noted here, they are SLOW, but the price was right.  Even still, the bike had the tiniest amount of damage as their tie-down straps tore a reflector off the front fork.  Considering the amounts of damage my motorcycles had suffered at the hands of freight shippers over the years, I called it a win.  I no longer have a need to ship motorcycles cross-country anymore (too old) but would never consider using anything that involved the use of a tractor-trailer unless I was certain I would never see the motorcycle again.