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Hi yall, maybe one of you can point me in the right direction. I'm prior Military, but got out in March 2012. I had a year of storage entitlement, which included free delivery, but that expired a month ago. I'm now stuck with paying excess storage costs and delivery fee all myself.
The stuff is already in a crate in the storage company, ready to be delivered. It weighs 3050lbs and is 500 cubic feet.
I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to do this. All the moving companies I contact quote me around $2000-$3000, but that includes services that I don't neccesarily care for (unpacking, etc). Really, i'm just trying to get the darn crate shipping here, then i'll deal with unloading it/moving the contents myself.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Surely there's cheaper ways to move something like this. Don't small businesses do this all the time?
I've calculated it out I could drive there myself and pick it up with a minivan and trailer for around $1000 in gas. I have no full time job, so I've got nothing but time to do this. But just wanted to make sure that was my best option before committing.
If you can move it yourself for $1000 you'd better do it.
This is the peak season in the moving industry. Prices generally increase 4-7% during the period between May and August on the East coast.
Where is your stuff stored and who own the crate? General freight common and contract carriers can transport it for slightly less than moving companies but generally they don't have the lift capacity to get a 500 cu. ft box on and off their trucks.
Try Forward Air. They only move things terminal to terminal though, so you would have to arrange for local cartage. Ask for a spot quote if you're shipping on midweek day, when there isn't that much outbound freight. All stations have a loading dock and forklifts. You might save some money with them, or try another line haul company.
A quick on-line spot quote from Con-Way Freight (an LTL shipper) from Baltimore to Portland was over $7000 . You may want to try the "Ebay" of shipping at uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Cars or Moves but then even they like to get about $2 a mile. As RT said, if you can DIY for $1000, go for it, assuming the mini-van can safely tow 3000#.
I always advise anyone considering using reverse auction sites like uShip or community bulletin boards like craigslist to check the licensing and motor carrier credentials of every individual and company who advertises there.
Many of the advertisers who lurk at these type of free, unregulated websites have neither the proper licensing or insurance to handle the transportation of household goods or personal property in interstate commerce.
A quick on-line spot quote from Con-Way Freight (an LTL shipper) from Baltimore to Portland was over $7000 . You may want to try the "Ebay" of shipping at uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Cars or Moves but then even they like to get about $2 a mile. As RT said, if you can DIY for $1000, go for it, assuming the mini-van can safely tow 3000#.
I never mentioned Con-Way. They suck, and take forever. If you don't have good advice, sometimes it's better to just remain silent.
I just did a quote online for BWI to PDX for 3000# on Forward Air and the price ranges between $750 to $1400 depending on the dims. The OP didn't provide dims so I used their standard sized containers for price quotes.
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Wow
. You may want to try the "Ebay" of shipping at 
As RT said, if you can DIY for $1000, go for it, assuming the mini-van can safely tow 3000#.
