Re: Shipping an engine

["Retro Ralph" <retroralph@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Likely too much for Fedex or UPS or parcel carriers. If is a pretty complete
engine is likely over 500 pounds.  I suggest caling ABF Freight and ask them
about hauling it for you or the consignee.  They may require prepayment by
you so you may have to get money upfront.  They may be OK for sending
freight collect.

ABF should give you a spot quotation for hauling this.  They generally
charge extra to pickup or delivery at residential locations or other than
places of business so maybe best to make it easy for them by taking it to
their dock and have it picked up from their dock at destination.  Things you
will need to know is the valuation, weight, packaging requirements.  ABF
should be able to advise you that.

I suspect that the engine should be clean, drained and banded or mounted to
a skid and any detachable parts be tightly bundled to the engine or the skid
or separately boxed and every package of the shipment should be well
labelled.  They generally are worried that something like this may
contaminated articles in other shipments, so that must be avoided by drained
and engine well and cleaning it up. and nothing can leak out.  It may be
encased in plastic to ensure that it will not leak fluids, etc.

You will have to complete a bill of lading contract, and they will supply
the form.  The shipping description should be "used automobile engine, not
exceeding value for reconditioning or salvage".  It should be class 70
freight per the NMFC.

Other trucking companies have service to Chicago, also.  You may shop
around. Yellow Freight, Conway, Roadway, FedEx Trucking, Reddaway, or other
listed in the Yellow pages.  Their rates are unregulated and they can charge
what they want but many of the are competitive with each other.  Good Luck
getting decent rates and service.  They usually favor larger shippers with
their best bargains.  Private individuals making very occasional shipments
must look harder to get their good breaks in freight pricing.  You can
review trucking company shipping on the Freight Control Systems web page -
http://home1.gte.net/res0b84l/fcs/shipping.html
______________________________________________________________
Ralph Ausmann  -  Hillsboro, OR - > <ralph.ausmann@xxxxxxxxx>
http://mysite.verizon.net/res79g4m/ ... and "check the links"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <oconner_us@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 10:20 PM
Subject: Shipping an engine

> It amazes me some of the things some people want shipped.
>
> I have a complete 350 out of a 1968 Jeep Wagoneer. Any ideas on shipping
this thing to Chicago from Spokane, WA? Obviously I can't just slap a couple
37 cent stamps on it and drop it in the mail so I assume there is going to
be some substantial cost involved. Any suggestions on who I would even use
would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Jamie Smith
> Spokane, WA.