What It Costs to Ship a Trailer
If the stacker you want is a thousand miles away, delivery is part of the price. Here is how it is calculated and what you can do about it.
How delivery is priced
Trailer transport is priced per loaded mile, meaning the miles the truck drives with your trailer behind it. The rate per mile moves with diesel prices, which is why quotes change week to week. Our estimator ties the rate to the national average diesel price published daily by AAA and updates every morning, then multiplies by the real driving distance from the trailer's lot to your address.
Enter your address on any listing and you get a number specific to that trailer and your town. Sales confirms it before anything moves; the estimate is usually close.
What moves the number
Distance. The biggest factor by far. A trailer sitting in the lot nearest you will always be cheaper to deliver than an identical one three states away, which is one reason we show the location on every listing.
Fuel. Rates rise and fall with diesel. If fuel is spiking, it can be worth waiting a couple of weeks.
Route and destination. Rural destinations, mountain routes and areas with little return freight cost more because the transporter drives back empty. Major metro areas on interstate corridors are the cheapest destinations.
Timing. Flexible delivery windows let a transporter combine your trailer with other loads headed the same direction, which lowers the rate. Needing it by a specific date costs more.
Trailer size. A 36-foot gooseneck stacker needs a bigger tow vehicle and more experience than a 24-foot bumper pull, and some transporters charge accordingly.
Ways to pay less
- Buy from the nearest lot. Filter inventory by location.
- Pick it up yourself. If you have the truck, a one-way trip is often the cheapest option and lets you inspect the trailer before it leaves.
- Take factory pickup on new orders. Trailers built in Indiana can be collected at the plant, which eliminates the dealer-to-you leg entirely and lets you see the factory.
- Be flexible on dates. Give the transporter a two-week window.
- Combine with a trip. Teams heading to a race near one of our lots sometimes pick up on the way.
What delivery includes
Door-to-door transport by an insured carrier, a walkthrough at drop-off, and photos at pickup and delivery. The trailer arrives with the lift tested and the tires at pressure. It does not include state registration or local taxes, which you handle at home.
Timing
Most deliveries in the eastern half of the country happen within one to two weeks of the deal closing, sooner if a transporter is already headed your way. Cross-country runs take a little longer to schedule.
The estimator on each listing is the fastest way to see where a specific trailer lands for you. If the number surprises you in either direction, call; there is often a way to improve it.