What Factors Affect Transport Prices?
The transportation industry is market-driven, meaning the supply and demand for the services of transport trucks is what sets prices. Every route has its own rate the market will bear, and rates fluctuate based on market triggers. A key item to remember is that our price to you only increases when the market increases.
Market prices are affected primarily by the cost of fuel but can also be impacted by seasonal events, such as Snowbird season, when millions of people from Northern states ‘flock’ South each winter. As drivers abandon their normal routes all over the country for the fast money of Snowbird routes, prices nationwide react to a shortage of available carriers.
Holidays also impact prices because drivers want to be home with family, leaving fewer trucks on the road. Local events (i.e. hurricanes, flooding, fires) have a big impact, too–in and well beyond the affected areas.
Less popular routes, especially to remote locations, also command higher prices. The fewer trucks on a route, the higher prices are, normally. Anything that increases demand or reduces supply can raise prices.
For every available opening on a transport truck, there are 10 or more cars waiting for a ride. As stated in our quotes, standard pickup is normally within 3-4 days (for this very reason) and in-transit time depends on mileage traveled. Most transporters travel about 350-400 miles a day, when you factor in stops, traffic, construction and Federally-mandated rest requirements imposed for safety.
Team Alex uses only the highest-rated carriers because they tend to have fewer problems, including timeliness, and top-rated carriers command higher prices. While using only highly-rated carriers cannot guarantee a problem-free or on-time transport, it sure helps.