The problem here is access. The big, long haul freight trucks can't get
to my shop.
I'm in a rural subdivision where the roads are a standard 2-lane with no
curb and ditches on both sides. The big freight trucks can't make the
turns from the roads into the driveways. My metal supplier has a
smaller flatbed they use for many businesses with limited access.
Using prior arrangements, I have the "big stuff" like a milling machine
and heavy accessories shipped to the local airport (I'm a pilot) where
they have a fork lift. Even the good cut off saws may weigh 800# or
more, unlike the cheap imports from a number of the big box stores that
might go a couple hundred pounds (I've worn out 2). I used to pay a
local business that has a "low boy" trailer to bring stuff from the
airport to here. Another had a steel "tilt bed". IIRC The mill (1800#)
was only $200 to the airport and another $80 from the airport to here.
I've also used a local freight depot. I'd have the lighter stuff like
45G tower sections shipped to the airport where two men can easily
unload a section at a time and onto a 3/4 ton pickup. The mill is too
much weight, too high (Top heavy load) to use a 3/4 ton truck even if
you can load it.
When I was in business (a long time ago) the big antennas went to
freight depot. They wouldn't even deliver to a business without a
freight dock or means to unload the truck. The drivers wouldn't touch it.
73
Roger (K8RI)
On 7/6/2015 10:16 AM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
Business to business (or terminal) is significantly less costly than
residential. Rent a trailer or truck and bring it to a terminal or
business. It has been a while since I shipped tower stuff, I thought that
it was class 50. LTL freight is not always expensive.
John KK9A
To: TowerTalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Freight charges when shipping towers
From: Robert Chudek - K0RC <k0rc@citlink.net>
Reply-to: k0rc@citlink.net
Date: Sun, 05 Jul 2015 11:46:12 -0500
I am looking for an economical way to ship a complete tower package about
900 miles (one-way). I have created four "bundles" of nestled sections,
base stubs, rotator plate, TB-3, and mast. The entire weight is slightly
over 400 pounds of aluminum and steel.
What seems out of whack is the freight classification (250 or 300) and the
resulting freight charges in the $1,200 to $1,500 price range. I have
called numerous freight companies and agents and this is pretty
consistent. There are also "up-charges" for no loading dock, etc. that are
added on as well.
Short of loading the tower into a pickup and driving it there myself, how
have you dealt with the freight industry so as not to break the bank?
FWIW, these are 10 foot sections and the outside sections are 30" on a
side, open lattice, welded aluminum.
73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
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73
Roger (K8RI)
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