Looking for Freight Advice

[JG66]

Hey guys,

Can anyone recommend a freight company who can assist with transport of a V8 engine and auto transmission for me interstate for a reasonable sum ?

I'm looking to purchase a 302 Clevo with gearbox and gearbox may or may not be attached. Melbourne region to Sydney region.

Cheers and regards
Tony

[ozrunner]

Notwithstanding that COVID issues may play a part in any freight movements I had an AU V8 engine transported from a wrecker in NSW to Perth by National Freight.

Top service as they picked it up and I collected it from their Perth depot in 6 days but well before COVID.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by ozrunner

Notwithstanding that COVID issues may play a part in any freight movements I had an AU V8 engine transported from a wrecker in NSW to Perth by National Freight.

Top service as they picked it up and I collected it from their Perth depot in 6 days but well before COVID.

Were their rates reasonable enough ? What price should I expect ?

[xr8territory]

Originally Posted by JG66

Were their rates reasonable enough ? What price should I expect ?

Not stealing your thread. I have a similar question. I am thinking of sending a Boss motor from Brisbane to Wollongong. What price should I expect.

[ozrunner]

The major question now could be given COVID who will transport these types of items although I would suspect that freight of any kind will now be sought to get back to square one.

Was a few years ago but for $127 it was an awesome service from NSW to Perth and able to be collected in 6 days. Probably a lot higher now but a phone call will get an answer

[Franco Cozzo]

Probably want to get them on a skid/pallet, that would mean you'd need to split the engine and gearbox and send them on separate skids/pallets, also have the ability to load/unload on both ends.

You want to avoid a non standard dimension/weird shaped box or you'll be bent over on cost.

[kevino]

Yes good advice Franco.
A must to place them on pallets.
Also

Where is it picked up from? If a business do they have a forklift to lift it on the truck?
If it is a house how does the driver get it on the truck? If requested freight company can supply taillift truck and a pallet jack but pallet jacks can only operate on smooth hardstand.
Same questions apply at delivery.
Again if on pallet and pallet jack can be supplied but will only get placed on hardstand not your shed etc.

Once you palletise items at pick up and request taillift pallet jack pick up delivery if required any freight company with taillift can move them.
to name a few
Cameron Interstate
Toll express
Star Track


etc etc etc.

[JG66]

but a phone call will get an answer [/QUOTE]

Yep, but who to call is the question. E-go, who I used to use, now don't take anything automotive anymore. Don't ask me why. It seems ludicrous that a transport company specialising in freight don't want to freight. They are becoming very hopeless that mob, really. I'm really fed up with them.

[Citroënbender]

Two left-field suggestions.

1. Borrow a ute and DIY, you have complete control and most direct route.
2. See if someone like Webtow can load it at the front of their tray; strap it on one pallet with the extension housing poking out. So long as you’ve a decent engine crane each end of the trip it will be straightforward.

[kevino]

E go is not a transport company
It will just be a broker
An intermediary
Clip the ticket merchant only
Get a real transport coy ie one that owns it own trucks

[Citroënbender]

e-Go is the online side of HX. Whenever I went to their old Villawood drop point, it reminded me greatly of Swift & Shift.

[kevino]

Ok I m incorrect
HX ...Hunter Express?

[Citroënbender]

That’s correct. I haven’t been moving large parts for a few years, they seem to have reshaped their business model a bit.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Two left-field suggestions.

1. Borrow a ute and DIY, you have complete control and most direct route.
2. See if someone like Webtow can load it at the front of their tray; strap it on one pallet with the extension housing poking out. So long as you’ve a decent engine crane each end of the trip it will be straightforward.

I have had to do that in the past, but when the goods are on the other side of the country, it makes for a very difficult procedure lol. I'm in Sydney and I really don't fancy a drive over to W.A. It's around 80 hrs round trip. No thanks !
I don't mind driving up to Queensland or down to Victoria, no problem. I've done those journeys a few times. It is a P.I.A. but it can pay off when you have several items to collect.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

e-Go is the online side of HX. Whenever I went to their old Villawood drop point, it reminded me greatly of Swift & Shift.

I remember the good old days of Villawood. It was rough as guts. They've since moved to near the Cross Roads there at Casula. A bit better, but similar to Villawood. Now you can't even get them on the phone anymore to complain about their ****ty service either. You have to pull teeth online only, which has made me turn away from them and seek out a different carrier.
I don't know who makes the decisions over there, but I have to say, they have screwed it up Royally !

[Citroënbender]

You’d said Melbourne to Sydney for a Clevo driveline - which is why I’d suggested DIY. It would be something else again to visit WA for that size of item.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

You’d said Melbourne to Sydney for a Clevo driveline - which is why I’d suggested DIY. It would be something else again to visit WA for that size of item.

Yes, It started out as a Melbourne job, but that one didn't materialise unfortunately. Sorry, I should've updated the info. It just got away from me.
I have since found a combo deal but it's in W.A. of all places. It's so hard to find the right things in the best places these days. So now I'm trying to canvass freight prices from W.A to Sydney. I have just sent out 3 quote requests and the seller has also has one going to from his end, so I'll wait and compare them all.
Apparently there was a disruption to rail freight somewhere due to flood damage in late January so there's potentially a delay for West to East freight. Not sure if that's been fixed yet either.

Fingers crossed it doesn't turn out to be a debacle. I've been trying to find a V8 combo driveline for a while now and have had nothing but unsavoury characters to deal with. Been screwed twice now by sellers who commit to a sale then pull the rug from under me then sell to another. No shame whatsoever !!

[Mulva]

Yeah, was rail damage in our (SA) far north from flooding, but recently repaired as far as I know (definitely the north-south is fixed).

Standard gauge too

[Vesper Martini]

what sort of money are we talking?
I would recommend finding something local even if its costs a bit more.

freighting an engine is "ugly Freight" nobody wants to do it so they will charge a premium.
It need to be in a custom built crate, it needs a forklift and it needs to be drained of and oils as it will likely be classed as dangerous goods - they would charge you extra if it leaks.
In short it will be expensive to freight.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Mulva

Yeah, was rail damage in our (SA) far north from flooding, but recently repaired as far as I know (definitely the north-south is fixed).

Standard gauge too

Oh, ok. I thought it was an East-West problem. Can't recall where I read it now.

You must be a Seinfeld fan right ? "Mulva" where Jerry forgot the name of a woman he was dating and was trying in vain to remember until she puts him on the spot and confronts him about it. She asked him to tell her the name and his response was that it rhymed with a female body part is all he could recall and then he blurted out "Mulva" sheepishly . Turns out it was Deloris LMAO !!!

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

what sort of money are we talking?
I would recommend finding something local even if its costs a bit more.

freighting an engine is "ugly Freight" nobody wants to do it so they will charge a premium.
It need to be in a custom built crate, it needs a forklift and it needs to be drained of and oils as it will likely be classed as dangerous goods - they would charge you extra if it leaks.
In short it will be expensive to freight.

Well, the seller is currently waiting for a quote so not sure at this stage. I took the opportunity to have a look myself this morning and sent off some quote requests, so hopefully some joy may arrive. I'm really getting tired of looking for an engine combo for my XD. It was never this hard back in the day. You couldn't even sell a 302 Clevo for crying out loud and now everybody wants a damn kidney for one.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by JG66

Well, the seller is currently waiting for a quote so not sure at this stage. I took the opportunity to have a look myself this morning and sent off some quote requests, so hopefully some joy may arrive. I'm really getting tired of looking for an engine combo for my XD. It was never this hard back in the day. You couldn't even sell a 302 Clevo for crying out loud and now everybody wants a damn kidney for one.

simply put, its because an XD is old..

there's a whole lot of other reasons, but ill leave it at that.

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

simply put, its because an XD is old..

there's a whole lot of other reasons, but ill leave it at that.

I hear you man. We certainly live in VERY different times now. I wish I could go back to be honest..

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by JG66

I hear you man. We certainly live in VERY different times now. I wish I could go back to be honest..

You are not alone

[wodahs]

reading this thread , I think I should look at selling the complete 302c and c4 sitting in my zh parts fairlane, wonder what money I should advertise it at

it was both the north south line and east west lines that got flooded out and the road too

I work in freight (NO) and as VM says it's ugly freight , is also a 1 of which is considered as smalls so many won't be interested which makes it expensive

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Mulva

Yeah, was rail damage in our (SA) far north from flooding, but recently repaired as far as I know (definitely the north-south is fixed).

Standard gauge too

Further to this, the East-West rail line is now running however there are massive delays with goods deemed urgent taking priority...huge backlog on either side. I have a container that was due in Melb. at the start of Feb only now confirmed to reach Melb. from WA on Tuesday 2nd March (if I'm lucky). Required for the Ag livestock-food industry and hence finally given priority.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by JG66

I hear you man. We certainly live in VERY different times now. I wish I could go back to be honest..

I was going to suggest buying a Donor car, but if you actually find one on carsales the prices have tripled in the last couple of years..

so my suggestion have a look on Gumtree for someone that is wrecking one at home..

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

I was going to suggest buying a Donor car, but if you actually find one on carsales the prices have tripled in the last couple of years..

so my suggestion have a look on Gumtree for someone that is wrecking one at home..

Donor cars are extremely hard to find for the right money, especially with a combo you desire. Trying to find anything in Sydney is strangely difficult too and if you come across anything resembling an engine, they act all hard ball and try to flog it for stupid money. I'm not one to stroke anyone's ego either, so they can happily keep it till the cows head home. The Sydney market is full of Greed mongers so I have no choice but to go interstate. Some sellers are delusional and some are outright shameless A'holes

[Vesper Martini]

whats the budget?

[JG66]

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

whats the budget?

Around $1500 or less if possible. I have seen many for sale at or around that price but you have to be quick. The ones who asked $2,500 or more, they just sit around for months and months, so that tells you the market won't pay that much for what is essentially nothing really that special. They want 351 money for a 302. Not going to happen I don't think.

I'll wait and see what comes of my current potential purchase pending freight. I hope it all works out as the deal I've made is a pretty good one. I won't jinx it here and now, but if all goes well I'll post up the purchase details later.
Wish me luck fellas !