[TowerTalk] Freight charges when shipping towers

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

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 at 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 at contesting.com
> Subject:	[TowerTalk] Freight charges when shipping towers
> From:	Robert Chudek - K0RC <k0rc at citlink.net>
> Reply-to:	k0rc at 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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