Truck shipping usually means one of two things. Either you want to move a pickup truck from one place to another, which this guide covers, or you want to move freight by truck, which we cover in our LTL freight and expedited freight guides (see the table below). For a pickup, the price is set mostly by distance and weight. In our real quotes a pickup cost a median 47% more than a sedan on the same lane, and the gap grew with distance. Here is what shipping a truck costs, what changes the price and what recent real jobs looked like. Truck transport, truck shipping and pickup truck hauling all mean the same service here.
What do you mean by truck shipping?
The word covers very different jobs, and the right page depends on what you are moving:
| You want to move | What it is | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| A pickup truck (F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500, Tacoma and similar) | A vehicle shipped by car carrier, door to door, like a car | This page, then a quote |
| A heavy-duty or modified pickup (F-350, a dually, a lifted truck) | Still a car-carrier job, but weight and size change what fits and what it costs | This page, and describe the truck exactly when you quote |
| A semi, box truck or dump truck | Larger commercial vehicles often need a different kind of hauler or a driveaway | Tell us the exact truck when you ask for a quote |
| Freight on pallets or crates | LTL or full truckload freight | LTL freight shipping and an LTL quote |
| Urgent or oversized freight | A dedicated truck, hot shot or van | Hot shot trucking, expedited freight and cargo van delivery |
How much does it cost to ship a pickup truck?
Across our 494 real lanes, the median price to ship a pickup on an open trailer was $314 under 250 miles and $2,384 at 2,000 miles and up. The price per mile falls as the trip gets longer, from $2.39 to $0.89, but the premium over a sedan grows: 16% under 250 miles and 67% at 2,000 miles and up.
| Distance | Lanes | Pickup, median | Per mile, median | Premium over a sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 250 miles | 108 | $314 | $2.39 | +16% |
| 250 to 500 miles | 79 | $650 | $1.85 | +43% |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | 127 | $1,048 | $1.51 | +50% |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | 89 | $1,535 | $1.25 | +61% |
| 1,500 to 2,000 miles | 33 | $1,988 | $1.20 | +69% |
| 2,000 miles or more | 58 | $2,384 | $0.89 | +67% |
These are open-trailer prices for a running pickup, taken from real quotes on our platform. They are estimates and can move between runs, so use them as a guide and get a live quote for your own route. For a price built from the closest lanes to your ZIP codes, use the calculator below, which opens on a pickup.
Pickup vs. sedan vs. SUV on the same lanes
To see the gap lane by lane, we priced a sedan, an SUV and a pickup on 12 lanes on October 19, 2026, all on an open trailer. The pickup was a median +55% over the sedan (from +15% to +139%), while an SUV was within a median of 1% of the sedan on the same lanes. Pickups are heavier and longer than most cars, which is a likely reason, since a carrier fits fewer of them on a truck.
| Route | Miles | Sedan | SUV | Pickup | Pickup vs. sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas → Houston | 239 | $250 | $250 | $500 | +100% |
| Atlanta → Orlando | 440 | $400 | $400 | $585 | +46% |
| Chicago → Atlanta | 690 | $531 | $684 | $976 | +84% |
| Atlanta → Chicago | 690 | $732 | $710 | $907 | +24% |
| Baltimore → Atlanta | 697 | $710 | $975 | $1,050 | +48% |
| Denver → Phoenix | 823 | $610 | $600 | $1,456 | +139% |
| Chicago → Dallas | 969 | $816 | $833 | $1,328 | +63% |
| Orlando → New York | 1,082 | $706 | $660 | $814 | +15% |
| New York → Orlando | 1,083 | $1,100 | $1,129 | $1,355 | +23% |
| Los Angeles → Seattle | 1,143 | $1,011 | $938 | $1,787 | +77% |
| Boston → Miami | 1,501 | $1,011 | $1,331 | $1,478 | +46% |
| Los Angeles → New York | 2,794 | $1,485 | $1,776 | $3,306 | +123% |
The gap varies a lot. A pickup from Chicago to Atlanta was $976 against $531 for a sedan, but from New York to Orlando it was only +23%, and from Orlando to New York +15%. Denver to Phoenix was the widest, at $1,456 for a pickup against $610 for a sedan. Our data cannot tell you why a lane is wide or narrow, so quote your own route.
Does a 2-door or 4-door pickup cost more?
Not in our pricing tool. It lists “Pickup (2 doors)” and “Pickup (4 doors)” separately, and on all 12 lanes the two prices were identical. What does move the price is the size and weight of the truck, so a regular-cab short-bed truck and a crew-cab long-bed truck may be quoted differently by the carrier even though the tool treats them the same. Tell us the exact year, make and model when you quote.
Open or enclosed for a truck?
Most pickups ship on an open trailer. An enclosed trailer protects against weather and road debris, and in our 12 lanes it cost a median +27% more for a pickup (from +7% to +116%). That is a smaller premium than the median +74% we measured for a sedan, most likely because the open price of a pickup is already higher. For example, a pickup from Chicago to Atlanta was $976 open and $1,285 enclosed, and from Los Angeles to New York $3,306 open and $3,603 enclosed. Enclosed makes sense for a classic or restored truck, a show truck or a new truck you want to arrive untouched. See our open vs. enclosed guide.
What changes the price of shipping a truck
- Distance and route. A longer trip costs more in total and less per mile, and the same route can cost very different amounts in each direction. See our Price Index for how a set of routes moves week to week.
- Size and weight. A longer, heavier or taller truck takes more space on a carrier. A lifted truck, oversized tires, a dually or a 3/4-ton or one-ton truck can need a quote of its own, because our pricing tool only separates two pickup cab styles.
- Open or enclosed. A median of +27% for enclosed on our 12 pickup lanes.
- Whether the truck runs. A vehicle that does not run needs a winch and costs more. On a sedan the median surcharge we measured was about $78, and a truck can differ, so say so when you quote.
- Accessories and cargo. A bed cover, a ladder rack, a topper or a toolbox adds height and length. Tell the carrier about them, and remove loose items, since carriers generally do not insure belongings left in the vehicle.
- Season and demand. Prices differ by week and by direction on busy routes, which is why we publish a weekly index.
Real truck shipping jobs
These are recent jobs from the signed bills of lading and the pickup and delivery photos the drivers filed. They come from our state pages, and customer names, street addresses, VINs, plates and carrier details are left out, and the photos are blurred where needed. Miles are our own approximations, and dates are the signature dates on the bills of lading.
| Truck | Route | Miles (approx.) | Picked up | Delivered | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LD | Windham, ME → Medley, FL | ~1,600 | Mar 2, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | 4 days |
| 2019 GMC Canyon | Omaha, NE → Sorrento, LA | ~1,070 | Jun 2, 2026 | Jun 3, 2026 | 1 day |
| 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Lexington, KY → Gastonia, NC | ~400 | Sep 29, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 1 day |
| 2005 Ford F-150 | Frankfort, KY → Huntsville, AL | ~400 | Jul 29, 2026 | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 day |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty dump truck | Jarrettsville, MD → Paxinos, PA | ~150 | Jun 2, 2026 | Jun 2, 2026 | Same day |
Four of the five were delivered within a day, including the GMC Canyon on a trip of about 1,070 miles, and the longest, a Silverado from Maine to Florida of about 1,600 miles, took 4 days. These are the quick end of what we saw, not a promise.
What the photos show
These are the drivers’ own inspection photos from real jobs. The Silverado, the Canyon and the F-150 are crew-cab pickups, and the F-350 is a Super Duty dump truck. They are examples of the vehicle at pickup and delivery, not a safety record.
Truck shipping cost calculator
Enter two ZIP codes for a price range built from real pickup truck quotes. The calculator starts on a pickup and shows the closest real lanes in our data.
How shipping a truck works
- Get a quote with the exact truck. Give the year, make, model and cab style, say whether it is lifted, a dually or modified, whether it runs, and whether you want open or enclosed.
- Book a pickup window. Carriers give a window rather than an exact time, and a longer or heavier truck can narrow the carriers that can take it, so a flexible window helps.
- Prepare the truck. Wash it, empty the bed and cab, remove loose racks, covers and toll tags, leave about a quarter tank of fuel and check for leaks.
- Inspect and photograph it. At pickup the driver inspects the truck with you and records its condition on the bill of lading. Take dated photos of every side, the bed and the odometer.
- Delivery and inspection. Inspect the truck against the bill of lading before you sign, and note any damage before the driver leaves.
Transportli is a freight marketplace, not a carrier. You describe the truck and the route, and we match it with carriers on our platform that have been checked for active operating authority, insurance and safety rating. For any carrier you can also check the FMCSA company snapshot yourself, ask for the insurance certificate and read the limit and the exclusions. For ways to pay less, see our cheap car shipping guide, and for a long trip our cross country guide.
Truck shipping: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a pickup truck?
In our real quotes the median open-trailer price for a pickup was $314 under 250 miles, $1,048 at 500 to 1,000 miles and $2,384 at 2,000 miles and up. A pickup cost a median 47% more than a sedan on the same lane.
How much does truck shipping cost per mile?
The median price per mile for a pickup fell with distance, from $2.39 under 250 miles to $1.51 at 500 to 1,000 miles and $0.89 at 2,000 miles and up. On our 12 test lanes a pickup averaged $1.28 a mile against $0.77 for a sedan.
Is it more expensive to ship a truck than a car?
Usually, yes. A pickup is heavier and longer, which is a likely reason. On 494 lanes the median pickup price was 47% above the sedan price, and the gap grew with distance. An SUV was priced within a few percent of a sedan.
Does a 2-door or 4-door pickup cost more to ship?
In our pricing tool they were identical on all 12 lanes we tried. The carrier may still quote differently for a long-bed, crew-cab or heavy truck, so give the exact model when you ask for a quote.
Is it cheaper to ship a truck open or enclosed?
Open is cheaper. In our 12 lanes an enclosed pickup cost a median 27% more than an open one, with a range from +7% to +116%. Most pickups ship open, and enclosed is worth pricing for a classic, restored or show truck.
How do I ship a truck across the country?
Request a quote for the pickup and delivery points, choose open or enclosed and book a pickup window. For trips of 2,000 miles and more the median pickup price in our data was $2,384, and industry-typical transit is about 6 to 9 days coast to coast. See our cross country car shipping guide.
Can I ship a lifted truck, a dually or a one-ton truck?
Often yes, but quote it separately. Height, weight, length and wheel size decide what fits on a carrier, and our pricing tool only separates two pickup cab styles. Give the exact measurements and the weight if you know them.
How long does truck shipping take?
On the recent jobs above, four of five pickups were delivered within a day of pickup, including about 1,070 miles from Nebraska to Louisiana, and a Silverado from Maine to Florida (about 1,600 miles) took 4 days. These are examples, not guarantees, and the clock starts when the driver picks the truck up.
Can I leave things in the bed or the cab?
It is best not to. Carriers generally do not insure belongings left in a vehicle, and loose items can shift or fall. Remove racks, covers and valuables, and ask the carrier about any permanent toolbox or topper.
Does it cost more if the truck does not run?
Yes. A vehicle that does not run needs a winch and extra handling. On a sedan the median surcharge we measured was about $78, and a truck can differ, so tell us it does not run when you quote.
How do I choose a truck shipping company?
Check the company’s USDOT number and operating authority on the FMCSA site, find out whether you are dealing with a broker or a carrier, ask for the cargo insurance certificate and read the limit, and be wary of a price far below the others. Document the truck with dated photos at pickup and delivery.
Can I ship a semi, box truck or dump truck?
Larger commercial trucks often need a different kind of hauler or a driveaway. A Super Duty dump truck moved about 150 miles on one of our recent jobs, but tell us the exact truck, its weight and its dimensions when you ask for a quote. For freight carried by truck, see our LTL freight, hot shot and expedited freight guides.
What is the cheapest way to ship a truck?
Ship it open, door to door or to a big city, with a flexible pickup window, and compare quotes with the same details. Our cheap car shipping guide shows what each lever did to the price in our tests.
Did you know?From real quotes on October 19, 2026
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+47% median extra for a pickup vs. a sedan
A pickup costs more than a sedan
Across 494 real lanes the median pickup price was 47% above the sedan price on the same lane.
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$1,456 a pickup, open, Denver to Phoenix
The widest gap was Denver to Phoenix
A pickup was $1,456 against $610 for a sedan on the 823-mile lane.
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2 = 4 doors, same price
2-door and 4-door pickups priced the same
The two prices were identical on all 12 lanes we tried.
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+27% median extra for an enclosed pickup
Enclosed costs less extra on a pickup
A sedan's enclosed premium was a median 74%, and a pickup's was 27%.
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