Freight options for sending heavy item between islands

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Mehrts

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#290498 15-Nov-2021 17:26

Evening All,

I have an engine & gearbox plus a whole bunch of extra bits already strapped to a pallet which is located in Timaru. Ideally, I'd like to get it sent up to Palmy.

Does anyone have any recommendations of freight companies to use or avoid?

Total weight is ~400kg with all fluids drained.

Cheers

Handsomedan

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#2813378 15-Nov-2021 17:30

I'd advise avoiding the use of Aramex at all costs.

I don't know who you COULD use, but my experiences and that of many many other customers is NEVER use Aramex.

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compound

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#2813443 15-Nov-2021 17:59

I would try one of the back haulage websites. More stuff goes south than goes north so truckies will offer better rates rather than return basically empty.

Nate001

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#2813456 15-Nov-2021 18:46

Likes of TNL who are now Move/TIL should be able to. Ring them up and ask. Potentially Mainfreight? If its packaged in a proper pallet almost anyone should take it.

Dial111

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#2813458 15-Nov-2021 18:55

Mainfreight/Daily Freight/Owens all the same group

Mainstream

Bascik Transport

PBT Transport (shudders..) I'd avoid at all costs.

andrewNZ

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#2813465 15-Nov-2021 19:06

Mainfreight damages in some way, 70-80% of the shipments we receive through them. We probably average 30-40 shipments annually through them.

I'd only use them if it was a whole car, and I only wanted the handbrake.

chevrolux

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#2813492 15-Nov-2021 19:37

If Palmy is the destination, I'd give PTS Logistics a ring.

HQ is in Palmy, and they have loads of trucks going up and down the country. One of their main loads is new motorbikes for one of the bike brands so they probably know how to deal with car part stuff.

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wally22

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#2813527 15-Nov-2021 20:49

I used a small firm for something similar, based in Canterbury. I'll dig them out tomorrow if you want. Reasonable rates and no damage. Single truck comes to the NI regularly.

Goosey

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#2813534 15-Nov-2021 21:05

What about these guys?

https://www.stllinehaul.com/location-s

compound

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#2813554 15-Nov-2021 21:47

andrewNZ: Mainfreight damages in some way, 70-80% of the shipments we receive through them. We probably average 30-40 shipments annually through them.

I'd only use them if it was a whole car, and I only wanted the handbrake.

Just need proper labelling done ie. "this way up" on pallets, fragile and top stow. Sounds stupid, but we use Mainfreight for probably 50+ items a week into the South Island and have a very low damage rate. They are not foolproof, but less damage than the rest for our kind of volume.

andrewNZ

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#2813573 15-Nov-2021 23:21

@compound are you receiving it at the other end, or are you sending to customers? If it's the latter, I'd suggest actually surveying them.

For us, Mainfreight is by far the worst for damage. Usually it's either items being dropped, or stabbed with a forklift.
Items are usually labelled appropriately.

From our point of view, if we refused or returned every damaged item, we'd go out of business. It's better for us to just deal with it ourselves if the damage is minor or we work around it.

compound

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#2813618 16-Nov-2021 08:17

andrewNZ: @compound are you receiving it at the other end, or are you sending to customers? If it's the latter, I'd suggest actually surveying them.

For us, Mainfreight is by far the worst for damage. Usually it's either items being dropped, or stabbed with a forklift.
Items are usually labelled appropriately.

From our point of view, if we refused or returned every damaged item, we'd go out of business. It's better for us to just deal with it ourselves if the damage is minor or we work around it.

We are sending out new equipment so box damage is reported immediately as it is usually retail packaging and we have some very fussy customers. Yes you do get forklift damage or dropped items but for us sending out the volumes we do, very small amounts get damaged and mostly at the destination depot rather than the main hub. Most important is proper padding, boxing and signage. Dont expect just because it is on a pallet that the pallet will be transported upright. All freight has video surveillance to show method of wrapping and loading until the truck leaves the branch. We have had pallets unwrapped mid transit so can show how it left our branch compared to how it arrived at destination. Mid transit Mainfreight depot video can show who tampered with the pallet and they have paid out on those occasions. We have used all options for heavy freight companies that are NZ wide and Mainfreight has been the best for us being a high volume user. We experienced similar amounts of transit damage from other companies but with worse service over freight delays, acceptance of transit damage and theft.

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Mehrts

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#2813636 16-Nov-2021 09:13

Thanks for the responses everyone, I'll ask around and see what my options are 👍