We are bidding a job where we would need to have everything shipped from Chicago to Malibu. It will be 40-50 pieces of furniture and cabinets, various sizes. I would rather do blanket wrapped shipping than having to build crates for all of these items. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable shipping company that can do this? It's a high value job, $200k plus.

Thank you,
Louie

Maybe a moving company?

Years ago, we used Mayflower to move several restaurant jobs to the New Jersey area from Indiana. They would drop a trailer for about 24 hrs while we loaded it, using their blankets.

We did not fill the trailers, so they went on to the next place and loaded up. This meant we got unloaded last, and we had to provide all load and unload labor - all Mayflower did was provide a driver.

We did learn to fill from bottom to the ceiling since any space left on top of our cabinets would get something put up there, and it could damage our work.

I recently shipped a full house package worth about $150,000 from Burlington Washington to Palm Springs California using Atlas Van Lines. Cost about $3000 and everything arrived intact. We loaded the truck using their blankets.

Look into Clark and Reid and I have used Plycon as well for one off pieces.

Like someone already mentioned Atlas Vine Lines, we have also used them and their service was superb.

I second Mayflower. But this depends a lot on the driver. I used another moving company where the store wasn't ready and the driver decided to drop the load at a warehouse from which there was a lot of damage.

It sounds like you will fill the truck, either way tell them you are paying for the entire the truck to the destination.

Make sure they are ready to receive at the destination.

Moving companies will usually help load the truck.

I would not consider anything else for this type of situation.

BTW the insurance that they have is almost worthless.

I spoke with the local moving company that we have an account with. They also do national moves. They prefer to ship full truck loads, where they would pack other peoples stuff in there too. I have heard stories that when moving companies do this, they will pack stuff in and around and on top of your things to fully pack the truck. Moreover, they wouldn't ship until the truck was full, and it would have to make multiple stops. I told them that I needed a dedicated truck, delivered directly to the job site. They're getting me a price to do this.

Plycon is based out of Chicago, but I spoke with some shop owners locally who have some reservations about them. These shop owners have someone they use for local and long distance deliveries, but he's really just a guy with a truck, and that makes me nervous.

I also talked with a freight company, Great Western, that offers a white glove service. They can have a trailer dropped off at our place with a couple hundred blankets and straps, we would wrap, pack, load, and lock the doors, and they would pick it up the next day.

Can't say I see what is so "white glove" about that option if we are doing all the work, but that seems like the way to go.

I'm getting a quote from my insurance agent for a one time policy for the move.

Thanks,
Louie

With Moving companies you can ask them to quote a dedicated truck with no other goods and you can have them load and unload (most expensive) and when they do if its damaged their insurance is responsible.

Or you can get a dedicated truck that you load and they can coordinate unload at the other end.

Or you can use a broker, get a dedicated truck, you load and unload.

Or you can get part of a truck without a guaranteed delivery date unless you are last on, how well they keep the goods separated varies by company and how they charge.

We have used a variety of methods over the years.

We did a truck from Central CA to Chicago about a year ago and I think it was about $3,800, we loaded, the GC unloaded at the other end.

We usually get a quote from a moving company before we bid and list it separate (loading and shipping as two separate line items), then if the customer wants to shop freight they can.
A-

Call these guys , they organize all of my high end shipping . We’ve shipped whole home millwork packages and an entire church from CT to Florida. Tell them what your needs are and they broker it for you , very reliable and professional. I also have them do my smaller loads to NYC.

The key is to ask for a dedicated load, meaning you are the only thing on it . Yes it costs more , but it’s piece of mind .

Tell Grant that Gavin sent you
http://immediaship.com

I've used Plycon for this type of shipping a number of times and they've been great. They'll blanket wrap your pieces on site, deliver curbside. Be prepared by having the dim's and approx. weight for all the pieces you plan to ship in hand so you can get a quote asap.

This meant we got unloaded last, and we had to provide all load and unload labor - all Mayflower did was provide a driver.