How To Ship A Motorcycle Engine

Engines and transmissions are heavy, beefy items that comprise hazardous materials similar oil and other liquids, which means they tin can't be shipped using courier services such as USPS, FedEx, or UPS. Despite these initial hurdles, engines are actually one of the easier freight items to send.

Whether you're an car parts dealer, an amateur mechanic, or a hot rod hobbyist, in that location are several ways to move or ship engines and transmissions across the country. The aircraft experts at TSI are here to assist. Read our comprehensive shipping guide to learn more than about the ways to send engines and transmissions, or jump directly to special considerations and other important shipping tips and guidelines by clicking the menu beneath.

1. How To Ship Engines & Transmissions Read about five common ways to ship engines & transmissions, including pros and cons and when to apply each method. 2. How Much Does It Toll to Ship Engines & Transmissions? The cost of shipping engines & transmissions depends on what aircraft method you choose. 3. Recommended Aircraft Method Shipping long distance? Find out which shipping method is all-time for your motility. four. Special Considerations Engines are delicate and incorporate hazardous materials, which can brand them difficult to transport safely. v. Mistakes to Avoid Proceed your engines & transmissions prophylactic throughout the shipping process by avoiding these mistakes. 6. How To Pack Engines & Transmissions Pack your engines & transmissions the right fashion with our stride-by-step instructions.

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one. How To Ship Engines & Transmissions

Due to their weight and the hazardous materials they contain, engines and transmissions can feel challenging to ship for many vendors. Thankfully, they are sturdy machines that tin can tolerate the aircraft procedure with relative ease.

Whether you're shipping machine parts for personal reasons or are a business organization shipping parts to customers in other states, yous take two shipping options to choose from. The method that is correct for you will depend on your individual circumstances—the number of engines and transmissions you are shipping, their weight and dimensions, and their value will all touch on the type of shipping method that will work best for you lot. These methods include:

1. Rideshare or peer-to-peer shipping
2. Consolidated freight

Permit's take a closer expect at each of these methods:

I. Rideshare or Peer-to-Peer Shipping

Rideshare or peer-to-peer aircraft services involve paying someone who is traveling in the aforementioned direction your equipment needs to go with enough actress space in their vehicle to transport your items. With rideshare services, you are oftentimes given a option of unlike vendor options. The person picking upward your equipment may be:

• A big logistics company
• A single truck possessor/operator
• A regular person on a cross-land road trip

To connect with a peer-to-peer shipping partner, yous must showtime post your shipment on an online marketplace similar Roadie or uShip. Potential partners will then submit quotes, which you then approve, reject, or go along to negotiate. This process provides you with an opportunity to evaluate their experience and expertise, negotiate a lower toll, and figure out the details for packing, loading, and unloading your equipment.

Because anyone can sign up for peer-to-peer shipping, the vendors may or may non have experience moving valuable or hazardous items like engines and transmissions, and it's up to y'all to vet their power, expertise, reliability, and trustworthiness.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can be cost-effective for long altitude transport	Y'all may not exist working with a professional—at that place's no guarantee of expertise or feel, and there's less accountability if something goes wrong
More direct method of travel means less handling	May not have as many potential partners to choose from since engines and transmissions are large,  hazardous items that take regulations to follow during shipping
Can be used to ship merely near any type of large item	Need to pack your equipment yourself
	May need to provide loading and unloading assistance
	May not exist able to rails your shipment
	No insurance available to cover value if your equipment gets damaged

How much does it toll to ship an engine using peer-to-peer shipping

Like other methods of aircraft, peer-to-peer shipping costs vary based on the amount of equipment you are shipping, the size and value of the items, and whether you lot need any additional services, such equally packing or loading. Typically, the toll is betwixt $100-$300+, but it tin can exist higher if you are transporting a lot of high value items.

When to utilize peer-to-peer shipping services

• You lot are confident handling the draining, crating, and/or palletizing process yourself
• You are confident that your chosen partner is capable of shipping and treatment engines or transmissions
• Your items are travelling less than 150 miles

Two. Consolidated freight (LTL) shipping

Shipping engines and transmissions using consolidated freight services such every bit less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping means your equipment will share space on a truck with shipments from other people or companies heading in the aforementioned direction. You typically merely pay for the infinite your equipment takes upward on the truck, and so consolidated freight can exist a cost-constructive option for long distance moves. Plus, consolidated freight aircraft services are ever provided past licensed and insured shipping companies, which ways you can residue assured that your valuable equipment is in skillful hands.

LTL freight is platonic for transporting auto parts such as engines, transmissions, hoods, etc. In that location are typically a few different levels of service for shipping your auto parts. At TSI, we offer both economy service and air-ride intermission:

Economy Service Yous drain all fluids and pack your engine Y'all help load your engine onto the truck Curbside delivery Liftgates are available for both pickup and delivery

Air-ride Suspension Platonic for high-value, vintage, or custom engines Two-person moving coiffure loads the part, secures information technology onto an air-ride equipped truck, and provides a liftgate and pallet jack for delivery

Advantages	Disadvantages
Variety of service levels to choose from	Can be more costly than other methods
Experienced shipping professionals will transport your equipment	May have longer timelines while yous wait for the truck to fill up with cargo from other shippers
Insurance is available
Can provide guidance and equipment to help load and unload

How much does it price to ship engines and transmissions using consolidated freight?

Consolidated freight shipping costs for engines and transmissions vary significantly depending on the unique circumstances of your shipment. The size and distance of your shipment will touch on the final cost, as will additional services such as custom crating or expedited service. Notwithstanding, on boilerplate LTL shipping engines will run you approximately $285-$750.

When to use consolidated freight

• Long distance ship
• Yous demand assistance crating and palletizing your auto parts
• You desire the safest and most reliable method of aircraft
• You'd similar to have your shipment insured

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2. How Much Does Information technology Toll to Send Engines & Transmissions?

The cost of aircraft your auto parts volition depend on what aircraft method you choose:

Method	Price
Peer-to-peer shipping	$100-$300+
Consolidated freight	$285-$750+

TSI TIP: When contacting potential carriers for quotes, make certain you have the following information bachelor:

• The dimensions of your shipment (length x width x meridian)
• The weight of your shipment. If you have to estimate, err on the side of caution and estimate high.
• Pickup and commitment ZIP code
• Details nigh pickup and delivery locations. For example, is there a dock or a forklift? Is it a residence or a garage?
• Type and model. The more particular you can provide beyond a generic classification like "engine", the less likely it is that your cargo volition exist subject to a re-weigh or re-nomenclature.

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iii. Recommended Aircraft Method

Because y'all're working with experienced professionals, consolidated freight is always the most reliable method for shipping your engine or transmission long distance.

When you ship something using consolidated freight, your items will share space on the truck with other freight that is heading in the aforementioned direction. You only pay for the space your cargo takes up on the truck, which keeps your costs lower while offering the greatest amount of protection. Freight shippers accept the most feel shipping this type of equipment and know how to transport auto parts like engines and transmissions safely.

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iv. Special Considerations for Shipping Engines & Transmissions

If you are looking into how to ship engines and transmissions, you probable fall into ane of two groups:

1. Auto shops and car dealers aircraft parts to customers in other states
2. Hobbyists, collectors, or DIY mechanics

And then how do you lot proceed your auto parts safe when they may accept to contend with less-than-ideal atmospheric condition throughout their journeying? Here's what you lot need to consider:

Size & weight

Engines are heavy, frequently weighing up of 150 lbs. For this reason, selecting skillful, durable packing materials is essential to ensure they arrive at their destination in good condition. Make sure your pallet is undamaged, and that you simply use high-quality packing materials to secure your engine or transmission to the pallet.

Fragility, age & condition

Auto parts are typically very durable pieces of mechanism, merely they are susceptible to dings, dents, and other damage, especially if they are older. Advisedly packing these items will ensure they arrive safely.

Liquids & grease

Earlier shipping, engines and transmissions need to exist drained of all fluids, capped, and cleaned externally as much every bit possible to preclude damage to their packing materials and other items in the shipment. Any leftover liquids can besides cause injury to anyone who comes into contact with your cargo.

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v. Mistakes To Avoid When Shipping Engines & Transmissions

• Not draining fluids - Liquids can leak out of an engine or transmission and damage the packing materials, making your components less safe and less likely to survive any serious jolts, bangs, or bumps during transport. They can as well freeze and thaw in pipes, causing cracks and other damage, and potentially even injury.
• Using low quality packing materials - Due to their weight, engines can't be crated or palletized using previously-used, worn, or damaged packing materials.
• Not checking for and documenting damages - Earlier your item is picked up by the carrier and earlier it is wrapped, check it over for damage. Take pictures of any damage you observe—these photos will be helpful if your auto parts are damaged during transit and you need to make an insurance claim.
• Improperly securing the engine to the pallet - Because of its weight, there is potential for an engine to suspension gratis from its pallet and cause damage to itself and other items on the truck. Brand certain information technology is properly strapped down to the pallet and consider securing it with 2x4s and screws if necessary.
• Not covering it after securing it on the pallet - If you opt non to crate your engine before you put information technology on the pallet, you will need to cover it with cardboard or moving blankets to protect it from dents and dings. Embrace information technology upwardly after you strap information technology downwardly, but before you compress wrap it. Shrink wrapping the covered engine volition secure it in place on the pallet and then it tin't shift or tip over, causing damage to the engine or other cargo.
• Not leaving the fluid intakes accessible when packing - When wrapping the engine, brand sure you leave admission to the fluid intakes so carriers can check the dipsticks and ensure they have been properly drained.

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6. How To Pack Engines & Transmissions

While every auto part may have its own unique requirements for safe travel, they are typically very similar in nature and require the same considerations regardless of their respective types or brands. If yous don't feel confident packing them yourself, inquire your shipping company if they provide packing services. Information technology may exist easier, faster, and safer to have them handle the packing and shipping process from beginning to terminate.

Packing materials

• Pallet
• Crating materials, if necessary
  • Appropriate size crate
  • Nuts and bolts
  • Foam enclosures, spray foam, or foam filler
• 80 to 120 gauge Shrink Wrap
• Cardboard or moving blankets
• Ratchet straps
• Screws

Packing instructions

Once you've acquired the necessary packing materials, you tin can begin packing your engines and transmissions.

For engines, follow these steps:

1. Drain all fluids, and so clean the engine. Oil, grease, water, transmission fluid, etc. all demand to exist removed from auto parts earlier shipping. Carriers volition refuse whatsoever motorcar parts that are dripping because they tin harm the packing materials and other items they are transporting.
2. Clean the engine of backlog oil or grease.
3. Crate it. A crated engine is freight class 70. This method is typically a picayune costlier than shipping on a pallet, but it is the preferred method of most freight carriers since information technology offers more protection, and information technology takes less endeavor to pack:

• Secure the engine inside the crate with engineered foam enclosures to continue information technology from shifting during transit
• Use nuts and bolts to get together the crate—this volition make information technology easier to open.

AND/OR

4. Palletize information technology - A palleted engine is freight class 85. This is the almost commonly used method for shipping an engine, simply not all freight carriers volition accept uncrated engines so be sure to check with your carrier get-go to come across if they will ship using this method, otherwise you could find yourself having to reschedule pickup and facing a "dry out run" fee. To properly palletize your engine:

• Place the engine on the middle of the pallet, with at least 4 inches of infinite on each side
• If yous do not want the engine sitting straight on the oil pan, stabilize information technology by screwing 2x4s to the pallet
• Secure the engine to the pallet using ratchet straps
• Cover the engine with an insulating material such as paper-thin or moving blankets
• Shrink wrap the unabridged pallet

5. Attach the completed beak of lading.

For transmissions, follow these steps:

1. Drain all fluids. Oil, water, transmission fluid, etc. all demand to be removed from auto parts before aircraft. Carriers will refuse any auto parts that are dripping because they tin impairment the packing materials and other items they are transporting.
2. Remove easily damaged components, such as side shift consoles, and pack these components safely in a carve up box.
3. Clean the transmission of backlog oil or grease.
4. Palletize it - A transmission, regardless of how information technology is shipped, is freight form 85. It can be crated, but typically also requires palletizing during the shipping procedure:

• Place the cleaned and tuckered manual, crated or uncrated, in the center of the pallet
• Secure information technology in place using ratchet straps
• Cover the manual in double-walled paper-thin
• Wrap the entire pallet and transmission in compress wrap

5. Adhere the completed bill of lading.

Determination

Due to the nature of engines and transmissions, your long altitude shipping options are limited. Their weight and classification every bit a hazardous material leaves you lot with 2 options:

• Rideshare or peer-to-peer shipping
• Consolidated freight

When it comes to shipping engines and transmissions, your best bet is to select a consolidated freight partner who is familiar with the ins and outs of shipping these items.

Shipping engines & transmissions?

TSI offers personalized engine and transmission shipping services.

Source: https://www.tsishipping.com/resource-center/how-do-i-ship-engines-transmissions

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