I engaged Ship-a-Car Inc. to ship an antique combine harvester from Kentucky to California based on the quoted low price and positive online reviews. Ship-a-Car's representative, Mike Logan, was professional and efficient in helping me find an equipment shipper. After initially quoting the shipping at $1850, the actual shipper they engaged cost $2500, plus $250 brokerage fees to Ship-a-Car.

The problems with the shipper began immediately when they were unable to load the equipment on their trailer (despite advising Ship-a-Car that the machine wasn't running and would require a trailer with a winch to load). Delivery was scheduled for 4 days after pickup, but took over ten days due to "equipment breakdowns" and "border inspections". When I called to confirm the status of my shipment, Ship-a-Car had me contact the trucking company directly, rather than acting as an intermediary.

The shipment arrived seriously damaged. No bill of lading or contract was provided by the trucker until I asked for it, and then I only received a hand-written "memo" for the shipment. No explanation was given for the damage to my equipment. Estimates to repair the damage exceeded the price I paid for the equipment and shipping, and the trucking company has not responded to the insurance company's requests for information.

Booking equipment shipping through Ship-a-Car Inc. has been a costly and avoidable mistake. For $250, the service they provided extended only as far as finding a trucker willing to take the load for a price well above what I was initially quoted. As soon as problems arose, I was left on my own to deal with a trucker with questionable legal status, and with whom I still have no contract or other paperwork.

I highly discourage anyone from using Ship-a-Car Inc. for equipment shipping. They may be fine for car deliveries, but provide no savings or added value as brokers for commercial shipping.