How to Hire Motorcycle Movers

This article discusses how to hire motorcycle movers.

There are many factors to consider when hiring a company to move a motorcycle. Like most things in life, if you do your homework you usually get a good result.

If you have a motorcycle to transport, you may want to consider using a motorcycle specific transporter to handle your motorcycle move. There are other companies who will transport motorcycles such as some van lines, some freight companies and some car shipping companies.

We specialize in motorcycle shipping and we always recommend using a motorcycle specific shipping company to handle all motorcycle shipments. Other companies who provide transport services may be able to ship motorcycles also but in general, they do not have the proper equipment and their drivers usually don’t have the proper training on how to handle motorcycle shipments. There is more involved when shipping a motorcycle than just loading it, transporting it and unloading it.

Motorcycle specific movers have the proper equipment and training to handle various sizes and shapes of motorcycles. Their trailers are usually rigged specifically for transporting motorcycles. Most motorcycle shippers use a system called E-trak that is in the floor and walls of the trailer and they secure the bike in the trailer with soft tie down straps to the E-trak system. Some motorcycles specific shippers use wooden pallets and some use metal pallets with casters on them to transport motorcycles. We always recommend using an enclosed trailer when shipping motorcycles. The risk of a damage or theft claim on an open flatbed type trailer when shipping a motorcycle is significantly greater than shipping it in an enclosed trailer.

Even the tie-downs that are used for motorcycle shipping are significantly different than those used for handling car or freight shipments. Most motorcycle movers use soft tie-down loops and secure them on a non-painted surface on the motorcycle. The tie-down loops serve as an anchor point to hook the tie-downs to on all four corners of the bike.

Motorcycle specific shipping companies will usually have either a ramp gate or a lift gate for loading and unloading motorcycle. Many freight companies or car shipping companies will require a dock or forklift for loading and or may require the bike to be crated or palleted prior to pick up. Motorcycle specific transporters do not require the bike to be crated or palleted. They will have a way to get the bike on and off the truck in most cases and they usually want the bike in rolling, maneuverable condition when they go to pick it up. The shippers that do use their own wood or metal pallets provide the pallet and take the pallet with them at delivery. That takes the responsibility off of you of disposing of the pallet when the bike is delivered. This makes it very convenient for customers when transporting bikes across the country because they don’t have to do much in the way of preparing the bike prior to the shipper loading it on their trailer and don’t have to do much after the bike has been delivered.