No, 550buff,
I am not in the least jealous, why should I be, I don&#039;t own the type of equipment to make such a haul. If you noticed I stated that if I don&#039;t have the equipment, I will turn the load down. My last count, several years ago, there was approx. 375,000 motor carrier in the US, surely some of them do have the proper equipment, and haul on a regular basis for Smithsonian. I know several that have this qualification, If you travel much, you have a good chance of seeing them. These carriers charge market rate, have other customers in many areas, so equipment availability is not a factor, and meet all customer requirements. Why pay a truck to travel from Greenville, IL, to Washington, DC empty, when one of equal or better qualifications can be found in the Baltimore-Washington area who would charge a backhaul rate to get off the east coast, which is considered a &#039;consumer&#039; area. Which means they consume more than they produce, which creates an excess of empty trucks, and a shortage of loads. Thus cost less. And these motor carriers are not grain haulers, making a one time haul, their specialty is hauling extremely valuable machinery.
Why shouldn&#039;t we utilize the most qualified, and cost effective means?