03/29/05, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oregon
Posts: 588
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I work for a wholesale nursery, so we see the reefers on a fairly regular basis. There is no such thing as "reasonable" for any shipping rates anymore! A 50 foot load from coast to coast these days approaches $5000. If all you have is a partial load, the problem is in finding the right space on a mixed load going the right direction, at the right time. Plus, with multi-picks and multi-drops, there is an added charge for every extra stop the driver has to make. Sometimes it's as high as $75 per stop! Since it's money per mile and there's more demand than there are trucks at this time of year, lots of drivers won't mess with anything but a full load from a single pick-up to a single drop. Further complication, nursery stock and edible produce can't go on the same truck for sanitation reasons. In general, nursery stock goes 38 to 42 degrees, vents open, and everything is happy for the 3 or 4 days it takes. Once in awhile you hear horror stories about drivers who ice everything up, but overall, my experience with reefer shipping has been good. I guess it depends on how fragile or sturdy your shipment is, whether it can withstand the possible variables in temperature, and the possibility that it will take longer than planned to arrive.
As for your pantry door, you might try calling Greyhound. I can remember years ago, they would sometimes put on freight as space allowed. If you go by UPS, there will be an up-charge because it will be out of their standard dimensions for the weight class.
Susan
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