Freight for dealer-to-dealer trades explained: estimate, quote, cost
Freight on a dealer-to-dealer trade is four different numbers that people often treat as one: the estimate range, the carrier quote, the accepted cost and the final cost. On Locates.io, the buyer sees an estimate range before terms. At terms, the freight charge is the carrier's real quote split per unit, plus Locates.io's flat $75 a unit, and it is locked. If the buyer picks the unit up, there is no freight charge.
For the complete walkthrough, see the freight guide for dealer trades. This post is the short version.
What is a freight estimate?
An estimate is a range that shows where the cost is likely to land. It is never a quote. On Locates.io the range is the expected carrier cost plus the flat $75 a unit, with a low and a high end. Three things move the real cost: how many units ride on the load, the route and timing, and the vehicle class.
A range is honest. A single number would pretend to know something nobody knows until the carrier quotes the load.
What are the four freight numbers?
| Number | What it is | Who sees it |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | A range shown before terms | Dealers |
| Carrier quote | What a carrier says it will charge | Locates.io only |
| Accepted cost | The carrier cost actually agreed | Locates.io only |
| Final cost | What the load cost once delivered | Locates.io only |
The freight charge on your deal is separate again. At terms, ops enters the carrier's quote. Your charge is that quote split per unit, plus $75 a unit, and it is locked. If the carrier's cost moves after that, Locates.io absorbs or keeps the difference. Carrier cost is never shown to dealers.
What does the buyer see?
For each unit the buyer sees a distance band. From terms, the price, freight charge and fee are itemized, with an "invoice plus" delivered figure. The buyer does not see the exact distance, the seller's city or the carrier's cost. The buyer pays the $199 per unit platform fee; selling is free. See what a dealer trade should cost.
How can a unit move?
- Carrier. A car-hauler moves the unit, often with others on one truck. This is the usual choice for longer distances and for several units.
- Driveaway. A driver drives the unit. This is often simpler for short distances, and mileage is recorded.
- Buyer pickup. The buyer arranges transport after the agreement executes. There is no freight charge.
When is freight booked?
After the agreement executes, meaning both dealers have signed the same current version. Before that, the seller's location is still sealed and the deal might not happen. Locates.io books the carrier and records pickup and delivery. You never chase a carrier. Carriers see the pickup and delivery details they need, and no money at all.
What about damage and photos?
Photos are taken only at freight pickup and delivery. At pickup, the carrier records the unit's condition and mileage with the selling store. At delivery, the receiving store inspects again. Any damage is documented with photos, and those photos are visible only to the two parties after signing, and to operations staff. There are no photos on listings or anywhere else.
Practical habits:
- At pickup, walk the unit with the driver and note anything already there.
- At delivery, inspect in good light before signing for the unit.
- Compare delivery against the pickup report.
- Acknowledge the damage report for your side.
How should you choose between the three options?
| Situation | Usually best |
|---|---|
| Short distance, one unit | Driveaway or buyer pickup |
| Longer distance, one unit | Carrier |
| Several units from the same seller | Carrier, one load |
| Your own driver is nearby | Buyer pickup |
| EV or oversized unit | Carrier |
The option is part of the deal's terms, so the buyer sees the freight charge, or none for pickup, before signing.
Who pays the carrier?
Locates.io pays the carrier. Dealers do not pay a carrier directly for a Locates.io load. The freight charge runs through Locates.io with the rest of the amount over invoice, and a payout is only recorded once the funds it depends on have arrived.
Why does the estimate sometimes look wide?
A wide range is a sign of real uncertainty, not padding. A single unit on a long lane has more variation than a full truck on a busy lane. As more units join the load, or as the details are known, the range for a given unit tends to narrow. Treat the top of the range as the planning number and the bottom as a pleasant possibility.
What if the carrier costs more than expected?
Nothing changes for the dealers. The freight charge was locked at terms. If the carrier comes in higher, Locates.io absorbs it. If it comes in lower, Locates.io keeps it. The buyer is never re-billed. That is why the four numbers are kept separate: the part you plan around is the part that stays still.
How can you keep freight down?
Ask for several units from the same seller on one load, since the per-unit estimate tends to drop as the load grows. Choose buyer pickup if you have a driver nearby. Tell Locates.io about delivery deadlines and lot constraints before terms are finalized so the right option is chosen.
What to do next
Look at the freight estimate range on your next unit, decide between delivery and pickup, and read the full freight guide. See how it works for the whole trade.
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