Section 02 / Specialty shipping
Things that need a specialist.
Cars, motorcycles, boats, freight, fine art, pianos and pets each have their own specialists, rules and price logic. We checked every company here against its federal record and published terms.
Quick answer
Book specialty shipping separately from your household move and start with the federal record: many national brands are brokers that pass the job to another carrier. Get the price, the deposit, the cancellation terms and the damage cover in writing before you pay.
The directories
Eight kinds of specialty shipping
- 01Car ShippingGreen Leaf Van Lines, Montway, Sherpa and AmeriFreight: open or enclosed, broker or carrier.
- 02Motorcycle ShippingFederal Motorcycle Transport and the big car shipping brokers: crated or open, and who hauls the bike.
- 03Boat ShippingUS Boat Haulers, Heavy Haulers, Shiply and Alpha Boat Transport: who holds the authority and what sets the price.
- 04Freight ShippingPallets and crates by LTL carrier: Freightquote, ABF, Estes and R+L, with residential fees and liability limits explained.
- 05Small LoadsA sofa or a few items: ShipSmart packs and crates it, then ships it by consolidated freight.
- 06Fine Art ShippingShipSmart for a few high value pieces, plus Atelier 4, Gander and White and Crozier: crating and declared value.
- 07Piano MoversModern Piano Moving, Walter Piano Transport and Johnson's: interstate piano carriers and their windows.
- 08Pet TransportAir Animal, Happy Tails Travel, CitizenShipper and Blue Collar: USDA licensing, costs and refunds.
Before you book
Four checks that always apply
- Broker or carrier
Look up the USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER. If the company is a broker, ask which carrier will haul your item and check that one too.
- Damage cover
Find out who pays if something is damaged, how much, and how fast you must file a claim. Freight and art handlers often limit liability by the pound unless you declare a value.
- Deposit and cancellation
Ask when the deposit is charged, whether it is refundable, and what happens if no carrier accepts your job.
- Timing
Pickup and delivery windows can run from days to weeks. Plan the rest of your move around the slowest item.
Related
Also on this site
- Best movers for fragile items and specialty moves
- How much it costs to move a piano
- Best white glove moving companies
- Best antique movers
- How to ship your car for a long distance move
- Car shipping vs household movers
- What movers will not move
- Moving your cat long distance
- Self moves: containers, trucks and storage
Questions
Specialty shipping FAQ
What is specialty shipping?
Specialty shipping covers items a household mover usually will not carry or is not set up to handle well, such as cars, motorcycles, boats, fine art, pianos and pets. These go with companies that specialize in them, often booked separately from the move itself.
Are car shipping companies brokers or carriers?
Most national car shipping brands are brokers on FMCSA SAFER. A broker arranges the job and hands your car to a separate carrier, so ask who will haul it and check that carrier's USDOT number too.
Will a regular moving company ship my car?
Some full service movers arrange car shipping, usually through an auto transport partner. Compare their price with a direct car shipping quote for the same dates.
How do I check a shipping company before booking?
Look up its USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER and read what authority it lists. For pet transport, also check for a USDA APHIS license. Get the price, deposit, cancellation terms and damage cover in writing.
Why is safe moving not listed?
We checked national safe movers on October 9, 2026 and could not confirm three companies that move safes for households across state lines with checkable records. Most safe movers work locally.
Moving the rest of the house?