4_amusements_only: It was a glitch, have a look up a few posts - quote was around $300 which is much better, but without insurance.

UShip looks like an interesting service. In this particular case I need to get it to them before the long weekend, so I've arranged a special run. Road trip!

Sites like "uship" and "truckit" rely on the companies bidding to get the job and when they bid the company leaves their shipping options eg
open or closed transport, how much insurance they can offer and so on

You leave feedback after they do the job similar to how ebay so the companies really do try and give you good service as they need the good feedback as it will effect them getting jobs in the future.

I have been using these sites for about a year now after an ebay seller recommended them to me when i couldn't go pick up the item and needed to arrange a courier at the last minute.

You post where you need it picked up from, where you need it dropped off at and at what time.
then the couriers and transporters around the country look to see if that matches their schedule and if they have room to fit the job in.

Its does save you a tonne of money especially if you want it door to door service