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Shipping a dually truck works like shipping any pickup, with one extra step: the carrier needs to know the truck has dual rear wheels before a driver is assigned. A stock dually may ride on an open multi-car carrier or an open flatbed trailer once the carrier confirms the fit. The truck's measured width, length, height and weight, plus any lift, bed change or upfit, decide which one fits.
This guide covers how dually trucks ship, what affects the price, how to measure your truck before requesting a quote, and a real completed shipment: a 2024 Ram 3500 dually that Star Auto Shipping arranged from Amarillo, Texas to Orlando, Florida.
Dually truck transport at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can a dually ship on a regular car carrier? | It may, if the carrier confirms a deck position fits its measured width, length and weight |
| What else is used? | Open flatbed trailers pulled by a heavy-duty pickup, often called hotshot trailers |
| What does a carrier need from you? | Dual rear wheels confirmed, cab and bed configuration, measured dimensions, any modifications |
| Does it cost more than a regular pickup? | It can, because a dually takes more space and fewer carriers have suitable equipment |
| Real example | 2024 Ram 3500 dually, Amarillo, TX to Orlando, FL, 1,453 miles on an open flatbed, delivered 2 days after pickup, $1,700 all-inclusive (historical, not a quote) |
How wide is a dually truck compared with a regular pickup?
Dual rear wheels add about 15 inches of width. In the published 2025 Silverado 3500HD specifications below, the dual-rear-wheel version is 96.8 inches wide without mirrors and the single-rear-wheel version is 81.9 inches. That added width is why a dually takes more room on a car carrier than a standard pickup. These figures are examples for the listed configurations, not a substitute for measuring the truck being shipped.
| Model and configuration (2025) | Width without mirrors | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT, single rear wheel, rear-wheel drive, 82.3 in bed | 81.9 in | Edmunds |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT, dual rear wheel, rear-wheel drive, 98.3 in bed | 96.8 in | Edmunds |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty XL crew cab, long bed, dual rear wheel, diesel | 96.0 in | Edmunds |
Widths vary by cab, bed, trim and wheel package.
Why tow mirrors matter when shipping a dually
Tow mirrors stick out well past the rear fenders. Edmunds lists the 2025 F-350 Super Duty XL crew cab, long-bed dually at 96.0 inches wide without mirrors and 105.9 inches with them. Folding or retracting the mirrors before pickup reduces the chance of contact with the trailer or nearby vehicles during loading.
Length and weight
A crew cab, long-bed dually is long as well as wide. Edmunds lists the 2025 F-350 dually crew cab with an 8-foot bed at 266.2 inches (about 22 feet) long and 7,622 pounds curb weight. Length and weight both limit which position a dually can take on a multi-car carrier, separately from width.
Because trims differ, measure your own truck as it sits today. Factory figures do not account for a lift, larger tires, a replaced bed or added equipment.
What kind of trailer carries a dually truck?
Dually trucks usually ship one of two ways: on an open multi-car carrier, or on an open flatbed trailer pulled by a heavy-duty pickup, often called a hotshot. Both are open transport, meaning the truck rides uncovered. The right choice depends on the truck's measured size and how quickly a suitable carrier can be found on the route.
Open multi-car carrier
The large two-level trucks seen on highways move several vehicles at once. A stock dually may ride on one if the carrier confirms a deck position fits its width, length and weight. The photo shows a dually chassis cab positioned at the rear of the upper deck, where the driver placed it for this load.
Open flatbed trailer (hotshot)
A flatbed trailer carries one or a few vehicles on a flat, open deck, usually towed by a heavy-duty pickup. The deck has no upper level above the truck. The Ram 3500 in the photo shipped this way, with each wheel strapped to the deck.
How the two options compare
| Open multi-car carrier | Open flatbed (hotshot) | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per load | Several | One to a few |
| Upper deck | Yes, two levels | No |
| Fit for a stock dually | Possible, after the carrier checks the truck's measurements against an available deck position | Possible, after the carrier checks the truck's measurements against the trailer |
| Fit for a lifted or modified dually | Possible, depending on measured height and width | Possible, depending on measured height, width and weight |
For more on uncovered transport, see our guide to open auto transport.
Does the type of dually change how it ships?
Yes. “Dually” covers several different trucks, and each one gives a carrier a different shape to load. Telling the carrier which type you have, not just the model name, is the fastest way to get matched with equipment that fits.
| Dually type | What it is | What to tell the carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup dually | Factory pickup bed with flared rear fenders, such as a Ram 3500, F-350 or Silverado 3500HD with dual rear wheels | Cab style (regular, crew or mega cab) and bed length |
| Chassis cab dually | Cab and frame with no pickup bed, often bought for a flatbed, dump or service body to be added later (the white truck in the multi-car carrier photo) | That there is no bed, and the cab-to-axle length if you know it |
| Upfitted dually | Chassis cab or pickup fitted with a flatbed, service body, hauler bed or other body | Body type, overall length, width and height, and anything bolted on |
| Modified dually | Lift kit, larger tires, wider wheels or aftermarket fenders | Measured height and width as the truck sits now |
Why a lifted or modified dually needs measurements, not a model name
A lift or bigger tires raise the truck's height, and wider wheels or fender flares add width. A carrier plans the deck position from the numbers you give at booking. If the truck that arrives at pickup is taller or wider than described, the driver may not be able to load it, which can mean a new carrier and a later pickup.
How to measure your dually before you request a quote
- Width: measure across the widest point of the rear fenders, with mirrors folded in. Note the width with mirrors extended too.
- Height: measure from the ground to the highest fixed point, including roof lights, racks or a headache rack.
- Length: measure bumper to bumper, including a hitch, tailgate accessories or a flatbed body.
- Weight: use the curb weight from the manufacturer's specifications for your trim, or a recent scale ticket, and add anything heavy left installed, such as a toolbox or fuel transfer tank.
- Photos: take one from the side and one from the rear so the carrier can see the stance and fender width.
How much does dually truck transport cost?
The price of shipping a dually depends on its size and configuration, the route, the timing and the type of trailer. A dually can cost more to ship than a standard pickup because it takes more trailer space and fewer carriers have equipment that fits it. A quote built on your truck's measured dimensions is the only reliable price for your shipment.
What affects the price
- Width and length: a wider or longer truck can take space a carrier would otherwise fill with another vehicle.
- Weight: a heavier truck uses more of a trailer's weight capacity.
- Configuration and modifications: a lift, larger tires or an upfitted body can narrow the equipment that fits.
- Trailer type: open multi-car carriers and open flatbed trailers are priced differently.
- Route: pickup and delivery locations near major highways usually have more carriers passing through than remote ones.
- Timing: a tight pickup window leaves fewer carriers to choose from.
- Condition: a truck that does not run needs equipment and handling to load it.
A real example: shipping a Ram 3500 dually from Amarillo to Orlando
Star Auto Shipping arranged door-to-door transport for an operable 2024 Ram 3500 dually from Amarillo, Texas to Orlando, Florida in September 2026. The truck traveled 1,453 miles on an open flatbed trailer. The all-inclusive price for this completed shipment was $1,700. This is a historical example, not a current quote, route average or guaranteed rate.
| Vehicle | 2024 Ram 3500 dually, operable |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,453 miles |
| Trailer | Open flatbed |
| Service | Door-to-door |
| Pickup | September 28, 2026 |
| Delivery | September 30, 2026 |
| Historical price | $1,700 all-inclusive |
How the carrier was chosen for this dually
The customer told Star Auto Shipping at booking that the truck was a dually. Star Auto Shipping was open to any carrier able to haul it, and the assigned carrier confirmed its flatbed trailer was large enough for the Ram 3500. The customer needed no other preparation for this shipment.
Read the full Amarillo to Orlando dually truck transport case study for the shipment record and photograph.
How long does it take to ship a dually truck?
Transit time for a dually depends on distance, the route and the carrier's schedule. As a general planning guideline, long-distance transport may progress roughly 400 to 500 miles per day after pickup. The Ram 3500 dually shipped from Amarillo to Orlando was delivered 2 days after pickup, a result specific to that shipment. Transit times are not guaranteed.
Time to assign a carrier comes before transit. Because fewer carriers have equipment that fits a dually, giving accurate dimensions and a flexible pickup window helps a suitable carrier take the load sooner.
How do you prepare a dually truck for transport?
Prepare a dually the way you would any vehicle, then reduce its width and height where you can.
- Fold the tow mirrors in, or retract telescoping mirrors
- Remove or secure anything that adds width or height, such as roof racks, light bars or loose bed accessories
- Remove loose items from the cab and bed
- Note any fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch, toolbox or fuel tank left installed
- Photograph the truck from all sides before pickup
- Make sure it starts, steers and brakes, and tell the carrier in advance if it does not run
- Be available, or have someone you trust available, to sign the inspection at pickup and delivery
What information do you need for a dually truck transport quote?
A complete request lets a carrier confirm fit before dispatch. Include:
- Year, make and model, and that it has dual rear wheels
- Cab style and bed length, or body type for a chassis cab or upfitted truck
- Measured width, height and length if the truck is modified
- Running condition
- Pickup and delivery ZIP codes
- Preferred pickup window
- Whether the pickup and delivery addresses have room for a large truck and trailer
Door-to-door transport means pickup and delivery are arranged as close to the specified addresses as a large carrier can safely and legally access. If the truck cannot safely reach the exact location, the customer and driver may coordinate a nearby accessible meeting point.
Star Auto Shipping LLC arranges nationwide vehicle transportation through independent, FMCSA-registered motor carriers (USDOT 4282092, MC 1664753). Request a dually truck transport quote.
Dually truck transport FAQ
Does shipping a dually need an oversize permit?
It depends on the loaded transport, not the truck alone. Permit needs depend on the loaded transport's dimensions, the route and the rules that apply in each state along it. The carrier confirms them before hauling.
Can a non-running dually be shipped?
Often, yes. A truck that does not start, steer or brake needs a carrier with a winch or other loading equipment, and its weight makes that equipment important. Say the truck is inoperable when you request a quote so a suitable carrier is assigned from the start.
Can I leave a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch installed in the bed?
Usually, as long as it is secured. A hitch adds weight but not width, so mention it when you request a quote along with any toolbox, fuel transfer tank or other heavy equipment left on the truck.
Sources
- Edmunds: 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Diesel specs
- Edmunds: 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, single rear wheel
- Edmunds: 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, dual rear wheel
- Star Auto Shipping shipment record: 2024 Ram 3500 dually, Amarillo, TX to Orlando, FL, September 2026