getting a car to sailor in GC?

[Lilo54]

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to get a car to my A school sailor in Goose Creek.  We live in Northern Virginia.  I looked into meeting him halfway in Raleigh when we visit my mother-in-law but there are no direct (one way flights).  All the stops come up here to DC and then down to Raleigh which defeats the purpose.  Plus its more than 350 miles to DC.  

Are there transport companies that people have used that aren't too expensive.   If I used a transport company, does my son have to meet them and where do they drop off the car?  

Any suggestions?  

[Tx Mom of Far Away Nuke]

My son flew here and drove it back.  They do have restrictions on your sailor limiting driving hours per day if he goes alone.  His grandpa (gpa) was nice enough to drive up there with him and then fly back alone.

[las2015]

What are the hours per day driving limitations?

thank you

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

We shipped our son his car at Thanksgiving (2013) and didn't have any issues.  Cost was $795 from So Cal to Goose Creek.  The gentlemen I was in contact with was Roy....he was very helpful.  They picked it up on 11/22/13 and it arrived on 11/27/13.

Door to Door Transport Company
   Phone: [phone] 
    Fax: [phone]

We made arrangements to have it delivered to the Food Lion parking lot that is just outside of the base.  That way they had room to unload it.  The driver had my son's cell phone & he called him when he was a few hours away to give him an ETA.  Then he called once he was about 30 minutes out and my son got one of his buddies to give him a ride over.  Was very quick....Be advised you pay a deposit to the transport company but you have to pay either cash or cashier's check to the driver upon delivery.  That seems to be standard with all shipping companies (at least the ones I called).

[norcal_pops]

It looks to be a 9 hour drive at the most. What's his driving experience like?! Maybe, have him and a fellow sailor fly up there and drive it back?! We live in Northern California and Door to Door transport charged me $965 to ship my sons car, which took 10 days to get GC, SC. 

[Lilo54]

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I was thinking of having him fly up here but I was told he couldn't go farther than 350 miles while in A school.  DC is 511 from GC.  That's why we were thinking about driving it to Raleigh and meeting him there.  Raleigh is about half way for both of us.  So, he would only have to drive it 4 hours.  But, there is no direct route there on the plane or train (at least for one way tickets)  It is about an 8 hours drive from here to GC.  We plan to do that in May when he graduates.  But, he would like to have his car before that time.

I will call the Door to Door transport.  I also found a website that is called Military Auto Transports. com.  I am waiting for a quote.  

I haven't talked with my sailor in a couple of weeks - only a few texts.  His 21st bday was last Sunday.  He has been so busy adjusting to his new class and study schedule, I don't bother him during the week.

I will mention all of your suggestions to him.  Thanks again.

[Radiogirl]

Hi Lilo54!  My son will be reporting to Goose Creek as well after his PIR 4/3/15.  We live north of Charlotte and are in the same vehicle dilemma.  How soon after they report to Nuke School are they permitted to have a vehicle?  Better yet, liberty to even take them the vehicle?  If you find out any information, please let me know.  Is your son already at Goose Creek or reporting soon?

Thanks,

Kristy

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Kristy - look on the main nuke page - to the right under the member profiles are 8 pages of info.  One of them is "Your Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival to GC".  This will explain the phases & time frame for things. 

[Lilo54]

HI Kristy:  My son got to GC on 1/24/15.  He didn't get new privileges or phasing up as they call it until he was there three weeks.  Your son has to be there for a certain period of time and pass several inspections before he is allowed to have his vehicle and have weekend liberty and wear civilian clothes (that was a big thing for my nuke sailor!).  B'sNukeMoM has a good suggestion to check out the Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival at GC.  It will give you a good idea of what to expect.  I wish your son much success during his boot camp experience.  I hope you will get to go to his graduation (PIR).  It was an awesome experience for us and for my son!  Let me know if you have any more questions.  This site is full of wonderful and helpful people!

[Proudmom]

My son is also reporting to Goose Creek after PIR on 4/3/15. We are in Florida, but outside of the travel boundaries for him so we are going to drive his car up ( I will follow my husband), then drive back. We, too, are wondering when they can have a car at Nuke school. We are traveling to Great Lakes for graduation, so we would like to space out our travel plan.

[Cybermama Ship 09, Div 160]

We waited until A school graduation and flew hm home.  We transferred the title to one of our cars to him and my husband and I drove with our son to GC in 2 cars.  It worked out well.  We had a nice trip and he got some good long distance driving experience.  He said that he wanted a car but not badly enough to actually buy one and we were buying a new one for us.  I knew I wouldn't get much on a trade in, got the stuff fixed that needed fixing if a young person would have it, and it's his now.  He's happy and so are we.  The benefit for him is that he has a decent ride and no car payment.  We had a very nice trip to Charleston, too.

[William in Nashua]

I drove our son's car from New Hampshire to South Carolina during A school and dropped it off with him,  then flew back.  That was nearly four years ago.

[Lilo54]

Proudmom - my son was at Goose Creek for about four weeks before he was allowed to wear civilian clothes and have his car.  Each group is different and they have to pass a series of inspections before they can "phase up" as he called it.

We decided we are going to meet half way to get him his car.  My husband is driving my son's car and I am following behind too!  We are going to Raleigh, NC to visit his grandmother.  The Amtrak has a direct line from Charleston to Selma/Springfield, NC.  It's about 35 minutes from Raleigh so we will meet the train.  Plus its cheap too - $46 with his military discount.  The train leaves Charleston at 10AM and arrives in Selma at 2pm.  There is Saturday service.  So, we will meet him and he can either leave after a late lunch or stay overnight with us and leave in the morning.  It is within the 350 mile restriction and its only a 4 hour drive for him.  He doesn't mind driving and probably will be thrilled to drive after not driving since before Thanksgiving!!!!  He also said that a lot of people take the train to florida for the weekend!  But, thanks everyone for all the great suggestions.