Features
Two murders of two Jewish Winnipeggers – one in 1913 and one in 1928 Could they have been eerily connected?
By BERNIE BELLAN The story you’re about to read started off in one direction – then, following a phone call I received Tuesday evening, January 25, took a completely different – and frighteningly eerie direction.
My original story was going to be about a new book that is about to be launched titled “The End of Her”. The book’s author, Wayne Hoffman, is someone who first came to my attention, and subsequently the attention of our readers, in 2015 when he sent me a tantalizingly provocative email whose subject was the long-ago murder of his great-grandmother, Sarah Feinstein.
Mrs. Feinstein was only 26 years old at the time of her murder and, although as Wayne Hoffman notes in his book, there have been many theories advanced as to who could possibly have wanted to murder such a young, innocent woman, the case remains a total mystery.
(You can read my story about “The End of Her” elsehwhere on this website.)
Now, the story of how Wayne Hoffman came to write his book is in of itself quite a fascinating one, but that January 25 phone call really sent my head spinning.
The caller, as it turned out, was a woman with a relatively deep voice. She began by saying that it had just been brought to her attention that there is a Jewish newspaper in Winnipeg. Not only had she never heard of The Jewish Post & News, she said, she wondered what any Jewish newspaper would be all about? Would it be religious in content? she asked. When I assured her that this paper is mostly secular in content she seemed more interested in perhaps taking out a subscription.
We were enjoying a lengthy conversation when the caller sprung this one on me – totally out of the blue: Her grandfather, whose name was Robert Cohen, she told me, had been murdered in Winnipeg in 1928.
“Really?” I asked. “That’s an amazing coincidence,” I said. I explained that I was going to be publishing a story about a new book whose subject was also a long-ago murder of a Jewish Winnipegger.
“I actually have a copy of his obituary,” the caller continued. “But it’s in Yiddish – and I can’t read it.”
She wondered in which newspaper it might have appeared. I said that the main Yiddish language circulation newspaper in Winnipeg at that time was something called Der Yiddishe Vort. I told the caller that I was going to try and see whether there was anything I could find out about her grandfather’s murder and that I would get back to her.
The next day I contacted Stan Carbone, curator of the Jewish Heritage Centre, and asked him whether he or Andrew Morrison, the Centre’s archivist, could help me find the obituary of Robert Cohen from 1928.
Andrew was quick to respond, writing me that when he did a search he was able to come up with one reference to a Robert Cohen in a February 27, 1928 edition of the Israelite Press (which was called Der Yiddishe Vort in Yiddish.)
Andrew sent me the link to the story, which I was able to access on the Jewish Heritage Centre website. What I found was a pdf of the front page from that February 1928 issue which had a story about someone named “Ruven Cohen”, not Robert Cohen. (I can read Yiddish somewhat but my understanding is quite limited.)
But, it was a front page story in that pdf – not an obituary. I realized immediately that the story was about Cohen’s murder.
Next, I contacted Rochelle Zucker, host of the Jewish Radio Hour, and asked her whether she might be able to translate the story for me. Rochelle obliged me that same evening.
Here is the shocking translation of that story , as provided by Rochelle Zucker:
Feb. 17, 1928 Israelite Press
Young Jewish Man from Winnipeg Mysteriously Murdered
R. Cohen murdered in the area of Shell Lake Sask.
Shelbrook Sask, – From the coroner’s inquest of the mysterious death of Ruven Cohen, a cattle merchant from Winnipeg it was found that the $1190 that he had with him when he was leaving the area remained in his pocket. Therefore, the motive for the murder could not have been robbery. The tragic death of R. Cohen, a young man from Winnipeg, made a deep impression here in the city. His body is expected to arrive tomorrow.
According to the information that has been received to date, Mr. Cohen, on his buying trip, had found merchandise in the area and had telegraphed to Winnipeg for money. He got the money and according to reports from the town of Kenwood in that area, he deposited $2000 in the bank. Monday, he took out $1200 and took it with him to pay the farmers for the animals that he bought.
He borrowed a horse from Alfred Schwartz, a Jewish farmer from the area, and rode on horseback in the area. Tuesday, the horse came back home with Cohen’s dead body on it. His hands and feet were tied to the saddle.
Mr. Schwartz and Harry Adelman, a merchant from Shell Lake, traveled immediately to Shelbrook, 40 miles from there and notified the police who immediately started an investigation.
The deceased left behind a widow and 4 children.
Wow! I thought – Mr. Cohen was murdered, but apparently he was not robbed – even though he was carrying a huge amount of cash on his person! And he was in Saskatchewan buying cattle! Sarah Feinstein’s husband, David, was also a cattle buyer who was in Canora, Saskatchewan at the time of her death.
How similar though was Ruven Cohen’s murder to Sarah Feinstein’s I asked myself. Here were two Jewish Winnipeggers, both murdered in the early part of the 20th century, yet with no apparent motive for either one’s murder.
Yet, there was much more to the story, as I was to find out. The next day I contacted the woman who had called me Tuesday evening to tell her what I had found out, including that her “grandfather” was murdered in Saskatchewan, not Winnipeg. But then I was in for another surprise when the woman with whom I was talking told me that she was 19 years old.
“Nineteen?” I said. “But you sound so much older.” After I got over how young this woman was it dawned on me that something else didn’t make sense.
Robert or Ruven Cohen – as he was referred to in the Israelite Press, couldn’t have been her grandfather. She’s much too young to have had a grandfather who was murdered as long ago as 1928. “He had to be your great-grandfather,” I said to her.
“I guess,” she answered. “I hadn’t really thought about it much.” I told her that I was so caught up in this story now that I was determined to try and find out whether there was anything else that I could find out about Mr. Cohen’s murder.
Subsequently, I renewed my subscription to something called newspaperarchives.com, which is a fabulous source for investigative reporters. I had actually taken out a subscription to that service a year and a half ago when I was pursuing the mystery of why someone named Myer Geller had left $725,000 to the “Sharon Home” after he died – without offering any explanation.
It was after searching newspaperarchives.com that I came across a story that was every bit as tantalizing as that initial story from the Israelite Press.
Here is that story, from the February 15, 1928 issue of a newspaper called the Shelbrook Chronicle:
R. Cohen of Winnipeg tied hand and foot to saddle
Horse returns home with dead body
Grim tragedy stalked through the little hamlet of Shell Lake on Tuesday morning when the dead body of Robert Cohen, cattle buyer of Winnipeg, was found tied to the saddle of the horse he was riding. The horse, which Robert Cohen had borrowed from Perry Turrell on Sunday afternoon to go to Kenwood, returned early Tuesday morning to the farmstead of his owner dragging his dead body, and when Mr. Turrell found the body the hands were securely and apparently expertly tied together and then tied to the stirrup of the saddle. The feet were likewise securely tied and the body apparently thrown over the saddle and the feet and hands tied to the same stirrup by the same rope passed underneath the body of the horse. The conjecture is that when the horse was started off the saddle turned under the horse and the body was then thrown under the horse and dragged. The head was severely bruised and lacerated.
It is alleged that a sum of money was sent to Cohen through the bank at Kenwood by his Winnipeg partner and the purpose of his trip to Kenwood was to draw out some of the money for the purpose of buying cattle in the country about Shell Lake.
He is alleged to have withdrawn $1300, distributed about $100 in Kenwood and started for Shell Lake with about $1200. He borrowed the horse – a rather spirited one from Perry Turrell on Sunday afternoon and rather late in the afternoon left for Kenwood. Monday he spent in Kenwood. When interviewed by long distance the pioneer cattle buyers of Kenwood said that Robert Cohen was a stranger to them until his visit of this week.
On Tuesday morning Turrell rose early, noticed that the yard about his buildings was marked as if by an object dragged over it. On examination he found blood stains and then noticed the horse in the yard riderless.
On going over to investigate in the half light of the early morning the horse took fright and ran to the field dragging a dark object. Terrell approach the frightened animal again and this time found that the heavy object was the dead body of Robert Cohen who had on Sunday afternoon borrowed his horse. Thinking life might not be extinct he cut the cinch of the saddle and also the rope which bound the body to the saddle. He then discovered that the man was dead and left the body where it was and immediately sent alarm to several of his neighbours…
In the meantime Turrell and some of his neighbours followed the blood trail out of the yard east on the roadway and across some vacant land for a distance of a mile. An empty pocketbook was found on the snow in this vacant land, presumably that of the dead man, for when the Constable and coroner later examined Cohen there was no money on his person.
Cohen is a large man, apparently about 35 years of age. He has a wife and family in Winnipeg, the wife at present in hospital in that city. His wife has a sister and brother-in-law, residents of Shelbrook, the brother-in-law a blacksmith also named Cohen
There are a number of theories as to how the man may have met his death. The most commonly held is that his assailant, with the intent of robbery, knocked the man insensible, took his money and then tied him to the saddle.
Yet, there is one gaping hole in that Shelbrook Chronicle story. Why on earth would a robber have gone to the trouble of tying Mr. Cohen’s body to his horse after he murdered him? What possible motive could there have been for such a savage and what must have been fairly time consuming task if the motive were simply to rob the poor man? And, why were the two stories – the one in the Israelite Press and the other in the Shelbrook Chronicle so contradictory? Never mind that the name of the person who gave Mr. Cohen a horse was completely different in both stories, the question of whether he was robbed or not is also180 degrees different in both stories.
It was when I came across one final story about Mr. Cohen’s murder, however, in an April 7, 1930 issue of the Winnipeg Free Press that the robbery motive seems to have been thoroughly disproven. Here is an excerpt from that story:
Government offers $1000 reward for slayer of Cohen Winnipeg cattle buyer
Cohen was a likeable man who paid good prices for his cattle and was thought well of in the district where he met his death. Robbery apparently was not the motive for his killing for his money was found in his pockets. (Editor’s note: emphasis mine.) He had been killed before he was roped to the saddle of a horse. A blow at the base of his skull was the cause of death.
So, there we have it. Despite the Shelbrook Chronicle’s claiming that Mr. Cohen had been robbed of $1300, both the Israelite Press’s and the Free Press’s story say the exact opposite: that no money was taken from him. Whether or not he was robbed, the manner in which he was killed and tied to his horse certainly would suggest that the motive for his murder was far more insidious than simply robbing the poor man.
And, what does this have to do with the murder of Sarah Feinstein? Think about it: Two murders of Jews – who both have strong ties to the cattle buying business.
This is where another story written by Wayne Hoffman enters into the picture. In January 2019 we published a story by Wayne about his great-grandfather David, which was titled “My Great-Grandfather, the Jewish Cowboy”.
In that story Wayne goes into great detail about his great-grandfather’s time spent in Canora, Saskatchewan, where he and his brothers had a thriving business, including before and after Sarah Feinstein’s murder. The story is quite vivid in how it describes what an outstanding cowboy David Feinstein was, but when you read the following two paragraphs from that story, just stop to think how much more sense it now makes to think that Sarah Feinstein’s murder was a hit – exacted by some very tough competitors of David Feinstein:
“David’s stay in Canora coincided with Canadian, and later American, Prohibition. According to a few of my cousins, some of the Feinstein brothers–possibly including my great-grandfather–were probably involved in bootlegging. There was more than just horses in those barns, one suggested; perhaps the family’s connection to organized crime had something to do with the murder? It did explain one odd thing I’d found in my research: While the brothers were dealing cattle in Saskatchewan, according to a business directory, they were also officers of a short-lived company in Winnipeg called Manitoba Vinegar Manufacturing.
“The notion that the brothers might have been involved in unsavory endeavors was bolstered by other stories I learned, about how they were serious gamblers, and tax cheats; two of my great-grandfather’s brothers were later fined in what the Tribune called ‘Canada’s biggest tax evasion case.’”
Could both Sarah Feinstein’s and Ruven Cohen’s murders have been part of the same pattern of “sending a message”, which was all too common among gangsters of that era?
You be the judge.
Features
A Left-wing Yiddishist in Western Canada
By HENRY SREBRNIK I recently presented a paper on Khaim Zhitlovsky, a major proponent of secular Jewish diaspora nationalism and Jewish nationhood, at the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies annual conference at York University in Toronto.
Zhitlovsky was born in Ushachi near Vitebsk in what is now Belarus in 1865. A leading architect of secular Jewish culture and thought, he was a central figure in the progressive Jewish intelligentsia of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Canada and the United States.
At a Jewish International Cultural Conference organized in Paris in September 1937, the Alveltlekher Yiddisher Kultur Farband (YKUF) was founded, and he was one of the supporters. As the honorary president of the YKUF in the United States, Zhitlovsky became an icon of the Yiddishist Communist movement, particularly in western Canada, where he had inspired the founding of a strong secular Yiddish school system. At the fifth Canadian Labour Zionist conference, held in Montreal in 1910, Zhitlovsky had made a plea for Yiddish schools, saying, “If you reject Yiddish, the Jewish proletariat will reject you.”
During the Second World War, the Communist-dominated YKUF became the most important ideological vehicle for the pro-Soviet Jewish movement in Canada. It included Winnipeg activists such as Dr. Benjamin A. Victor, who had come to Canada in 1912 as a child, from the small town of Zhlobin in Belarus, and grew up in Winnipeg’s North End. He and others devoted their political energies to YKUF work and by early 1941 there were three YKUF reading circles in Winnipeg.
Much of this activity was also due to the arrival in Winnipeg of the new principal of the Communist-organized Sholem Aleichem School (formerly the Liberty Temple School), Labl Basman. Victor addressed meetings, speaking about the works of Zhitlovsky and Zishe Weinper, both prominent New York-based Yiddishists and YKUF leaders.
“Dr. B.A.Victor must be counted as being one of the most important workers in the progressive Jewish cultural movement in Winnipeg, and in particular the YKUF,” wrote Basman in the Kanader Yidishe Vochenblat, the weekly newspaper of the Canadian Jewish Communists, in the spring of 1942. “Dr. Victor has always stood in the forefront of every cultural-social movement that has been progressive and in the interests of the masses.”
Winnipeg, which Zhitlovsky visited frequently over the years, was, in the words of Jack Switzer, “a Zhitlovsky fortress.” Zhitlovsky’s 75th birthday in the autumn of 1941 had been celebrated by the organization in all of its branches across the country. When he again visited Canada in April 1942, a new YKUF men’s club was named in his honour in Winnipeg. Montreal poet Sholem Shtern, in one laudatory profile, depicted Zhitlovsky’s struggle on behalf of Yiddish language and culture, against assimilationists on both left and right, and against Zionist Hebraists. “In Yiddish Zhitlovsky sees that great progressive strength which will enable it to bring into being a new era in Jewish life.”
So Zhitlovsky’s sudden death on May 6, 1943, in Calgary, while he was on a cross-Canada lecture tour, “hit us like a thunderbolt” and “brought about sadness throughout the country,” declared the Vochenblat.
Labl Basman reported on Zhitlovsky’s last trip to Winnipeg. His two lectures had been attended by some 1,300 people, and, Basman observed, “provided the progressive Jewish community with a clear and outstanding analysis of these catastrophic times.” Zhitlovsky had stressed that support for the Soviet Union was imperative; the USSR needed to emerge from the war strengthened and with a prominent role in any post-war settlement. The Soviet Union was the centre of world progress and Jews would benefit greatly from a strong USSR, since this would mean the end of anti-Semitism and the solution of the Jewish question.
Louis Pearlman of Calgary, who was cultural chair of that city’s Peretz Shule, described Zhitlovsky’s visit to the city where he would pass away, in the Vochenblat. Zhitlovsky arrived in Calgary from Winnipeg on April 28, in good spirits, and was scheduled to give six lectures over a two-week period. About 100 people turned out for his first lecture on April 30, in the Peretz Shule, on “Socialism and Religion.”
He spoke again May 2, to 150 people, on “The Spiritual Battle of the Jewish People for its Survival.” His third lecture, on May 4, dealt with Judaism and Christianity and was also well received. But a day later he had a heart attack and was taken to a hospital; he died on May 6. Pearlman accompanied Zhitlovsky’s body back to New York and attended his funeral there.
The Vochenblat reprinted Zhitlovsky’s greetings to Birobidzhan, the Jewish Autonomous Region in the Soviet far east, on its 15th anniversary, which he had released on April 25. “Our Jewish people now has two countries in which a new Jewish life is being built, a normal life” one where Jews will live in Jewish towns and Jewish cities, “just like all the other peoples on earth,” he wrote. “The two countries are Birobidzhan and Erets Yisroel.” They ought not to be seen as antagonistic alternatives, he declared. In both, Jewish life would become “normalized” and Jews would flourish.
“Every Jewish accomplishment in both countries gives us courage in the struggle for our survival, elevates the prestige of our people in the eyes of the non-Jewish world, and strengthens our desire for the complete national liberation of our people, with the complete rights and strengths of membership in the fraternal family of nations. May the Jewish nation of Birobidzhan have long life and mature in freedom!”
Of course we now know the Birobidzhan project was a dismal failure, nor was the Soviet Union the “promised land” dreamt of by the Jewish left. Perhaps an entry in the third volume of the Leksikon Fun Der Nayer Yidisher Literatur, published in 1960 by the Congress of Jewish Culture, sums Zhitlovsky up best:
“A man who adopted, abandoned, or lost interest in so many different political programs and causes; who joined, left, or drifted away from so many parties was probably destined, at least in the short run, to oblivion. At varying times, he was a sharp opponent of Zionism and a Zionist, an anti-territorialist and a territorialist, a supporter of the Jewish Labour Bund and one of its harshest critics, a Socialist Revolutionary and an apologist for Bolshevism. He was a kind of ideological nomad, forever on the move” — and so now virtually forgotten.
Henry Srebrnik is a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Features
How to Get and Compare Vehicle Shipping Quotes for State-to-State Car Transport
Every year, millions of Americans ship their vehicles across state lines, whether relocating for a new career, purchasing a dream car online, or escaping to a warmer climate for the winter. Navigating the logistics of moving a vehicle can initially feel like a complex puzzle. With dozens of carriers on the market and widely varying pricing structures, knowing how to secure and evaluate accurate vehicle shipping quotes is essential for a stress-free experience.
This guide breaks down exactly what factors influence the cost of interstate auto transport. You will learn how to evaluate your options effectively, understand the critical differences between transport methods, and identify what to watch out for when selecting a carrier. By following these insights, you can ensure your vehicle reaches its destination safely and without overpaying.
What Is Vehicle Shipping and When Do You Need It?
Vehicle shipping is a specialized logistics service where a licensed auto carrier transports your car, truck, or SUV from one location to another over long distances. Instead of driving the vehicle yourself, accumulating mileage, and spending days on the road, a transport company loads your vehicle onto a specialized trailer for delivery.
There are several common scenarios where professional auto transport makes sense:
- Corporate or Personal Relocation: Moving across the country requires coordinating moving trucks, flights, and housing. Shipping your car eliminates the cross-country drive entirely.
- Online Vehicle Purchases: If you buy a vehicle from an out-of-state dealership or private seller, auto transport provides a safe way to bring it home.
- Snowbirds and Seasonal Travel: Many retirees split their year between warmer and cooler states. Shipping a car twice a year is standard practice to avoid long, taxing drives.
- Military Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Active-duty military personnel frequently relocate on short timelines. Professional auto shipping ensures the vehicle arrives at the new base promptly.
- Classic or Collector Car Acquisitions: Buyers of rare vehicles at auctions often need enclosed transport to move their purchase without adding road miles.
Types of Car Transport: Shipping vs. Towing
Before requesting estimates, it is important to understand the different transport methods available. The industry primarily divides into standard auto shipping using large multi-car carriers and towing services, which use smaller specialized trucks for specific situations.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the three main options:
| Cost | Lowest | Highest | Mid-range |
| Vehicle Protection | Basic (road exposure) | Maximum (fully covered) | Depends on rig type |
| Best For | Standard commuter vehicles | Luxury, classic, exotic cars | Non-running or damaged vehicles |
| Typical Delivery Time | Standard (5–14 days) | Standard / flexible | Faster for short routes |
| Availability | High nationwide coverage | Limited specialty carriers | High broad availability |
| Average Cost (coast-to-coast) | $1,000–$1,500 | $1,800–$3,000 | Varies by distance |
Open Carrier Transport
This is the industry standard and accounts for the vast majority of all shipments. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air multi-car trailer, similar to those used by dealerships to receive new inventory. It is highly cost-effective and readily available, making it the default choice for standard commuter vehicles.
Enclosed Carrier Transport
If you own a classic, luxury, or heavily modified vehicle, enclosed transport offers superior protection. The trailer is fully covered, shielding the vehicle from road debris, UV exposure, dust, and harsh weather. Insurance coverage limits are also typically higher with enclosed carriers, an important consideration for high-value vehicles.
Interstate Towing
Towing typically involves a flatbed tow truck or a single-vehicle hauler. This method is frequently used for non-running vehicles, accident recoveries, or short-distance moves across a nearby state border where booking a full multi-car carrier is unnecessary. Costs are more variable and depend heavily on distance and the type of tow rig required.
What Affects Vehicle Shipping Quotes?
Transport pricing is not a flat rate it fluctuates based on supply, demand, and specific logistical details. When you review estimates from various providers, the numbers will vary based on several key factors. Understanding these variables helps you evaluate quotes accurately and avoid being misled by artificially low bids.
| Industry Insight: Open carrier cross-country transport typically ranges from $1,000 to $1,500. Enclosed carrier service for the same route costs approximately $1,800 to $3,000. These figures serve as a baseline for evaluating whether a quote is realistic. |
Here is a breakdown of the variables that most significantly impact your final price:
| Distance | Short hauls under 500 miles | Transcontinental routes (2,000+ miles) |
| Vehicle Size & Weight | Standard sedan or compact car | Full-size SUV, pickup truck, van |
| Transport Type | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
| Delivery Timeline | Flexible window (7–14 days) | Expedited (1–3 days) |
| Seasonality | Fall and winter (lower demand) | Summer and early spring (peak season) |
| Pickup/Drop-off Method | Terminal-to-terminal | Door-to-door service |
| Vehicle Operability | Running and driveable | Non-running (requires winch/special rig) |
| Route Popularity | High-traffic corridors (CA–FL, NY–TX) | Rural or remote destinations |
Larger vehicles, such as full-size SUVs and pickup trucks, occupy more physical space on the trailer and add considerable weight. Carriers must carefully balance loads across trailer axles to comply with federal weight regulations, which is why heavier vehicles consistently attract a higher shipping fee. Non-running vehicles require special handling equipment and add time at pickup, which is also reflected in the price.
How to Get Accurate Vehicle Shipping Quotes
Obtaining reliable estimates requires more than submitting a basic inquiry. The more precise the information you provide upfront, the more accurate your quotes will be and the fewer unpleasant surprises you will encounter at pickup.
Follow this step-by-step process to get comparable, apples-to-apples estimates:
- Gather your vehicle specifications: year, make, model, trim level, and whether the car runs and drives under its own power.
- Determine your ideal timeline: your earliest available pickup date and your required delivery window.
- Decide on transport type: open or enclosed, based on your vehicle’s value, condition, and your budget.
- Request multiple estimates: contact at least three to five providers to establish the current market rate for your specific route and vehicle.
- Compare total cost, not just the base rate: ask whether the quote includes insurance coverage, fuel surcharges, and any accessorial fees.
- Verify credentials before booking: confirm the provider’s MC number and USDOT registration through the FMCSA database.
To streamline this process and ensure you are evaluating vetted, licensed companies side by side, you can gather and compare vehicle shipping quotes in one centralized place rather than tracking down individual providers manually.
Broker vs. Direct Carrier: Know the Difference
One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the auto transport industry is the difference between a broker and a direct carrier.
- Auto Transport Broker: An intermediary who connects customers with a network of independent owner-operators and carriers. Brokers offer wider availability and competitive pricing through volume, but you may deal with a third party throughout the process.
- Direct Carrier: A company that owns its trucks and employs its drivers directly. Communication is streamlined, and there is a single point of contact from pickup to delivery.
Neither model is inherently superior. Brokers often have better availability on difficult routes; direct carriers can offer more consistency on popular corridors. Always ask which model the company uses before committing.
State-to-State Car Towing: What You Need to Know
While standard shipping is ideal for long-distance moves, specialized towing is sometimes the more practical choice. If your vehicle has suffered a mechanical failure, sustained collision damage, or you need to move it a short distance across a nearby state border, flatbed towing provides a faster solution.
When arranging state to state car towing, there are specific legal and logistical requirements to keep in mind. Tow trucks crossing state lines are considered interstate commercial vehicles and must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, including maintaining a valid USDOT number, adhering to Hours of Service (HOS) rules under 49 CFR 395, and carrying appropriate federal insurance.
Additionally, each state along the route enforces its own rules on trailer dimensions, brake requirements, and weight limits. For example:
- Width limits are fairly consistent nationwide, generally capping out at around 8.5 feet.
- Height limits typically fall between 13.5 and 14 feet, though some states differ.
- Trailer brake requirements vary significantly: New York requires brakes on trailers at just 1,000 lbs GVWR, while Texas sets that threshold at 4,500 lbs.
- Total vehicle-and-trailer combination length limits range from around 55 feet in stricter states to 85 feet in states like Wyoming.
If your car is inoperable, meaning it cannot steer, brake, or roll under its own power, you must explicitly disclose this to the provider before booking. The driver will need a truck equipped with a specialized winch or a tilt-bed flatbed to load the vehicle safely. Failing to disclose this detail upfront will result in delays, additional charges, or outright cancellation at the pickup location.
How Insurance Works During Auto Transport
One area that is consistently misunderstood is insurance coverage during shipping. All licensed carriers are legally required to carry cargo insurance, but the details matter significantly.
- Carrier Liability Coverage: Every FMCSA-registered carrier must maintain a minimum level of cargo liability insurance. However, coverage limits and deductibles vary widely between companies.
- Ask for the Certificate of Insurance (COI): Before booking, request a copy of the carrier’s COI to verify coverage limits. A reputable company will provide this without hesitation.
- Your Personal Auto Insurance: In many cases, your existing auto insurance policy may provide supplemental coverage during transport. Check with your insurer before shipping you may already be partially covered.
- Condition Report at Pickup: At the time of pickup, the driver and you will complete a Bill of Lading (BOL), which documents the vehicle’s pre-existing condition with written notations and sometimes photographs. This document is your primary evidence if you need to file a damage claim.
- Enclosed Carriers Typically Carry Higher Limits: For high-value vehicles, enclosed carriers often carry $500,000 or more in cargo coverage, compared to standard open carriers that may carry $250,000 or less.
Red Flags When Choosing a Car Shipping Company
The auto transport industry is competitive, and while most companies operate with integrity, there are bad actors. Protecting your asset requires diligent research. Watch for these warning signs:
- The ‘Too Good to Be True’ Estimate: A price dramatically lower than the market average is almost always a lowball tactic. The carrier quotes low to secure your deposit, then demands more money before releasing the vehicle.
- No Verifiable FMCSA Registration: Every legitimate interstate carrier and broker must hold a valid MC (Motor Carrier) number and USDOT number. Verify these at the official FMCSA Safer System website before paying anything.
- Guaranteed Exact Delivery Dates: Logistics are subject to weather, traffic, and inspection delays. Legitimate providers give a delivery window typically two to four days not a guaranteed hour.
- Requiring Full Payment Upfront: Reputable companies typically collect a deposit at booking and the balance at delivery. Full payment in advance is a major red flag, especially for cash or wire transfers.
- No Written Contract: Any legitimate carrier will provide a written service agreement outlining pickup dates, delivery windows, cost, and insurance details. Verbal-only agreements offer you no protection.
- Poor or Absent Communication: If you struggle to reach a representative before booking, reaching them while your vehicle is somewhere on the highway will be even harder.
Cost-Saving Tips for Interstate Vehicle Shipping
If you are working within a budget, there are proven strategies to reduce the overall cost of moving your vehicle without sacrificing reliability.
- Keep Flexible Pickup Dates: Offering carriers a broad pickup window of 7 to 14 days allows them to fill their trailer efficiently, and they often pass savings on to flexible customers.
- Choose Open Transport: Unless your vehicle is exceptionally valuable or fragile, open transport is the most economical option and just as safe for standard cars.
- Ship in the Off-Season: Demand peaks in summer (family relocations tied to the school calendar) and in January (snowbird migration). Shipping in late fall or early spring typically yields better rates.
- Use Terminal-to-Terminal Service: Some companies allow you to drop off and pick up at regional hubs rather than requesting door-to-door service. This reduces driver time and fuel costs, which translates to a lower quote.
- Book Early: Last-minute bookings almost always cost more. Booking two to three weeks in advance gives carriers time to plan efficient routes and can reduce your final price.
- Compare at Least Five Quotes: The range between the cheapest and the most expensive quote for the same route can be $300–$500. Using a comparison platform saves time and ensures you see the realistic market range before committing.
Final Checklist Before You Ship
Before you hand over your keys to the driver, ensure everything is in order. Use this checklist to prepare your vehicle and protect yourself throughout the process:
- Wash the vehicle thoroughly so you can accurately document the exterior condition.
- Take high-resolution, date-stamped photographs of all angles, noting any existing scratches, dents, or chips.
- Remove all personal belongings, toll transponders, parking passes, and loose items from the interior.
- Leave the gas tank at approximately one-quarter (1/4) full enough to load and maneuver the car, while keeping weight to a minimum.
- Ensure the battery is fully charged and tire pressure is correct, especially for non-running vehicles being transported on a flatbed.
- Disable the vehicle’s alarm system to prevent it from activating during transport.
- Review the Bill of Lading carefully with the driver before signing. Do not sign if the condition listed does not match what you see.
- Keep a copy of the Bill of Lading until the vehicle is delivered and you have inspected it at the destination.
Making a Confident, Informed Decision
Shipping a vehicle across state lines does not need to be stressful. Once you understand how pricing works, what the different transport methods involve, and how to screen carriers effectively, the process becomes straightforward. The key steps are consistent: gather accurate vehicle information, collect multiple quotes from vetted providers, verify credentials through the FMCSA, and document your vehicle’s condition thoroughly before and after transport.
Whether you are moving across two states or coast to coast, taking the time to compare your options will save you money, protect your assets, and give you peace of mind throughout the journey.
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
