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In most parts of North America, semi-trucks deliver our goods. But what do you do when a semi-truck can’t make it to where you are? Boats are one option, while planes are another, and new car buyers in remote parts of Canada depend on both to get their vehicles. Even so, only one ship hauls new cars to these communities every year, and if you miss the boat, you’ve gotta hire someone like Buffalo Airways to transport it in a big cargo plane. That’s exactly what one Ford Maverick owner did, and the job was a bit more complicated than normal.
I saw a video about the move on Facebook here recently, so I reached out to the original poster, Mikey McBryan. He’s the general manager of Buffalo Airways, a family-run airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. They ship all kinds of items to the Canadian Arctic—whatever will fit in a Boeing 737-200—including cars.
The Maverick was shipped from Aurora Ford in Yellowknife to Cambridge Bay. Via Mikey McBryan / Buffalo Airways
While Buffalo Airways has moved plenty of Bronco Sports this way in the past, the Maverick presents some new challenges. “A Maverick is longer, so it does not fit on the cookie sheet (a flat metal cargo pallet),” McBryan told me. “The 737 still has overhead bins, so width could be an issue. The main thing is, will it fit without needing to take anything off? We found that the slash guards can get in the way, so they will ship without them installed.”
It’s no surprise that space is tight for cars and trucks on an aircraft like the 737. McBryan explained to me that cargo volume is actually the limiting factor in shipping multiple Mavericks at a time, not weight, as the plane’s payload capacity is 40,000 pounds. In theory, it could haul roughly 10 Mavericks—if only there were enough room. Instead, McBryan said they can only transport four of the compact pickups per trip.
When the vehicle lands at its destination, it’s moved onto what’s called a slave deck. That’s a flat, pallet-like platform with rollers to make moving simple. Once the vehicle is loaded on it, the slave deck can easily be snatched with a front-end loader sporting long forks.
Imagine if you had to hire a boat or a plane every time you bought a new car. Well, these folks don’t have to imagine it. Mikey McBryan
At risk of being rude, I asked McBryan how much a transport task like this might cost a customer. He explained to me that, on average, shipping cars runs around $10,500 USD (about $15,000 CAD). Small trucks add another $1,400 USD or so ($2,000 CAD). Individuals can hire an airline like Buffalo Airways on their own, or a dealer can arrange it and wrap the cost into the customer’s financing.
As far as what other vehicles can fit inside a Boeing 737, McBryan told me they’re attempting to ship a Ford Ranger for a customer next week. I’m intrigued to see if it’ll work, considering how tight the squeeze was for the Maverick. And the Ranger is approximately three inches wider, while spanning 10 inches longer bumper-to-bumper.
But if there’s one thing I know about the hardy northerners—which I learned strictly through television—it’s that they don’t let much stop them. Respect, guys!
Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com
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From running point on new car launch coverage to editing long-form features and reviews, Caleb does some of everything at The Drive. And he really, really loves trucks.
