You took a snowbird load to the Florida Keys, and now you have two choices: run your rig down the Overseas Highway and deadhead back, or ask the customer to drive up and meet you in Homestead. Neither is great. In-N-Out Keys LLC offers a third option. Hand the Keys unit off to us in South Florida, skip the Homestead meetup, and we’ll finish the run to the customer’s door.
The Homestead Meetup Problem
Asking Keys customers to meet the truck in Homestead or Florida City is a common workaround, and it’s easy to see why. But it moves the hard part onto the customer.
- Your customer drives the last leg: from Key West, Homestead is more than 100 miles away, and the customer has to find a ride both ways.
- Timing gets messy: you’re waiting in a parking lot while the customer fights U.S. 1 traffic to reach you.
- Bad reviews land on you: customers who booked “to Key West” remember who made them drive to the mainland.
- Brokers notice: carriers who can’t finish Keys loads get fewer of them.
The Cost of Running the Keys Yourself
The alternative isn’t much better. The Overseas Highway is one road, mostly two lanes, across dozens of bridges with few places to stage or turn around. Old Town Key West streets can be too tight for a full rig. And once you unload, there are few reloads heading north, so the trip back is often empty. That’s a day you could have spent on mainland loads.
How the Handoff Works
1. Contact dispatch
Call or email with the vehicle, the Keys address, and when you’ll be in South Florida. We’ll confirm whether we can take it.
2. Meet at a South Florida meeting point
We agree on a convenient, safe spot ahead of time, so you stay close to the highway and your next pickup. You meet us, not the customer.
3. Inspect and sign
We inspect the vehicle together and record its condition on a BOL, so it’s documented at the transfer.
4. We deliver door-to-door
We carry it the rest of the way, Key Largo to Key West, and deliver at the customer’s address. If an Old Town street is too tight for a truck, we set up a nearby spot with the customer in advance.
5. You head north
You keep your trailer, your time, and your next load, and your customer gets the door-to-door delivery they booked.
Why Partner With In-N-Out Keys
- Keys focused: we’re an interstate carrier serving the Florida Keys and the snowbird route.
- Veteran-owned: owner Steve Janowski is a U.S. Army veteran.
- Licensed and verifiable: USDOT 4120018 and MC 1583555. Look us up on FMCSA anytime.
- Simple paperwork: we use Super Dispatch for BOLs and invoices.
- Equipment options: open transport in the Keys, or enclosed to Fort Lauderdale and open for the final leg.
- Both sides of the business: we’re also a broker, so we understand what carriers and shippers each need from a handoff.
Who This Works Best For
- Carriers running snowbird loads from the Northeast or Midwest into South Florida
- Carriers with one or two Keys units on an otherwise mainland load
- Drivers who’d rather pick up a northbound reload than lose a day in the Keys
With a handoff partner, the Keys becomes a lane you can say yes to, and brokers remember carriers who say yes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to meet the customer?
No. You meet us in South Florida, and we deliver to the customer’s Keys address.
Where do handoffs happen?
At a South Florida meeting point we agree on in advance, chosen to keep you close to your route.
How are payment and responsibility handled?
Each handoff is set up before you commit. Call dispatch to agree on terms, and the vehicle’s condition is recorded on the BOL at transfer.
Can you take more than one vehicle?
Contact dispatch with the number of units and your timing, and we’ll let you know.
Skip the Homestead Meetup on Your Next Keys Load
Call In-N-Out Keys dispatch at (754) 714-2439 or email tony@in-n-out-keys.com to set up a handoff.
