hi roger, i never heard of a truck being to small for a rod. i have been sending rods out for years now, the cost has gone up so much. i have been told that when a rod gets to a ups center they got to walk the rod all the way down to the shipping dept. they no longer put them on the lines,like they do to boxes , so it just takes more time. still $25.00-$30.00 to ship a rod still s---s, and like you said another $18.00 or so to the rod company. but that's what we got to put up with. well glad you got the new rod, have a great year with it. bob beans