As a yooper I can say that the shipper wanted to go through the UP because it is so damn pretty.

It took us 12 hours to trailer from Houghton (u.p.) to the place we are living downstate (near Detroit), more then half that time was spent in the u.p., although when you are pulling a trailer the roads up there don't slow you down much since they are all 55 mph, when you get over the bridge you feel like you are going soooo slow.

Anyway that really sucks! I feel sorry for your friend and I am glad that the shipper is being so understanding, it would make a crappy situation even worse if he was being a dick about it.