Auto Transportation

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Shopping for the right auto transport company is intimidating for most people. It’s not a service that people use very often so it is difficult to know what features to look for. Although there are a number of decisions to make, let’s focus on the types of trucks and trailers that could be used.

Truck Types

Auto transport is carried out by one of two types of trucks: tractor trailers or hotshots. A hotshot is a small truck similar to a pickup.

Because hotshots are small they transport only one vehicle at a time. This means they are available faster because the shipper doesn’t have to find other customers to fill the empty slots. On the other hand, that means all costs of operation are shouldered by the one vehicle being transported so they are more expensive. Their small size means residential street navigation is easy and they deliver your car right to your door.

Tractor trailers transport anywhere from three to twelve vehicles at a time depending on the size of the attached trailer. The more cars, the cheaper the transport fee because costs of operation are spread among several customers. To be economical, the trucks need to run as near to capacity as possible. That means the auto transport company needs a significant lead time between a customer’s call and the shipping date so that they can find several vehicles headed in the same direction.

Another downside to tractor trailers is that they may not be able to travel in some residential areas because of the tight streets. You may need to meet the vehicle at a nearby parking lot to pick up your car rather than having it delivered to your door.

Trailer Types

The first decision about trailers is single-vehicle vs. multiple-vehicle. This decision isn’t made by the customer but rather dictated by the truck. Hotshots have single trailers; semis have multiple.

There can be cases where a semi transports a single vehicle, such as a vehicle won’t fit on a typical trailer due to size, modifications, or other characteristics. In this case it has to be shipped on a flatbed along with whatever other cargo the driver picks up. This is one of the more expensive ways to ship but may be necessary depending in your vehicle.

When shipping on a multiple vehicle trailer, there is a lot of debate about whether it is better to request a position on the upper deck or the lower deck. Cars on the upper deck are more exposed to the environment while the lower deck may get oil or other fluids dripping from above. In the end, it seems to be about the same.

Another option is a closed trailer. Most car shipping is done in open trailers, leaving the vehicle exposed to the elements. This is fine for most cars but if you have an expensive or collectable vehicle, it might be worth the extra expense of a covered trailer.

There are plenty of people that relocate each day. These people hail from various different countries all over the world. While some moves are only a short distance, others are from one side of the globe to the other. No matter what the case, saving money is always a goal for those who are moving. Auto transport is one moving option that is making this happen.

Old Methods

Before the introduction of auto transport to the moving industry, people had to drive their vehicles to their new home, have them shipped via freight, or sell them and buy a new one in their destination. For most people, none of these options seemed to fit the needs at hand. Freight was expensive, but for those moving overseas it was often the only choice. As fuel prices rose, driving a car, or multiple cars, over a long distance became quite the costly venture, but selling the vehicles didn’t seem like a great idea either. This is why a better method came to light.

Auto Transport Steps Up

A few talented individuals noted the need for this method and stepped up to provide it. Auto transport began as a niche market that few people knew about, but it grew fast. Today, thousands of companies offer this service each day to consumers that need it. Families who are moving often find that it is much cheaper to ship their cars than drive them, especially with modern financial conditions. Moving tends to be a costly event, but having the ability to save on fuel, wear, and human needs throughout the trip came as the light at the end of the tunnel for many.

Getting a Good Company

As mentioned before, there are literally thousands of companies, ranging from small to large, that offer a car shipping service. There are a few steps that can help a person weed out the good companies from the substandard, in order to find the best company to fit your needs. One of the first things that a person should do is talk to others who have used such a service. Often times, the Better Business Bureau is able to provide you with good feedback about a company.

Next, a person should always check out license numbers to make sure that the company is legit. While many small and personally owned companies often provide great service, they should still be legal in the state where they operate. This will prevent any trouble from rising later on in the process. Making sure that insurance coverage is in place will also protect a consumer from damage that may occur in transit. You can reduce your stress and maximize your monetary savings from auto transport by taking these additional steps, even though they may seem like more to do.