Archive for January, 2010

Auto Shipping: Save the Environment First, Money Second

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Though, actually, contributing to the reduction of the industries which contribute to global environmental collapse in many cases means less expense on the services these industries provide. It is one thing to be a Hi-Tech theoretician and be excited about the possibilities of emerging technologies like super crystals or nano-microchips. It is another thing entirely to be an insatiable consumer who understands next to nothing about the technologies, but who eagerly acquires all and any of them, as long as they are the latest word in fashionable hardware. All those people who buy the latest generations of cell phones so that they can listen to music without ear phones while walking in a noisy street or riding a noisy bus are about as interested in technology as they are interested in music.

The case is the same with car users. With many cars are a luxury item; with others they are a critical status item. As many as a quarter of car owners worldwide do not own vehicles out of necessity, but as a way to conform. To won a car is not even always convenient or sensible, yet people will own cars, work double jobs and double shifts just to buy a second-hand Suzuki Esteem which they can then take out to the club around the corner.

By derivation, the same is true for related services. Promising industries like the Auto Shipping industry begin by offering real enough benefits. They work to perfect themselves, their services, and, inevitably, their marketing campaigns, and soon become not simply the sensible service to take advantage of, but a status symbol. When the symbol is generalized enough, not only the major names in the field, but even the smallest and least successful companies benefit from indiscriminate consumerism.

Despite certain measures to reduce the effect of heavy goods vehicles on the environment, heavy carriers increase in number as shipping industries grow in potential and popularity. Technologies are being invented to improve auto shipping, but the technology has not yet been invented which could undo the damage a single ro-ro ferry does to the sea and air in the course of a single job.

It may seem that environmental problems are not as yet apparent enough in the world for individual consumers to worry about. But the opposite is true. Heedless consumerism distracts from actual events only slightly outside the field of auto shipping by sea and land. Invasive species introduced by large cargo ships are estimated to cost the U.S. dozens of billions of dollars per year. Ballast water spreads bacteria, cholera of various strains, toxic algae, and voracious pests like the the Zebra Mussel. A single load of ballast water from a freight carrier can spread within a matter of years enough pests to destroy fishery, agriculture, tourism and recreational industries.

That the future of the auto shipping industry seems bright, one must realize, is not merely because the business takes its natural course, but because its marketing is successful. Before we know it, governments may impose technical and performance restrictions and charges for use on roads, vehicle types, and mass services precisely because business, right now, seems good.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Car Shipping, Cars, Environmental, International | No Comments »

Preserving the Environment: More Important than Excessive Profits

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

It is most unfortunate that reducing the pollutants that industries spew into the environment leads to increased cost of the products and services they provide. Techies tend to get excited about the possibilities of upcoming technologies such as super-crystals or nano-microchips.  These things are innovative and bring out the curiosity of the technologically inclined.  The other side of this, though, is the trendy consumer who must acquire everything new and shiny because “everybody who is anybody” has one.  There are a lot of folks walking around with the latest in wireless cell phones listening to music without earbuds who don’t give a whit about either the technology involved or even the music.  They are fashionable.

Car owners tend to follow the same pattern.  To many of them, a car is a luxury item, while to others it a symbol of status, an achievement to display.  There are approximately 25% of car owners worldwide who own their vehicle not out of necessity, but because “everybody has one.”  Some own cars even though it is not sensible or convenient to do so.  Yet these same people will do anything, even work multiple jobs so they can show that they own a car, whether used or new, or Kia Rio or Mercedes XL.  Why?  So they can drive around the corner (instead of walk) to the hottest club.

This phenomenon can also be applied to auto related services, like auto shipping.  This is an industry that began by satisfying a genuine need.  They are constantly working to enhance their services, and with this, their marketing strategies.  They soon became much more than a sensible service providing industry, and are now something of a status symbol.  When this symbol becomes standardized sufficiently, not just the major names in the industry, but even the small fry benefit from rampant consumerism.

There are measures in place to reduce the effect of heavy cargo carriers on the environment.  But these measures are fighting against a rapidly increasing shipping industry, with continued growth in both potential and popularity.  Innovative technologies are constantly emerging in the industry but there is no technology as yet to reverse the damage to the sea and the air caused by just one ro-ro ferry in finishing up just one job.

You might think that an individual need not worry about global environmental matters.  But the truth is to the contrary.  Unchecked consumerism detracts from the side effects on the periphery of auto shipping by sea and air.  Little thought is given to invasive species introduced by these mega-carriers that cost the United States alone many billions of dollars annually.  Cholera and its many strains, bacteria, toxic algae, and hungry and destructive pests like Zebra Mussels are spread by ballast water.  One load of this water from a cargo ship can circulate in a few years a sufficient number of vermin as to be fatal for fisheries, agriculture, tourism and recreational industries.

Successful marketing is just as much responsible for the bright future of the shipping industry as the need for its services.  Because business is currently good for the industry,  governments are sure to impose technical and performance restrictions, surcharges for roads, vehicle models, and related services.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Auto Transport: Put Money Second, Save the Environment First

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Reducing the number of industries contributing to the collapse of our planet’s environment actually lowers the cost on the services these companies provide in many cases.  Some technologically minded theorists quiver with excitement over new technologies like super-crystals and nano-microchips.  Others are simply insatiable consumers with no concept of how things work as long as they can own the latest gadgets the new technologies provide.  These fashionistas will grab the latest generation of wireless cell phones so they can listen to music without earbuds while displaying themselves on crowded, noisy thoroughfares.  They could care less about the technology or even the music for that matter.  They are the trendy ones.

Some car owners fit this description as well.  To some, a car is a necessity of life, to others it is a status symbol.  There may be 25% of car owners around the world who do not own a car because they must, but because all their acquaintances do.  In some locales it is inconvenient and nonsensical to own a car, but they must have one, even if it means working multiple jobs.  They will do this so they can afford any model or year of car from the Kia Rio to the Lamborghini so they can show it off while driving around the corner to the hottest spot in town – to be seen.

Some of this rubs off on related services.  Burgeoning industries like auto shipping originated out of a real need for the services.  They strive to excel in their industry through expanded services and marketing campaigns to soon become not just a service provider but a status symbol.  When the symbol becomes generally recognizable, not only the major players, but the minor league as well benefit from unchecked consumerism.

There have been steps taken to reduce the ill effects these mammoth carriers have on the environment, but their number is increasing as shipping grows in both potential and popularity.  Innovative technologies are being created to improve auto shipping, but there is no current technology that can turn back the damage done to the sea and air by one lone ro-ro ferry performing only one job.

To the individual, the environmental damages to the environment are not apparent or significant enough to be of concern.  Quite the contrary.  Rampant consumerism detracts from the reality of pollution of the air and the sea  lurking in the periphery of the heavy cargo shipping industry.  Large cargo ships introduce invasive species into the environment  that cost just the United States alone many billions of dollars annually. Bacteria, many strains of cholera, toxic algae, and destructive pests like the Zebra Mussel are disseminated throughout the environment by  ballast water.  One load of this water dumped by a freight carrier can spread in a matter of years enough vermin to bring the end to fisheries, agriculture, tourism and recreational industries.

The future of the auto shipping industry is not dimming.  The business is undergoing a natural growth, but the growth is also because of the successful marketing campaigns.  It is fairly certain that soon governments will impose technical and performance restrictions and fees for road use, vehicle types, and hundreds of services exactly because, at present, business is good.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Auto Transport, Automotive, Environmental | No Comments »

Problems and Perspectives in Shipping with Closed Containers

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

For most people, the only consideration of getting their car from here to there is to drive it.  But now there is another option, that of shipping your vehicle by using a recently developing industry, that of auto shippers.  There are many burgeoning reliable companies available now who will ship you car long distances, domestically or internationally.  Shipping your auto has become easier, cheaper, more widespread and more secure

If you have just bought a car overseas, won a car lottery or are relocating far, far away, you do not have to give up that prized possession just because you can’t drive it to its destination.  You will no longer have to suffer the expense and monotony of driving your car to its final home, even if that is, in fact possible.  You will not have to subject yourself and your car to possible damage, wear, tear and stress, or vandalism and theft.  You will not have to learn a foreign language.  What you will do is call a shipping company.

In early August of 2007, the French company CMA COM, S.A. ventured into the container shipping business.  CMA COM, S.A. is the third largest shipping company in the world.  They stated that at least four light vehicles, no matter what make or model, could be loaded into each of their containers.  They declared that cutting edge technology was responsible for their entry into the container shipping industry.  This technology enabled door-to-door shipping – from factory conveyor to the destination distribution center – with absolute safety.

Even with the increasing popularity of this method of transportation, the jury is still out on the future of the industry.  This is due to the highly complex nature inherent in each shipment, risks involved and the burden of responsibility.  This means that only the largest transportation companies that have the resources in technology and the funds available to solve any problems that may occur, will be able to survive in the business especially where large-scale projects are involved.

The shipping company must be an experienced, qualified specialist to be entrusted with handling a cargo of expensive vehicles where even the slightest damage to them may lead to a financial nightmare for the company.  An operator with a regular shipment schedule will need to hire a crew of permanent workers that have shown themselves to be skillful and gentle when dealing with the precious cargo.  Such workers don’t come cheap.

The future of the container shipping business will be decided by their ability to fully develop a national and international enterprise.  Generally, international shipments are the ones requiring containers for the long-distance, large-scale operations.  Should a country have roads in good condition throughout and a good number of car manufacturers, the more effective, quicker and cheaper open carrier mode can be standardized.  Pretty much all countries are working on the condition and safety of their roads, but the improvements will take several years if not decades to complete, putting the popularity of this method way into the future before it is deemed safe enough for auto transport on any scale.

A business must be quite large to be able to take advantage of the cheapest options.  There is much riding on whether car manufacturers can, in the future, transport their vehicles across borders directly to large metropolitan cities and commercial/industrial complexes

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Perspectives and Problems in the Closed Container Shipping Industry – What Lies Ahead?

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Auto shipping is a newcomer in the business world and is still in the process of development.  The first thing most people who own a car think of when they need to relocate is to drive their car  toits new destination, no matter how far.  But now, they need to rethink – the auto shipping companies are making the transportation of private vehicles safer, more widely available and cheaper for the customer while more profitable for them.

Before the advent of the auto shippers, if you had won a car in a lottery, bought that new baby overseas or merely needed to move it far, far away to your relocation city, you would have to drive it yourself with all the monotony, perils and expense that that entails.  You no longer need to deal with this situation.  You do not have to learn a foreign language, put up with road conditions, vandals and inclement weather any longer, for now you have the option of calling a shipping company.

The French company CMA COM, S.A. declared to the world in early August of 2007 that they had ventured into container shipping, not a bad thing since they are the third largest shipping company in the world.  In their announcement they made clear that at least four light vehicles could be loaded into each of their containers.  This was made possible by the latest technological advancements which became a breakthrough for the industry.  For the first time, shipping could be handled from the factory to the distribution center with complete safety.

Although the popularity of this method is increasing, the future of container shipping is still undetermined.  The industry demands shipments of great complexity, risk and above all, responsibility.  The makes large scale projects impossible to carry out successfully except for those large transportation companies able to obtain sufficient capital and technology to cover any problematic situation that may emerge.

Labor is costly in the industry.  Each vehicle is expensive and any damage to it, no how matter small could become a very costly matter for the company.  A shipper who regularly moves its cargo of automobiles on schedule must hire and probably train a full-time, permanent crew of skillful workers who understand the need for tender loving care of the cargo under their care.

Without the development of global as well as domestic business, the future for auto transport is limited.  Long distance, large scale movement between countries is what container shipping is all about.  Should a country be blessed with a network of roads in good condition, they can transport autos the quick, easy and economical way, by open carrier trucks.  This method also requires in order to thrive,  a large number of car manufacturing companies.  If you travel at all, you will have noticed that most countries are hard at work improving their roads, but this can take years and even decades to become a reasonable and safe method of popular transportation.

It takes a large enterprise to be able to avail itself of the cheapest possible options.  The future of the business relies heavily on the large car manufacturers and if they have the mass production of vehicles necessary to require them to transport across borders into the major cities and industrial complexes of the world.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Closed Container Shipping: Perspectives and Problems

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Auto shipping is a fairly recent still developing national and international industry. Not many car owners are aware of the possibility to ship their cars over vast distances by employing a dependable specialist company. Even now the business is being perfected and auto shipping becomes easier, safer, more widespread, more plausible, and more profitable.

Have you just won your dream car in an auto lottery; bought a car overseas; are you moving to another city? Before the dawn of the auto shipping industry you would have to either give up your dream, give up your car, or drive it (the car, that is, to pursue the dream) all the way yourself, suffering long monotonous (the word itself tediously rides on the wheels of 4 dull o’s) hours at wheel, expenses (expected and unexpected), damage (hopefully, mostly to the car) by criminal and natural elements, and, after you have mastered a few foreign-language audio-courses and listened to the entire King James Bible, some bad luck while passing through one of those sleepy American towns which are not what they seem. Now you can spare yourself all this trouble by calling a shipping company.

In the beginning of August 2007, CMA CGM S.A., the French and third largest shipping company in the world, announced the beginning of container shipping. The statement specified that each container could be loaded with at least 4 light vehicles of any make and that the new technology was a breakthrough in the transportation industry. It made possible “door-to-door” shipping – from the production conveyor to the distribution center – which guarantees complete safety.

Yet, while statistics testify to the increasing popularity of the method, the perspectives of container auto shipping are still not quite clear. The auto shipping industry is distinguished by the high complexity of each shipment, increased risks, and great responsibility. For this reason, large-scale projects are undertaken by large transportation organizations which command sufficient technical and monetary resources to adequately solve any problems which may arise.

Considering the high costs of each vehicle and the fact that even slight damage may incur significant expenses, only qualified specialists can be trusted with the security of the cargo. An operator regularly shipping cars should have a regular team of workers: regular workers are costlier, but show more care when handling expensive cargo.

The future of container shipping depends on the development of national and international business. Containers are mostly required for large-distance, large-scale operations, most often in trading between countries. If a country has good safe roads – and not all large countries do – and a sufficiently large network of car factories (foreign or domestic) than the quicker, easier, and less expensive open-carrier method may be standardized. Countries work to improve conditions (road quality and road crime), but these improvements may take several decades before the easier method may be popularly regard as safe enough.

The more widespread and efficient the means of any business become the more the tendency to adopt the cheapest of the effective options. A lot depends on whether large car manufacturers will be able to transport products straight across borders and into major cities and industrial centers.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Car Shippers Can Transport The Car For You

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

There are many logistics to be worked out for a cross country move. One of those is how are you going to get your cars to the new home. One of the easiest ways to move a car is to use car shippers.

This will prevent dividing up the family to move across country. Moves are stressful enough without worrying about a car caravan. Even with a tow trailer or dolly, you can only move one car with you.

Some families give up trying to move two vehicles and sell one to replace it when they get to the new home. The problem with this approach is that in addition to moving expenses, you must come up with money for a second vehicle. Instead of selling and re-buying cars, why not have the vehicle shipped to your new home.

Persons with antique or specialty vehicles, driving the vehicle is unthinkable. Shipping may be the only option to get your collector car to its new home.

Shipping costs for vehicles are very reasonable. It may only be a few hundred dollars more than the cost of gas to drive the vehicle to the new destination. The car arrives in great shape and you have not added all of the extra miles.

Your vehicle is loaded onto a trailer which is in tern pulled across the country by a semi trailer. You will not be adding any extra miles to the vehicle that will make a difference in your lease contract. It is safely delivered to your new location so you are able to start driving it once again.

Shippers try to fill trailers with vehicles to save you money in the transportation costs. The transportation may take two to three weeks unless you pay for the available expedited service that gets your car to you in a shorter time.

Vehicles can also be shipped in enclosed trailers to avoid more of the possible dangers or the roads like flying gravel chips. You will have to pay extra for this service, but may find that the extra cost is another layer of insurance for that collectors car.

Some shipping companies offer door to door service. Your vehicle is picked up form your old drive way and delivered to the new drive way. If the car arrives before you do, then there is secure storage available for the vehicle.

If your move is too long to drive, then ship all the vehicles and save the long drive by flying. Ship one vehicle to be at the new home to be there for your arrival and keep the second one until moving day. This allows you to have a car at both ends of the move and gets both vehicles to you. It saves the long drive for everyone. You arrive at the new home ready to unpack and get life back in order. Your car arrives in top shape and has not had all the extra miles of wear and tare from a long trip.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Car Shipping, Car Transport, Cars, car carrier | No Comments »

Car Shippers Can Move The Vehicle For You

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Anytime you are moving a long distance, getting all of your vehicles to the new place can be a problem. While, if you only have one vehicle, it may not be that big of a deal, families that have multiple vehicles face more problems. Car shippers can help to solve those problems.

A caravan of vehicles with the family spread across the country is just not all that fun. The drive can be long and tiring. While it may be possible to tow one vehicle behind a self moving van, what do you do with the other one?

Some people end up selling one of their vehicles and replacing it when they get to the new home. Buying a new car is not always an option and who knows what you you will get in a used car. It is a shame to sell a perfectly good vehicle and hope to get something close as a replacement one at the new place.

If that second or third vehicle is a restoration or antique vehicle, there may be no replacement available and you certainly cannot replace the car when you get to the new place. Driving the car is also not feasible.

Shipping costs for vehicles are very reasonable. The cost may not be that much more than you would pay for gasoline to drive your car that distance. The vehicle will arrive safely and in the same shape as when it was loaded onto the truck.

Your vehicle will be shipped on a trailer loaded with several other vehicles that are headed to a similar destination. This will save adding all of those miles to your vehicle. Once it is safely delivered, you can resume driving the vehicle.

Since several cars will be on the trailer, normal shipping can take two to three weeks. Some shippers offer an upgrade that allows you to get your vehicle to the new destination quicker if needed.

Some car shippers have both open and enclosed trailers. The enclosed trailers are especially useful for specialty cars. There is normally an additional fee for this service.

Some of the shippers will pick up you vehicle and deliver it to the driveway of the new home. If you are delayed in getting to the new home, secure storage is also available for your car until you are ready for it to be delivered to the new home.

If you are making an extremely long move and will be using professional movers, why not ship both vehicles. Send one vehicle ahead a couple of weeks in advance so that it will be waiting when you get to your new destination. Keep the other with you for transportation needs as you get ready for the move. Have the shippers pick up the second car and ship it to the new residence while you fly. You will not be without a vehicle on either end. You are not worn out from the long drive when you arrive at your new home.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Car Shippers Can Move The Car For You

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

If you have ever made a move across country, you know how long and boring the trip can be if you have more than one vehicle that needs to make the move. Car shippers can help with the move.

If you drive one vehicle and a spouse drives the other, then caravanning across the country can be a long drive. If you move yourself, one vehicle can be towed behind the moving van, but what do you do with the other vehicle.

One option is to sell one of the vehicles and buy another one when you get to the new place, but that may mean that you will be buying a used car and who knows what problems will come with that. Additionally, you like the car you have now and trust it to get you where you are going. Instead of selling that car and re-buying, have your car shipped.

If you have a specialty or antique vehicle, driving that vehicle across country may not be an option. The trip might take days and the vehicle would not offer the comfort that we have come to expect on these large cross country trips.

The cost of shipping a vehicle is very reasonable. In fact, it will cost little more than you would spend on gas to drive most vehicles the same distance. Your vehicle will arrive safely and in the same shape as when it was loaded onto the trailer.

Car shippers load your vehicle onto a trailer that will be pulled by a semi tractor. Since the vehicle is moved on the trailer, you will not be putting those hard highway miles on the vehicle. It will be safely driven to your new location and you will be able to pick it up when you get there.

While many shippers work to fill a trailer before a move and it may take two to three weeks to get your car from one point to another, some also offer an upgraded service that will allow you to get your car shipped in less time.

If you have a vehicle that you want transported in an enclosed trailer, many of the car shippers also offer this service at an additional fee.

Many of the services offer door to door service. They pick up the car at your old home, transport it and deliver to the new home. If there is a delay in your getting to the new home, they offer storage of the vehicle until you are able to make it to the new home.

If you have a long move and will be having professional movers move your household goods, why not fly to the new location and have all of your vehicles shipped. Have one vehicle picked up early and another the day of the move. Then you will have a vehicle to use on both ends of your trip. This saves the long and tiring trip for the entire family. You can arrive at your new home fresh and ready to get the household set up so that you will be able to start your new home.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Auto Brokers, Auto Carriers, Car Transport, Cars | No Comments »

Save Money with an Auto Shipping Professional

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Hardly anyone can get away without owning a car these days.  It may be convenient in a major metropolis to walk to most places, however you still can’t walk everywhere your business takes you.  Public transportation can be just as iffy, either it is basically nonexistent or it doesn’t go where you want to go.  Thus, most families own at least two automobiles.

If you and your family are moving to a town far away from where you now live, you are probably thinking of driving your cars yourself to the new home.  It seems like the obvious thing to do.  You should probably think again.  Auto shipping companies are professionals who are capable of moving several vehicles at once over long distances, saving you the trouble, stress, and cost of driving one or two vehicles across long stretches of road.  The auto shipper is expert in transporting any type of vehicle safely over long distances and offers you a choice of many services to best suit your needs and pocketbook.

If you are not naturally a planner, this is the time you need to change that.  You need to make careful preparations based on your circumstances.  Figure the cost of driving those vehicles yourself including fuel, wear and tear on the car and you (and quite possibly other drivers in other vehicles) and the cost of food and lodging on the road, especially over long distances.  Compare this total with an estimate from a reliable auto shipper and you will undoubtedly hire the carrier.

The cost to you to hire a shipper depends on several factors.  Chiefly the cost is made up of the distance to be travelled and the dimensions and weight of the car(s) being transported.  For really long distance shipment, the professional carrier is usually the smartest and most economical method to choose.

The standard transport company will offer some basic service plans.  Cheapest of these is the “economy guide” which will load your vehicle(s) only if there is enough space on the carrier to do so, with first come first served being the rule.  If you want your car to be among the first to be loaded on the truck, you will pay for that convenience.  The higher the priority you demand, the more it will cost you.  This method is good only for the most financially challenged or those to whom delivery date is not an issue.

Next to “economy guide” in price is shipment by open carrier, which leaves the car open to inclement weather conditions, road conditions, flying debris, and possible damage by other vehicles on the carrier.  A safer choice and more expensive one is the closed carrier which avoids the aforementioned hazards.  There is also “Full Service” available with both open and closed shipment that guarantees door-to-door service of pick up and delivery on specific dates.  You can minimize costs somewhat by reducing the weight of the vehicle.  Remove any objects that can be removed from the car, do not load any personal belongings and make sure the tank is as low as is reasonable –these are some ways to lower the car’s weight and thereby the price.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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