Archive for the ‘Enclosed Auto Shipping’ Category

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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Special Car for Shipping Classic and Custom Cars

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

After quite a bit of work and a lot of heard earned cash, you finally have your classic ride tricked out and ready for the road.  Whether it’s a classic Bentley or a vintage Silver Shadow, you want to make sure that it is looked after.  Unfortunately you have to have your new toy shipped and aren’t sure exactly how to get started.  You probably don’t want to put hundreds, or even thousands, of miles on your classic hot rod so getting it shipped is probably the only realistic option.

Fortunately for you there are plenty of auto shipping companies ready and waiting to pick up you gem and ship it off to wherever it needs to go.  Your car that you love so much will be guaranteed to show up at its new home in one piece and as beautiful as the day it left your driveway.

The first thing that you should do is find the carrier that you plan to use.  Make sure that you seek out a carrier that has real experience.  Most of us have never been in a situation where we need to ship our car so it is often difficult to know who the best auto carriers are.  If you find yourself in this situation, hiring a good auto shipping broker may be the best option for you.

Like anything else, it’s best to shop around to find the best deal.  You also need to make sure that you fully understand all of the terms and conditions that the carrier works under.  Make sure that they understand that your automobile is not just a run of the mill car off of the lot.  It’s important that the shipping company knows that your car is a custom one of a kind car and that they can cover it under their insurance.

If you choose to go with an open carrier to ship your car, make sure that you are guaranteed a top spot on the truck.  Cars on the bottom are more susceptible to the top cars dripping fluid on them, rocks, vandals, and other hazards.  The down side is that the top cars will be more exposed to harsh weather such as hale.

Ideally you want to probably go with a closed carrier.  This means that your car will be in an enclosed trailer from start to finish and will not be exposed to the outside world in any way.  This will cost more money.  Its up to you how much you want to spend depending how comfortable you are with your car shipping in an open carrier.

Once you decide on your choice of trailer options you should begin to remove any external customizations that are not bolted down.  This will help the auto shipping company move your vehicle from place to place without the extra worry of breaking or losing any aftermarket products.

You should also make sure that your fuel tank is not topped off.  You want to have enough fuel to get the car on and off the carrier, but much more than that is unnecessary.  Its best to cut any excess weight and extra gas is just that.

Before you finally hand the keys over to the auto shippers, make sure to note any damage that already exists to the car and get everything in writing.  Accidents can happen and it is always best to make sure that you’re covered if such a thing were to occur.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Classic Cars, Enclosed Auto Shipping, Enclosed Car Carriers, Open Auto Shipping, Open Car Carriers | No Comments »

Shipping Your Classic Car Safely and with Class

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

At great expense you have finally customized that Classic Bentley and have taken it gingerly on the road to show it off to all the world.  Or perhaps it’s that vintage Silver Shadow.  But now you have to ship that precious and unique classic auto, and you have no idea how to go about it.  You certainly don’t want to drive that rolling money pit thousands of miles away yourself, and teleporting isn’t here yet.

Though not supernatural, auto shipping companies are there to perform just the service you need, and they will do so in a safe and reliable manner.  Your gorgeous investment in love and money is guaranteed to arrive at its new home in one piece and as lovely as the day you took it to the carrier.

You want to find a carrier with experience.  It is not likely that you have been in this situation before, so you and even your acquaintances won’t immediately know of any reliable shipping companies.  You need to either go online or locate a professional broker.  Most companies will have a website, whether old and established or new and vigorous.

Just like buying any other service, you need to shop around.  Make sure you understand their terms and all the services they provide.  Make sure they understand the quality and type of car you are asking them to ship for you.  You want a company with experience in shipping expensive one-of-kind vehicles.  Pore over the carriers insurance coverage and policies so you are confident your baby will be thoroughly protected.

If you opt for an open carrier, make sure they understand your car must be on the top tier, to keep it safer from possible vandalism or theft.  On the down side, the upper deck is more prone to exposure to harsh weather, vermin, and any road debris that may be flying high along open roads.

Ideally, you will choose a carrier with a closed trailer and one who is able to ship it immediately to its destination with no layovers in either their garage or some other company’s.  This may cost  you because you are asking that the carrier leave immediately without waiting for its usual minimal load before it takes off.  If you don’t do this however, the company will take your car to a storage lot to await more traveling companions, thus increasing the odds of theft and bodily harm.

You will of course not add to the shipment any of your personal belongs for transport.  It is a good idea to remove all customizations that can be taken off the vehicle and those that cannot should be thoroughly documented.

The fuel tank should only be holding the minimum to get it to the carrier and then off the carrier to its journey’s end.  You don’t want any excess weight.  That will up the price.  Before you and your car part company,  go over it with a fine tooth comb and note in writing even the smallest of dings, if any.  And of course, after washing the beauty, on a clear day, take pictures from all angles with a digital camera and date them.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Classic Shipping for Classic Cars

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

You’ve bought a Blower Bentley and lovingly customized it a la California Kid: it is a customized vintage sports car and you are weaving in and out of traffic like a comet between common stars. Or you have already acquired the unique recent Marussia. The point is, nobody has a car like yours and now you have to ship it and you are not sure how to. You are reluctant to drive that mint-new beauty all those miles and it seems that for a magical car like yours only magic would do to teleport it to the destination.

But though they have been somewhat neglected by mystically inclined authors from Kafka to King and it is difficult to imagine anything sinisterly supernatural about them, auto shipping companies provide precisely the service you need, guaranteeing that your monetary and emotional investment will not be lost or so much as scratched.

Locate an experienced carrier. The average person does not require shipping services that often and it is unlikely that you are familiar with a reliable company by word of mouth. The best way to find what you need is either through a professional broker or through the internet. Numerous companies have websites nowadays, but that includes the old and established shippers who keep up with the world and who would be just right for you.

Compare a number of companies to make sure their terms make sense and that the companies have experience shipping your type of car. Contact them to carefully review their insurance policies and make sure that you precious property is fully covered.

Choosing an open trailer, insist and make sure that the vehicle is loaded onto the upper deck, where it is more difficult to reach and is thus safer from theft and vandalism. However, on the upper deck of the open carrier your car will still be exposed, especially so to inclement weather, birds, bugs, and any detritus that may be carried by gusty winds along stretches of interstate roads.

It is far better to book your car for a closed carrier and have it shipped immediately to the destination. In some cases this may only be possibly if you pay for the truck to leave at once without waiting for its standard minimal load. Otherwise, the company will take the car to a storage facility for an indefinite amount of time, which additional manipulation and waiting time at a general garage increases the risk of theft or damage.

Leave no personal belongings in the car and remove any easily removable “upgrades,” lest they be stolen or broken. Clearly document any removable upgrades which you may chose to leave.

Unnecessary fuel is a hazard: leave only enough fuel to get the car to the carrier and off it at destination. Before handing the car over to the company, inspect it and document the smallest prior damage, if such exists. I am sure the owner of a Bentley or a Marussia need not be reminded, but just in case, make sure you wash the car before you take dated digital pictures of it in clear daylight light from all sides and angles, so that no significant nuance or scratch remain undocumented.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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The A-Z of Shipping Your Car

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Very recently surprised was the super-car world when Russia launched a new brand of super sports cars that were unique. Marrusia (a popular pet female given Russian name and a play on the English word “Russia”, to make sure everyone knows where the beauty is coming from) was manufactured in, limited numbers and released in two models, the B1 and B2.

Getting your Marussia from Moscow to Minneapolis in one virgin piece is something you want to make sure of. When considering the basic things are which type of trucks to use, how to choose an auto shipping company, which service to order, and insurance.

You don’t want that baby battered by hail, handled roughly, or brutally exploited while you’re not around; that is a collector’s item that requires careful auto shipping.

Don’t just settle for the first company you come by. Well known companies with trusted names you heard or read about are perhaps best regardless of cost. Often there are many companies posing as experts just looking to swindle you out of your money on their way to bankruptcy. There are plenty of reasonable and decent services out there so don’t let paranoia take over. With some research and by asking around you can see which companies get the most recommendations and references.

Open and closed carriers are you choices when it comes to trucks. Hauling vehicles within or between cities open carriers can often be seen, they are often used and numerous. The cost is more with closed carrier shipping but the brand of car and the distance it is to travel need to be taken into consideration. Using a closed carrier is better for an exotic car; it prevents exposure to harmful elements and hides your car from prying eyes.

Next you need to decide if you prefer to drop off the vehicle at a company terminal or you want the truck to pick it up from your place. From the terminal it may take the car much longer to be shipped and when it reaches its destination terminal it must be picked up by the owner, it’s a slower and more aggravating service. Having the car picked up from your garage is better. The mileage and any pre-existing damage can be checked by you and the driver, this way when the car is delivered to your destination any damage not on the signed list will be the responsibility of the company. Door to door shipping is provided by most companies.

Cargo insurance if offered by the companies for each vehicle they transport. While it is handled by the company any damage done to the vehicle will be compensated. Liability insurance of a minimum $800,000 is usually arranged for, by the trucking companies, so damage to a large number of handled cars is taken care of.

Endangering the property of their clients is not found profitable by good lasting companies so they make sure you are insured. If an organization is the least bit reluctant to offer adequate insurance or they fail to mention it, beware.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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The A to Z of Auto Shipping

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

When Russia recently launched a unique new brand of sports cars the super-car world was surprised. A popular pet female given Russian name and a play on the English word “Russia”, Marussia was coyly christened. It was manufactured in limited numbers and released in two models, B1 and B2.

It requires careful auto shipping as it is now a collector’s item: being battered by hail, handled roughly, or brutally exploited is something you do not want for this baby while you’re not present.

So how do you get your Marussia, in one virgin piece, from Moscow to Minneapolis? When choosing an auto shipping company; which truck type to use, which service to order, and insurance are the basic things to consider.

When it comes to companies, don’t just settle for the first one you come by. Preferring well known, perhaps costly, companies is the best way, names you have read about that are trusted. Obscure businesses, often on their way to bankruptcy, exist in multitudes. They are looking to swindle you out of as much money as they can before they close while posing as experts. Do not become paranoid, there are reasonable and decent companies out there. See which companies get the most references and recommendations by asking around, do some research.

You have the general choice of open and closed carriers when it comes to trucks. Open carriers are numerous and often used, they can be seen hauling vehicles within or between cites. The costlier approach is closed carriers, but the distance your car is to travel and the brand of the car needs to be taken into consideration. It is better, perhaps, to transport an exotic car in a closed carrier which prevents exposure to harmful elements as well as prying eyes.

If you want your car picked up by the truck from your place or whether you prefer to drop it off at a company terminal is the next thing to consider. It may take longer for your car to be shipped from the terminal and it must be picked up by the owner when it reaches its destination terminal, this service is slower and fussier. Having the car picked up from your garage is better, this way before committing the vehicle to the company you and the driver can check the mileage and any already present damage. Any damage unspecified in the signed list when the car is delivered to the destination will be the company’s responsibility. Door to door shipping is provided by most companies.

For each vehicle transport, cargo insurance is offered by the companies. While the car is being handled by the company any damage will be compensated. A minimum of $800,000 for liability insurance is usually arranged for by trucking companies, this takes care of a large number of handled cargo.

Lasting companies that are good make sure you are insured and do not find it profitable to endanger the property of their clients. When even so much as a hint of reluctance to offer adequate insurance or mentioning is neglected by some fishy organization, beware.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Ship Your Car from A to Z

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The super-car world was very recently surprised when Russia launched a new and unique brand of super sports cars, the very first Russian sports car, coyly christened Marussia (a popular pet female given Russian name and a play on the English word “Russia,” to make sure everyone knows where this beauty is coming from), released in two models – B1 and B2 – and manufactured in limited numbers.

Now that it is a collector’s item requiring careful auto shipping, you don’t want this baby battered by hail, handled roughly, or brutally exploited while you’re not present.

How then to make sure your Marussia gets from Moscow to Minneapolis in one virgin piece? The basic things to consider is how to choose an auto shipping company, which truck type to use, which service to order, and insurance.

Regarding companies, don’t just plump for the first company you come by. The best way is to prefer perhaps costly but well known companies, trusted names you heard or read about. There are many obscure businesses out there, often on their way to sure bankruptcy, posing as experts but merely looking to swindle you out of as much money as they can before they close. Do not develop paranoia either – there are plenty of decent and reasonable services out there. Do some research, see which companies get the most references and recommendations, ask around.

In terms of trucks, you have the general choice between open and closed carriers. Open carriers are often seen hauling vehicles within or between cities; they are numerous and often used. Closed carrier shipping is costlier. But you want to take into consideration the distance your car is to travel and the brand of the car: an exotic auto is perhaps better transported in a closed carrier which prevents exposure to harmful elements as well as prying eyes.

Next, consider whether you want the truck to pick up your car from your place or whether you would rather drop it off at the company terminal. The car may take much longer to be shipped from the terminal and when it reaches its destination terminal, the owner must pick it up again himself: it’s a slower and fussier service. Better to have the car picked up from your garage, where you and the driver can check the car for mileage and any damage already present before committing the vehicle to the company. When delivered at your destination, any damage unspecified in the signed list will be the company’s responsibility. Most companies provide door-to-door shipping.

Companies offer cargo insurance for each vehicle they transport: any damaged to the car while it is handled by the company will be compensated. Moreover, trucking companies usually arrange for liability insurance of a minimum $800, 000 which takes care of damage to large number of handled cargo.

Good, lasting companies do not find it profitable to endanger the property of their clients and make sure you are insured. Beware of fishy organizations which even so much as hint at reluctance to offer adequate insurance or neglect to mention it.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Car Shipping, Enclosed Auto Shipping, Enclosed Car Carriers, logistics, moving, vehicles | No Comments »