Archive for the ‘Vehicle Transport’ Category

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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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Save Money with Auto Shipping

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Nowadays it becomes more and more of a necessity for any adult to own a car. While in big bustling cities it may be increasingly more convenient to get by on foot or by means of public transport,  many prosperous towns have wretched bus service and are generally so planned that without a car it is near impossible to do even your essential shopping. As a result the average family owns at least two cars.

When moving, driving these on your own may prove too much trouble and money, even if initially it may seem like the more convenient thing to do. Auto transport companies are designed to efficiently ship a number of vehicles at once, eliminating the need to drive each of the cars separately, preventing fuel expenses and wear, and providing a certain degree of protection from hostile elements, theft, and vandalism. Carrier companies specialize in shipping any type of civilian vehicle, providing a selection of services to ensure the best accommodation for your property.

If you have no proclivity or the possibility to plan carefully, it may be best to go safe with a reliable auto shipping company. But it is best to plan carefully in accordance with the circumstances. Some cars cover more distance with less fuel. The precise distance to your destination and the gas mileage of your car may decide whether to go by carrier or by car. Gasoline costs may be more than $20 for every hundred miles or so. If you have more than two cars and something like 500 miles to drive, fuel costs alone may add up to more than a $1000.

The cost of shipment likewise depends on certain parameters. The distance and date by which the vehicles are to be delivered, as well as the type and condition of vehicle, decides the cost of transportation. But in most long-distance cases, whether your car is old or new, to hire a professional carrier is a sensible and economic thing to do.

There are several basic service types offered by standard transport companies. The “economy guide” is the cheapest of these, but the vehicle is only loaded if there is enough space in the carrier, in accordance with previous orders for the service. The more you pay, the greater priority you receive, the more likely you are to be shipped. Only if you are in financial strain or do not care to make sure the vehicle will be shipped should you favor this service.

Open transport is the next cheapest means and is transportation by an open truck, where the car, over long distances, is open to sun and hail. Closed transport is auto transport in a closed carrier which does not allow damage by sun or rain, but which is much more expensive. “Full Service” guarantees timely pick up and door-to-door delivery, but costs still more. Money is partially repaid to the client if service is unsatisfactory. Cost may be further reduced if you minimize the weight of the vehicle by removing any loose objects, tools, even seats, and by leaving the tank near empty.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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The Significance of Brokers and Customer Responses in the Auto Shipping Industry

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

You may be interested in a particular company to ship your auto to a distant location and find that they are rather tight about relinquishing certain information, which rightly causes you to be suspicions.  Moreover, you are not sure what to ask in order to allay your suspicions.  This is why you need the services of a broker.  He is able to verify insurance policies, licensing, track records, official documents and records that you can’t get at, as well as the company’s reputation within the industry and with its customers.

A broker will select from a sea of companies,  reputable companies of all sizes and with varying services and show them to you for a final decision.  It would not be good business sense for a broker to offer you a company to contract with that would not lead to your satisfaction.  The broker has better access to the information that concerns you most.

A very popular website to help you in your search for auto shipping brokers and/or companies is Transportationreviews.com.  You can find customer reviews on the site above and beyond what the broker may provide.  A good way to analyze the customer responses is to measure the positive reviews against the number of cars shipped out in a week, month, or year.  But remember, the lack of negative responses doesn’t mean there is no one out there with a negative experience.  People tend to write only good reviews for publication and deal with the broker or company directly to get satisfaction from either a real or perceived unhappy event.  A bad review may also be coming from a chronic whiner who is never satisfied with any service provider with whom he does business.

Full customer satisfaction is the goal of any worthy enterprise and the heart and soul of his business.  But while 100% positive responses are not a sign of total reliability, neither are 100% negative responses significant proof a company is completely undependable.  You should pay the most attention to whether the nature of the complaint is major or minor and if it reoccurs with any degree of consistency.  You will have to perform this analysis yourself, the website won’t do it for you.  Remember any negative comments could be coming from someone for whom the company bent over backward to please, and there was just no pleasing this irrational hothead.

What you don’t want to see is a company with a large variety of bad reviews.  True, a company may have a weak link, but otherwise be of sterling reliability and reputation.  On the flip side, a company that doesn’t appear to be doing anything right by its customers is not the one to deal with.  They may be badly managed or constantly cash poor or both.

Nonetheless, customer response is only an early phase of your investigation and one of the very few you can research yourself without a broker.  By hiring a broker, you will be able to take advantage of the information he can uncover that you can’t, not just cryptic customer reviews but official documents and records as well as professional experience, industry knowledge and advice.  You will avoid the tedious details involved in industry bureaucracy and endless negotiations to set a price.  A good broker is an effective negotiator who will save you money while charging a nominal fee, usually between $100 and $200 dollars for their services depending on the complexity and time restrictions your particular job entails.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Transportation, Vehicle Shipping, Vehicle Transport, auto shipping brokers | No Comments »

Why is Some Auto Shipping More Costly Than Others?

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Some of the cost of shipping your auto has to do with how many slots on the truck are required to ship it.  Carriers charge per slot, the more, the pricier.  An enclosed truck costs more to purchase than an open one.  Your shipping charges will therefore go up if you require an enclosed one.  Also, the enclosed vehicle cannot carry as many vehicles per trip, upping the cost to you.

Carriers are prohibited by law the overall weight they are allowed to carry at any one time.  A reliable, law abiding trucking company will be forced to impose additional fees because they can carry fewer vehicles.  Some cars are just plain built heavy and nothing can be done about that.  But for your normal average-sized auto, weight may be reduced by removing all personal belongings and any custom add-ons before you ship it.

The cost on a specific date you choose to ship will be influenced by several variables like the cost of fuel, the weather conditions, and the competition.  Not everyone is aware that if a different date is selected, the cost will go down even given the same services.

Almost all companies operate a fleet of trucks that carry more than one vehicle for more than one customer.  For this reason, it may not be possible for your car to be shipped on a specific date on a specific truck.  If you insist on this, and the company has the truck  available to honor your request, it will cost you more.  Your cheapest bet is to be flexible as to time and carrier type.

If the company is very large, you may actually be able to get your car shipped alone on one truck, which as mentioned above, will cost you.  However, you will get the advantage of a safer, speedier delivery and on the required date.  If you are not pressed for time, though, make arrangement to ship your car on a multi-vehicle carrier, which will save you money.

Overseas shipping is apt to cost more because of taxes and the different relationships of foreign countries.  It may also require more than one form of transportation to get your vehicle from A to B.  If it requires transport by air, rail, road, water or a combination of any of these, it will cost you more and require increased insurance and other fees.

If all of this preparation to arrange for shipping rather than drive it yourself (if that’s even a possibility) in order to cost you less scares you, it may be that you are unfamiliar with today’s auto shipping industry.  The industry is not just a growth industry, it is a huge global business.  The amount of services offered to the customer may seem to you overly detailed but it ensures that you can make comparisons among the companies and select the one most suitable to your needs.

Because of the number of companies in operation today, the competition forces them to be flexible with their charges, though this is somewhat less true of foreign businesses.  Most companies offer free quotes and similar services, some offer money-saving coupons or deals within certain states or boundaries.  Don’t just concentrate on the big dogs in the industry.  The young dynamic upstarts  should also be considered in your comparison shopping.  No matter which companies you choose to deal with, negotiate for the best price you can get and don’t feel you can’t decline offers that you feel are inflexible.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Vehicle Transport, logistics, moving, vehicles | No Comments »

What Influences the Price of Shipping a Car?

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Whether a car’s dimensions will allow it to fit in a single slot on the truck, a double slot, or even more will make the price higher.  A closed carrier is more expensive than an open one in and of itself.  Add to that that it is not able to carry as many vehicles as an open one makes it a costlier option.

Because there are laws covering the overall weight a carrier is allowed at any one time, an usually heavy vehicle may have additional fees imposed upon it because a law-abiding trucking company will be forced to carry fewer vehicles to make up for the weight difference.   Some vehicles are just plain heavy and nothing can be done about it.  But a normal-sized automobile may be made less heavy (and less expensive to ship) by removing any and all personal objects and removable upgrades that may be attached to it.

The date you ship your vehicle is subject to variables like the price of fuel, the weather conditions, and the competition.  It is possible to get a cheaper quote by just changing the date of shipment.

Most companies operate trucks that carry more than one vehicle for serving several customers at a time.  So don’t be surprised if you request a specific truck for a specific date, that you are charged more than if you were to be more flexible with the time frame and type of carrier.

If you are dealing with a large company, it may offer the opportunity of shipping your one vehicle on just one truck without considering other customer’s needs and schedules.  This, of course, will cost much more but you have the luxury of a safer, quicker delivery and on the date of your choice.  If you are not pressed for time and do not require special treatment, you will save money.

Overseas shipping is highly likely to be more expensive than domestic.  Different countries have different rules and regulations.  Add to that the fact that more than one method of shipment may be required, such as air, water, rail or possibly a combination of these.  This requires more of a concern for safety and insurance.

This process may seem frightening to you considering all the ramifications and details involved, but bear in mind, that auto shipping is now a large global enterprise and growing.  The amount of detail and services offered for the client’s consideration is testimony to the fact they are in the business to endure and offering more is to your advantage as well as theirs.  Their proliferation also gives the customer the capability to make comparisons among the companies and select the one most suitable to their needs.

Competition among these burgeoning  enterprises may drive them to be more flexible with their pricing, though this is less true of foreign companies than domestic.  Most companies will offer free quotes so don’t limit yourself to just the gargantuans of the industry.  The quotes for similar services among the contenders may vary also by the specific states or borders required.  Try the young, energetic companies and don’t be afraid to negotiate for your best price.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Dependable Auto Shipping

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Shipping the car across large distances is in most cases the most sensible and economic solution, saving effort, time, and car wear. There is shipment across roads by several types of carrier trucks, shipment by sea, and shipment by air of any type of car or motorcycle, whether modern, prestige, vintage, veteran, classic or sports.

The term “auto shipping” naturally implies that your car will be delivered to the specified destination whole and on time (rather than gradually and in parts). And surprisingly large numbers of people regularly commit the mistake of taking a company’s dependability for granted. It would certainly be strange for a company slogan to read: “We deliver (most of the time)!” Yet one must just the same realize that it is a trick of language to imply reliability while in fact the company may not be deserving of its name, to say the least. Company names and official titles are platonic ideals: language suggests what function the establishment is supposed to represent in principle, but it does not attest to its actual performance in the field down on Earth. Hence, it is inadvisable to go with just any company or to rely on the company to perform impeccably no matter what.

As in almost any industry, most auto shipping companies are relatively small independent organizations spread in the thousands all over most large countries, owing a handful of trucks.

To ensure dependable shipping consider first the most basic factors of time and money. A flexible timeframe for the company to operate in often means reasonable prices, and most companies will then perform well, whatever the destination. Prices rise when you are pressed for time and the risk of delay rises.

An actual deal is set up via a broker or with a specific carrier. But smart dynamic carrier companies often act as brokers themselves. That’s why, when dealing with a carrier, you must always make sure that they are the ones who will make the transportation and not broker the job to another company you have no idea about.

Do not sign contracts without having seen a valid MC license and always ask to see a copy of their Insurance Certificate and contact their insurance company to find out the exact terms of their insurance. Reputable companies will be glad to oblige a vigilant client, demonstrating their reliability, and will always be comfortably ensured several years ahead. You don’t want to trust the car you worked so hard for to a company whose insurance policy ends next moth without a guarantee that they will be insured or even in existence as an official firm at the time of transportation.

Looking companies up is always a good idea. Better not to be involved with companies which are not listed anywhere or unwillingly offer basic info about themselves. Check the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to verify they are indeed a carrier and not a covert broker-carrier.

Doing the same via a professional broker may be even a better idea: it is the broker’s job to dig up any vital background information on even the most reticent carriers; and once you have that information your suspicions will be either justified or officially disproved, so that you may proceed more safely.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Avoid the Stress Associated with Shipping Your Car

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

It’s amazing how simple it used to be to relocate.  As a college student, you probably put all your stuff in the trunk of the family car, drove to your destination and unpacked in a jiffy.  A family member then drove the car back to its home and all was right with the world.  You graduated, found a job, a cheap apartment, put all your stuff into a duffle bag, and did it all over again.

Aah, but now you have established yourself with a family and a house and a houseful of furniture, a couple of cars and you or your spouse’s job requires you to relocate to a place a considerable distance away.  Your furniture, kids, big screen TV and appliances will no longer fit in the trunk of your car.  As a matter of fact, what are you going to do with that car(s)?  The cost of driving and maintaining the cars yourself while hauling a rent-a-trailer to move your stuff is heavy on both time and money, not to mention the stress of driving the overburdened car that will probably breakdown sometime during the trip.  The cost of doing so is probably greater than hiring an auto shipper to get your car to your destination.

Many people are unaware that they can hire a shipper to move their cars without going through the hassle of the self-transport themselves.  There are actually quite a few companies that offer vehicle shipping vehicle services, not a glamorous business, perhaps, but a very convenient one.  The auto shipper may also cost less to move your car than if you drove, fueled, and maintained it yourself.  No matter how attached you are to that sleek, racy car of yours, it is far less stressful to let the pros worry about moving it.

While your car is being transported, you and your family can be taking some form of public transportation while your worldly goods are on a moving van.  Once at your destination, you have the time and energy to unpack and set up your new home before getting on with your new job.  The time saved here could be translated into more money just due to the fact that you can start work earlier than if you did all the driving yourself.  Another savings of hiring an auto shipper.

The larger your family and the longer the distance to your new home, the more you will save.  Not to mention the benefits to your emotional and physical health of not undergoing the added stress of driving those cars yourself.  Come on now,  isn’t moving stressful enough already?

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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1,000 Great Quotes: Auto Shipping

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Benjamin Disraeli once said that, I’m paraphrasing, the wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by good quotes. You can look up companies on the net, contact them, hire a broker to sift through them and select the most competent ones with the best records, make every preparation and take every precaution, but in the end it all comes down to asking companies for a quote and making the final decision according to the quote which best suits you.

Companies realize this and many offer GREAT QUOTES already on the home page of their sites. This is something to keep an eye out for: good companies want you to ask for a quote so that they can impress you and win you over.

As a quick aside, if a company requires an advance, make absolutely sure that you are issued a contract which covers a complete refund in case the service is not carried out. A favorite fraudulent technique by not so successful companies is to receive an advance, buy some time, fail to ship the car, and refuse to refund: an easy way to make at least some money with a minimum of expenditure.

Yes, it is better not to lie in your Resume, but in many cases you can use rhetoric to formulate your experience so that you sound as an ideal presidency candidate even if you are just a parking lot attendant. But when requesting a quote it is better to submit accurate, detailed, and even the most intimate technical information about your one and only.

An accurate description of your car’s weight and shape is crucial, since carrier trucks do not accommodate all cars. Heavy SUVs, minivans, station wagons, pick-up trucks, and of-road vehicles must be considered for special carrier trucks. Any exotic features and customized changes (such as lowering the car or otherwise making driving up a truck ramp difficult) will require special service. For a small supplement to the general fee, most carriers are able to ship non-operable vehicles, but it is bets to inform them before hand, because it may take a truck with a specialized ramp to lift a car which cannot be driven.

Besides the actual content of the quoted, consider the way in which the quote is presented to you: try to see how professional, courteous, and willing they are. Compare this insight with the actual service they offer: is too good to be true? Compare their quotes with those of other companies for similar services. Even if you do not choose any of the most prominent companies in the field, it is still better to begin estimating prices and quality with the best, most well known companies.

Once you have conducted this field research, you will be able to tell whether the company that you seem to prefer – perhaps not the biggest name – is sincere about their price and service. And even with a sensible, sincere carrier you can haggle for a better deal. A standard trick is to convincingly suggest that may get a better deal for the same service elsewhere. For the most part, good companies do not offer the minimal price out right, which means that with good companies there is always a chance they might lower their price just enough for you to prefer them over a similar company.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Auto Shipping, Vehicle Shipping, Vehicle Transport, auto shipping quotes | No Comments »

Ensure Peace of Mind by Shipping Your Car in One Piece

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Signing a contract on faith, having your car picked up already that day, then in Paris or Pompeii having the shipment delayed and finally the vehicle is delivered with damage you have no proof of being there before, is the last thing you want after hastily trusting to the first trucking company you come across.

Informing you on how best to submit your property for transportation themselves is something good companies may do. Save time by preparing your car beforehand and it is best to be self-informed. The responsibility for any overlooked issues rest wholly with the client so make sure the busy clerk doesn’t forget a point or two.

Rather than being a careless slacker, where your car is concerned it is better to be fastidious. It is not uncommon for occurrences of scandalous customer service involving expensive cargo. With particular attention to the motor inspect your car minutely before admitting a company clerk. It is better to be fully aware of the motor’s condition, so that later you don’t have to wrack your brains about never seen before wires and suspect conspiracy unnecessarily.

Any removable customized accessories such as radios, alarms, mirrors, etc. should be removed beforehand. It’s also a good idea to keep personal belongings out of sight inside the car in case of a break-in. The tires should be checked fro air and wear. Any  damage not repaired should be listed in the agreement and signed by both parties. The car will be checked by a company official in your presence. Don’t be afraid to nag about small detail good carrier companies will only be glad to oblige their customers and bad companies may be deterred from carelessly handling your property.

Over the phone and by mail there are too many insurance policies offered and a reasonable person would be insane to pay for all of them. It is better to buy insurance from them against damage and theft no matter how trustworthy they seem.

Choose whether you prefer primary or excess insurance and make sure the company offers the one you choose. The primary insurance policy will cover damages independently of what is covered by your regular auto insurance. The excess policy will cover what your regular insurance doesn’t, but be sure you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered.

There are companies that specialize in shipping exotic vehicles. Their carriers are specially designed to handle antiques or classic cars. It is advisable to have an insurance contract which will cover everything that is dear to you about the unit.

Taking digitally-dated photos of your car prior to shipping is a good idea. Inspect the car with the truck driver and inspect the car for apparent damage immediately. This should be done in the presence of the driver or official at the destination. If any new objectionable damage is found a claim should be filed immediately.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Automotive, International, Vehicle Transport | No Comments »

Ship Your Car in One Piece and Ensure Peace of Mind

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

The last thing you want is to hastily trust your car to the first trucking company you come across, sign a contract on faith, have your car picked up already that day, and then, in Paris or Pompei, have the shipment delayed and finally the vehicle delivered with damage you can never prove wasn’t there in the first place.

Good companies might inform you on how best to submit your property for transportation themselves, but it is best to be self-informed, save time by preparing your car beforehand, and make sure the busy clerk doesn’t forget a point or two: the responsibility for any overlooked issues will rest wholly with the client.

When your car is concerned, it is better to be fastidious than a careless slacker: occurrences of scandalous customer service involving expensive cargo are not uncommon. Before admitting a company clerk to you car, inspect it yourself minutely, with particular attention to the motor: it is better to be fully aware of the motor’s condition before shipment, so that later you will not have to wrack you brains about a bunch of wires you never before noticed and suspect conspiracy unnecessarily.

It is better to remove any removable customized accessories, radios, alarms, mirrors, etc. Make sure not to leave in plain sight inside the car any precious or even not so precious objects which might invite a break-in (some people think nothing of breaking into a car to steal a false Zippo). Check the tires for air and wear. Any damage that remains unrepaired upon submission should be listed in the agreement and signed by both parties. A company official will likely want to check the car himself in your presence, but don’t be afraid to nag them with a host of small detail – good carrier companies will only be glad to oblige their customers and a display of vigilance might deter bad companies from carelessly handling your property.

There are too many insurance policies insistently offered over the phone and by mail for a reasonable person to pay for all of them and you would be perfectly sane – despite what the agents would have you to think – not to insure your every body part and organ. But no matter how trustworthy the company is or seems to be, it is better to buy insurance from them against damage and theft.

Decide whether you want primary or excess insurance and inquire beforehand if the company offers the one you prefer. The primary insurance policy will cover damages independently of what is covered by your regular auto insurance. The excess policy covers only what your regular insurance doesn’t: make sure you know precisely what you are and aren’t currently covered against.

There are companies which specialize in shipping exotic vehicles, antiques or classic cars. Their carriers are specially designed to handle such precious property, but an insurance contract which will cover everything that is dear to you about the unit is still advisable.

It is good to take digitally-dated photos of your car prior to shipping, inspect the car with the truck driver no matter in how a shipshape shape the ship is, and to inspect the car for apparent damage immediately and it the presence of the driver/official at the destination, filing a claim immediately, if politely, in case you find any new objectionable damage.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Cars, International, Vehicle Transport, vehicles | No Comments »

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