Posts Tagged ‘Auto Transport’

Auto Shippers Can Be A Great Option If You Need To Move A Vehicle Across Country

Monday, August 8th, 2011

There are many times when it is a better idea to ship a vehicle from one location to another. These events include a move across the country or from one state to another. They may also involve moving a car to a child who is in college, or transporting a fine vintage or exotic automobile that you would rather not drive across country. Auto shippers exist for these very occasions.

By using an auto shipper you can eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on an automobile that would be inflicted on it as a result of a long distance drive. Auto transporters also come in handy if purchasing a vehicle in another state. Regardless of the reason auto shippers can provide an excellent service that may be more affordable than you might think.

Shipping a vehicle across country can often be cheaper than driving a car across country. When traveling long distanced you need to take into consideration the amount of time you will need to a lot yourself. You will also need to consider the amount of time it will take you to drive and the hotels and meals that you will need along the way.

When shopping for auto shoppers it is a good idea to ask around. You may know a friend who has used a service or perhaps you know someone who knows someone who provides this service. Another way to get references on auto shippers is to check with internet forums that have members in your areas. Some of these forums can be a great way to find someone who is in the business or knows someone who is.

The best thing to do when looking for an auto shipper is to ask friends if they have ever used anybody or if they have ever hired a service. Another way to find reputable auto shippers is to check the internet. Often you can find local forums where members who live in your area may be able to provide advice.

You will need to keep a couple basic rules in mind when shopping for an auto transport service to move your vehicle for you. The first rule is to make sure they are willing to provide you with a free estimate. If they cannot or will not provide you with an estimate then you need to consider another service. You may also want to look elsewhere if the service you are talking to is not willing to provide you with proof of insurance and bonding. You want to make sure that the transporter you use is able to cover the damages in the event of an accident.

You may also want to discuss the method that the shipper will use in transporting your vehicle. Some transporters strictly used enclosed car carriers, while others use a flat bed or a conventional car carrier like the manufacturers use to transport new cars to a dealer.

If you are shipping a car that is rare or exotic you will most likely want to use auto shippers that will use a closed carrier. Many auto shippers can provide the transport of several vehicles at a time. These services will commonly use multiple car carriers like those used by car manufacturers to ship new vehicles to the dealership.

If you need Hartford Auto Shipping, San Jose Auto Shipping, or auto shipping to anywhere in the United States, check out MetroGistics.com.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

How Much Will It Cost To Ship My Vehicle?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

That Question Is Loaded. Wow !

However, with the information available to you on the internet, we not only have answers but can also supply good reasons for those answers.

There is quite a variety in pricing within the auto shipping industry. It is important that you understand the reasons and there are several.

Firm Costs: Start off with the cost of a tractor/trailer rig which in today’s world can run up around $500,000.00. Add to that insurance of about $10,000.00 – $25,000.00 per year, fuel costs of over $4.00 per gallon (these trucks will average 3 – 4 miles per gallon) maintenance, repairs, tires, and depreciation. Don’t forget to include the cost of licensing, permitting, and paying a driver and you are starting to get the idea. Operating an auto hauler is a very expensive operation

Marketing: The owner/operator of an auto transport rig must now find customers in order to make any money. This can typically cost several thousand dollars per month.

Pricing in the auto transport industry will run the gamit from top to bottom. From those who practice the Walmart strategy of offering low discount pricing in order to encourage high volumes of business to those who would rather charge top prices and not move their trucks unless they obtain them. The auto transport industry certainly has many schools of thought represented when it comes to pricing. There is a price that will meet with your approval somewhere between the top prices and the bottom as you search.

Comparing several prices is of course the secret to discovering that range of pricing you desire. Simply provide them with your email address and phone number and then wait to be contacted in a prompt manner. Or you can simply pickup the phone and give them a call.

In order to really be smart about this you will need to do your homework. The American Trucker is known as an independent spirit. This translates into a wide range of pricing for the same delivery job when you compare the prices across a wide range of quotes. This is not about being right or wrong, several prices are available. This is about being smart and comparing prices.

Some differences in the way brokers do business are deposits. Some require deposits up front and some don’t. Both are correct in the way they do things, they just don’t agree. Most if not all will want final payment in the form of a cashier’s check or money order paid to the driver and that is the normal way of doing it.

Searching Google is one of the best and easiest ways to get pricing. Simply search under auto transport quotes or auto shipping quotes and select one of the many that come up. Provide them with your information and submit. With quotes in hand you will be ready to talk with a broker. This is the time to ask all of the questions you may have concerning your auto transport. Broker’s that truly want your business will be happy to provided answers at this point.

Quotes received will be from brokers that will only select the really good guys to transport your vehicle. This pre-screening done for you is an additional service that really enhances your auto transport experience.

Compare car transport quotes and compare quotes at car shipping quotes

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

What If My Car Is Damaged During Transport

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

If you are not prepared for it this can be a frightening moment. It doesn’t have to be of course. During the screening portion and while you are comparing prices is the right moment to handle this issue.

Truckers/Carriers licensed and permitted by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) are required to have insurance. The real question you need to discover is do they have it? You can find out for yourself online at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration web site.

If you are dealing with a Carrier (Trucker) you can simply ask them to fax or email you a copy of their insurance. If you are working with a Broker just ask the Broker and he will be glad to advise you. This is part of the service that a Broker is always happy to provide.

But, what do I do if my car is damaged during car shipping ?

Easy Answer. When your car arrives you and the driver need to inspect it together before you accept it and sign the bill of lading. If you in fact find damage (new damage that was not there when the car was loaded) simply make a not of it on his bill of lading, both of you sign it, and you get a copy. Request that the driver provide you with proof of insurance (yes, again) and contact his insurance company. The only thing required is to file a claim with his provider of insurance and supply them with the documents they request which will also include an estimate of repairs from your body shop.

Upon discovery of damage and while still with the driver, it is always a good idea to make a call to his insurance company and simply ask them how they would like to proceed. They will direct you in how to file a claim with them and you will find that the insurance company will be very pleasant and helpful as they really have no reason to be otherwise. If you can’t reach the insurance company representative it’s still not the end of the world, call your Auto Transport Broker, he can help.

This is a good time to point out the obvious. Household goods (and the damage they cause) are not supposed to be in your vehicle, and are not covered by the truckers insurance according to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration.

Although kinda scary light damage is not unusual during auto transport and is handled in a rather routine manner. You will be taken care of and your car will be fixed and guess what ???? This problem too will simply go away.

If you are working with an Auto Transport Broker, relax because most of them check out the truckers you will use very carefully during the quoting process. Part of their job is to only select the good guys. You can count on it.

During searching for estimates to compare don’t fail to check out Bob Frost’s fantastic articles on details to know when shipping auto transport as a little information can save a lot of money and grief.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Auto Shipping In The News – Bend The Trend

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

News items on every subject are everywhere – the internet, newspapers, magazines, television and radio. People can become obsessed with the news simply because it is always changing. As the saying goes, there is nothing as old as yesterday’s news. This certainly applies to the auto shipping industry as well.

Take that maxim to the auto shipping industry and you will find there is nothing different there either. This is an industry that depends greatly on outside influences and constant change. The law and finances are as much of a concern to auto shippers as they are to other businesses. Let’s take a look at some of the issues in these fields.

Not surprisingly, one of the main topics of discussions in the auto shipping industry is the price of fuel. The price of gas, supply of diesel and miles per gallon are all crucial topics to auto shippers. Therefore, the news abounds with reports on these subjects in publications aimed at the auto shipping industry. Vehicle transportation is market-dependent. In the event of a recession, disposable income goes down and along with it car manufacturing and car sales. As those industries go, so does the auto shipping industry.

Besides the price of fuel, other newsworthy matters in the auto transportation industry include toll increases, taxes, and ever rising maintenance and employment costs. Acquisitions and mergers, bankruptcies and the cost of new technologies also weigh heavily on the minds of auto industry financial officers. Road building and maintenance are other factors that come up in trend analysis. The auto transport companies that stay on top of the financial and market related trends will manage to survive where those who do not, will not.

Financial trends are not the only important issues that need to be accounted for but also legal issues surrounding the auto transportation industry are of concern. The rules and regulations pertaining to work hour limits change periodically as do the technologies of drug testing and the legal ramifications of illegal substance abuse while at the wheel. Shipping involving interstate commerce is always subject to changing rules and regulations.

Other legally related vehicle transportation topics may include: theft protection and prosecution, licensing agreements and safety program certifications. For international shippers, in depth legal knowledge of customs guidelines is becoming a more and more respected specialty and represents a trend that receives some press time. Rounding out some of the legal auto shipping news is usually a discussion or two tied into the definition, carrying and reporting of hazardous materials. What you can and can not carry and how it is reported is debated often. Regardless of your auto shipping needs or relationships it is a good idea to stay abreast of the latest gossip and happenings.

Auto shipping is a very news heavy service industry. With so many different outlets of change, vehicle transportation is in no way, shape or form a static business. From auto shipping quoting and brokering, to driving and loading, there is always a subject matter that flutters with the fate of time. As the laws and financial pressures change inside the industry, it will be key for those involved to make sure they know what is going on. There must be a willingness to accept change while at the same time embracing its offerings. Auto shipping is a very important service that deserves media space and our undivided attention if we are planning to incorporate it into our ever changing lives.

If you need to find West Virginia Auto Transport companies, Washington Auto Transport companies, or auto shipping in any other state, please visit MetroGistics.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Auto Shipping: Moving To A Greener Environment

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

Due to the increasing evidence of our planet’s destruction by environmental pollution and the growing concern among nations, industries have stepped up their efforts to operate in an increasingly environmentally clean manner with large established companies in wealthier nations leading the way. The public awareness has increased to the extent that the waiting list for hybrid cars is growing longer and longer.

Landfill waste and energy consumption is reduced through green homebuilding, which seems to have caught on. Cities start campaign such as those meant to reduce electricity consumption by up to 80% through replacement of regular light bulbs for more effective and economic innovative illumination. One can see great transparent plastic containers in public squares half-filled with discarded bulbs or batteries.

Auto shipping companies are not an exception to this general shift towards urgent attempts to restore and stabilize a near-depleted world: a fairly young, recent, and one of the most innovative and distinctive industries in the history of modern civilization, they have been acutely attuned to modern problems and have been engaged in the campaign to reduce global warming for years now, without much pomp and fanfare.

Perhaps it is because they realize how tremendous and industry they currently are and what tremendous potential they still possess, and what they might mean for the near, exponentially-developing future, and probably because of recent investigations into the monstrous environmental pollution by carrier ships and trucks, perhaps because of this and their desire to survive as a mega-industry the collapse of which can incur a full-blown crisis, that they have fairly long since decided to be on the only one right side of the struggle, the environmentally safe side.

It is estimated that a single fairly large auto shipping company can save up to three million gallons of fuel, which means more than 38 million pound less greenhouse gases in our immediate atmosphere. And the number of expanding auto transport companies worldwide is enormous, many of them already gigantic corporations. Their number are likely only to grow with time and globalization.

Lets do the math. The benefits to our environment of eco-friendly auto shipping companies is staggering. Take a hypothetical case of only one auto shipping company per state, the national savings would amount to around 150 million gallons of fuel and approximately two billion pounds of greenhouse gases not pumped into our atmosphere. If only even half of the auto shipping companies would unite their efforts and support green technology, the result would be to make tremendous progress towards a greener environment.

Obviously, there is an incredible number of personal vehicles being driven on the roads today. There is no one industry that can save us all. But those industries taking the lead in environmentally clean practices should be very proud of their achievements and will stand as an example to other industries to become future-oriented as well. These green industries just may make the transition to becoming technologically and environmentally innovative while remaining in the upper echelons of the industrial world.

To read more about Auto Transport or Auto Shipping please visit MetroGistics.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

A Look at the Role that Vehicle Shipping Carriers Play

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Ok so you have a vehicle that needs to be transported from one spot to another. The notion seems pretty straightforward but now you must find a carrier service to send your vehicle on its way. But, and a major but at that is; what is an auto shipping carrier? Here is your answer.

The carrier

Transporting your vehicle to your required destination is, in general, what an auto shipping service does. Your vehicle can be shipping across country or internationally. Online services and in person help is available. Your car, boat , or motorcycle can be shipped to any destination you need. Carrier companies exist in vast numbers to fit your every accommodation. Cars, boats, motorcycles, heavy equipment which includes industrial, construction and farming machinery, bulldozers, and cranes can be shipped using an auto shipping carrier. Your RVs and SUVs can also be picked up and delivered by carrier companies.

Services to cater to every demographic such as corporate, dealer relocations, and other specialized services are provided by auto shipping carriers. There is specific transportation that carriers have for ATVs, antiques classic and custom vehicles, also for race cars and yachts. Inquiring about their information on these offerings is important; especially because these items are special to you.

To transport your vehicle, carrier companies have a nice selection of traditions. Amongst the many offerings available to you and your auto travel are open and closed shipping services, freight, LTL, boating and flight shipping. A move to start the quoting action is taken once you’ve made your choice.

Auto carrier companies will directly deal with their customers but they do depend on brokers for much of their business. They do not exactly have huge budgets for their advertisements so they use newspapers, the internet, and, most importantly, word of mouth to escalate their business and revenue.

A plus is that they do try to establish great customer service. Low grading from word of mouth can be a huge deficit to their existence. On the other end, be prepared to have kindness and efficiency. Pay close attention to all the details, do not be swindled, asking for references and looking for any faults they may have is crucial.

Most likely you will be able to get free quotes, so that is another good thing. In fact, it’s probably time to take your business elsewhere if the carrier you are working with will not offer a free quote. When figuring out what carrier to use this part seems the easiest amongst all workings in investigating. A quick and easy online system is something most companies have, while finding the carrier most suitable for you this allows you to roam around free. Calling the auto carrier directly is simple if the online quote system confuses you. A well-located number will be posted on their website. It’s always a good thing to have a free number to call.

An auto shipping carrier can take you no matter where your vehicle needs to end up.

To continue to read about Vehicle Shipping or Auto Transport please stop by our vehicle shipping blog.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Understanding the A-Z of Auto Transport

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

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 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.

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.

For additional news and information about Vehicle Transport or Vehicle Shipping please stop by our vehicle transport blog.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Steps to Successful Auto Shipping

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Before we learned to walk we crawled. Certain steps must be taken to get the job done correctly beginning with the simplistic and increasing the complexity on our way to a successful conclusion. The right tools for the job at hand is another requirement of successful completion. You can’t make wine without grapes. You can’t bake a cherry pie without cherries and an oven, you can’t play baseball without a bat and a ball. If you want to do something right, you need a plan and the appropriate tools. When it comes to shipping your auto, you need to undertake certain actions.

From the early stages to the final one there are some best practice steps for you to follow. First item on the list is to research the various auto shipping companies by reading articles, visiting auto shipping websites and networking with people who have had experience with shipping their cars or such businesses as auto dealerships who regularly depend on auto shippers. Once you have a good basic knowledge of how the industry works and the services they offer, look into a few providers and/or brokers.

The next step is to get your documentation together. Necessary documents include driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance and vehicle specifications. Now, providing you have narrowed your search down to one auto transportation company or broker to work with, it is time to negotiate a price.

These costs depend on distance traveled, choice of shipping container type, shipment weight and expected timeframe of delivery along with various miscellaneous fees and expenses. When a deal is satisfactorily agreed upon, you must review all the terms and conditions of the contract with a keen eye on cancellation fees and insurance options. Make sure you discuss these in detail and are acutely aware of them and understand them completely. Once your deal is solidified, you are ready for the deal to come to fruition.

You will now have the times and dates of the pickup and delivery of your vehicle and can begin your vehicle preparation. You will need to check engine function, gas levels, security features and the overall condition of your vehicle – make an actual checklist for you and your shipper to sign off on. Now your vehicle is ready for pickup and once that is accomplished, you need to follow up with the car transport company and the vehicle’s receiver so you can ensure a smooth trip for your car.

Now your car is on its way to its new home. Follow up with the auto shipping company along the way to make sure all is well and follow up with the receiver of the vehicle so everyone knows what to expend at journey’s end. If in your follow up you find some issues have arisen, you can deal with them promptly so they don’t run amok. When all is to your satisfaction, be sure to give positive feedback and a profound thank you to your auto shipper – you may be back.

Following these steps will help alleviate any problem that may arise, leaving you and the shipper less stressed. Auto shipping is a complex business requiring much knowledge and expertise, so do not rush the numerous decisions that must be made. Perform background checks, question anything you don’t understand and pursue those questions until you feel comfortable that they have been correctly answered. As noted, auto shipping is a complex process with many bends in the road. Make sure it bends your way when handing over your vehicle to an auto shipping company.

If you need to find New Hampshire Auto Transport companies, Nevada Auto Transport companies, or auto shipping in any other state, please visit MetroGistics.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Ship Your Auto Safely and You Won’t be Sorry

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

The auto shipping proves by its rapid expansion that it is an efficient and safe industry with which to do business. At the same time along the way the industry has accumulated valuable experience with regard to technology and methods of operation.

It also means, however, that many new independent companies are eager to compete. It does not mean, however, that all of them have the experience, the resources, nor even the decency to ensure safe auto shipping. In many cases, as in any other business industry, many of the numerous existing auto shipping companies are simply the result of an increasingly commercialized society. Business today is the prevalent survival style and many people are eager to start a company, whether because they really are competent to do so or because they are simply incapable of doing anything else.

Some of these businesses will prevail despite all odds, but many will fail because they refuse to learn the business or understand the capitalization required for success in the business. Those few that remain because of luck and some beneficial ties rather than true business acumen will hang on as long as they can given the competition but undoubtedly will not remain in business very long.

It is not always easy to tell when one of these new companies will close. Their sales pitch and competitive pricing can be very convincing as to their reliability and safety. It will not make your day to entrust your vehicle to a company that sends it to the wrong destination with half of the accessories missing and no insurance coverage.

Hopefully you have time. Otherwise, you will not be able to ensure the safety of your vehicle. If you so much as merely consider the remote possibility of having to ship your car sometime next year, take the time to carefully research the current market.

If you plan your auto shipping in advance, you can also book the shipment in advance which will save you money. Even the major shipping companies will charge high prices for an urgent order, no matter how simple, because they have to allocate emergency personnel and equipment to your job. Given more time, your job will fit into their standard mode of operation allowing them to quote a more reasonable price for their services.

Businesses do not like to decline offers, especially when dealing with individual private car owners, and are likely to take your order even if they know they are unlikely to complete it satisfactorily. Urgency increases the risk of delay and damage.

Of great importance to you is the company’s licensing and insurance coverage. Thoroughly inspect their Certificate of Insurance and their MC license. If the insurance coverage offered does not meet your needs, ask for additional coverage. They should have no trouble meeting your insurance requirements.

A sure sign of the competence of any company is their customer service attitude. They should show eagerness to satisfy you and initiative in bringing out what is most important to you. The dependable, quality company will have no reticence in showing and explaining their insurance coverage or their licensing to you. If they see that their standard insurance coverage is inadequate for your needs, they will advise you to purchase extra. If these points are not covered in your discussions with them, find another company.

For more information on Auto Shipping or Car Transport please check out our auto shipping blog.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

Sifting Through Auto Shipping Quotes to Find the Very Best

Sunday, February 6th, 2011

To paraphrase Benjamin Disraeli, the wisdom of the wise and the experience of ages are perpetuated by good quotes. You can conduct your research online, by phone or both, then find a broker to pore over their qualifications and choose the most responsible one with the best historical track record. Just like the good student you are, you will prepare for your auto shipment and take every precaution while doing so. Having done all that, in the end it comes down to getting quotes from those companies deemed reliable and deciding on the quote with which you are the most comfortable.

Shipping companies aren’t dumb. They know you are doing this and will offer TERRIFIC QUOTES as undoubtedly listed on their website. Watch out for this as a good company will prefer you to ask for a quote so they can knock you off your socks with their generosity and you will pick them as your shipper.

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.

You must provide a thoroughly accurate description of your auto’s weight and shape. Not every carrier can handle every type of vehicle. If yours is an SUV, off-road vehicle, some kind of small truck, or a heavy van or station wagon you may have to opt for a special carrier. If there are any exotic features or customized alterations to your vehicle that may keep it from driving up a truck ramp effectively if at all, this will require special consideration. Most carriers, for a supplemental charge, will ship non-operating vehicles. You must, however, inform them of this before the loading day arrives as it may require a truck with specialized equipment to deal with a car that can’t be just driven onto it.

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.

For more on Car Shipping or Vehicle Transport please visit our car transport blog.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.