Posts Tagged ‘Vehicle Shipping’

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A Look At The Details Of Auto Shipping Rules

Monday, November 1st, 2010

A popular profession nowadays is driving commercial trucks across the country in order to deliver goods and services. However, there is a lot more to auto shipping than simply loading up your truck and driving to your destination. Commercial vehicle drivers that are shipping goods such as vehicles must adhere not only to the individual state laws of the different states they enter, but federal laws as well. Being aware of these laws will help any vehicle shipping business avoid fines or complicated legal situations.

When shipping heavy loads across the country, drivers must be aware of weight restrictions. Because different roads in the United States vary in their weight requirements, it is important that a driver and their company plan their driving route ahead of time. This will help them to avoid roads where they outweigh the maximum axel weight allowed.

Some drivers disregard these rules and attempt to sneak by on shortcut roads whose weight restrictions they do not meet. This is not a good idea because roads often have mandatory stops where shipping vehicles must stop to get weighed. At these stations, you can receive fines should you not meet the weight requirement. If the weighing station is full of other auto transport drivers when you drive by, you may be allowed to bypass the specific weighing station. However, there will most likely be more stations further ahead.

Vehicles are a heavy load to transport and require specific trucks for the job. Any reputable hauling company should verify that the commercial vehicles they use to transport vehicles are approved for vehicle transport. Again, if you do not meet this requirement, you can be subject to a fine for not adhering to mandatory regulations.

The number one thing to keep in mind when transporting vehicles is safety. The worst possible thing that could happen during your route is having a vehicle fall from your load.

To mitigate this risk, there are regulations that dictate how the vehicles must be tied down while hauling, with what type of chains and how tight they must be secured. If you cannot meet these regulations then you should not be towing vehicles.

Auto shipping or driving of any sort while overly exhausted is a dangerous idea. In the past, commercial drivers were allowed to drive for days at a time without stopping to rest. Because of the high incident report of accidents caused by tired drivers, commercial drivers are now only allowed to work a certain portion of a 24 hour period. In order to find out work restrictions, vehicle shipping companies should research federal and state laws.

Get the exclusive low down on the details of auto shipping rules and regulations now in our easy vehicle shipping review.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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The Importance Of The Auto Inspection In Shipping Your Vehicle

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

When considering the shipment of your vehicle, several important questions must be asked and answered in order to decide on the shipping company that is the right fit for you. Questions such as how much will it cost to get the vehicle from here to there and how much time will be involved in the transportation.

Also of prime importance is the safety of the vehicle from the beginning of its journey to the end. You want to receive the vehicle at the end in the same condition as it was in the beginning. This only happens if you take the important step of a thorough inspection of your vehicle before you hand it over to the auto shipping company. Some key points in the inspection follow.

When making your thorough inspection of the vehicle, do not do so alone. You must have a representative from the shipping company doing the inspection with you so both agree and sign off on the condition of your vehicle before it is shipped. List all damages whether inconsequential or not. You will then know at the end if any damages you see then were pre-existing or brand new. Get a signed copy of this agreement before you leave the inspection site, and take pictures!. Take lots of pictures!

You will also want to inspect the functionality of the vehicle to make sure that the lights work, the turn signals, and everything else that should function normally when you turn the key. Take pictures inside as well. Things can get knocked around and you don’t want to have to pay to fix these yourself.

Don’t forget the glass in your car. A little chip in the windshield may not be annoying now, but oh boy, when it turns into a big crack, you’re in trouble. Take pictures. Check and get pictures of all the windows in your car.

Okay, so what do you do if you do find damage to your vehicle at journey’s end?

Report any damages as soon as possible. If you find anything that is wrong with your car, truck or van, reporting it immediately will avoid any confusion as to how the damage got there. This will in turn give you a much better chance of getting it fixed.

Again, pictures are terrific. Take as many as you can from as many angles as you can. This is one case where a picture is really worth a thousand words. There is no better proof to substantiate a claim than photographic evidence of damages.

If the car did suffer damages, the shipping company will normally allow you to get your own estimate from your usual auto shop and have it repaired there. If you don’t have a usual auto repair place, a dealership is generally a good bet.

To ensure that there was no damage caused to your vehicle during transport, always do a thorough inspection before and after shipping. If you do find any damage make sure to report it immediately and take photos of the damage. Noting any damage sooner is always better.

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

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

Car Shippers Can Move The Vehicle For You

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Auto Shipping, Vehicle Shipping, Vehicle Transport | No Comments »

Discover The Best Auto Shipping Services

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

When you are shifting interstate or overseas and you need to ship your car there are many things that you need to consider. Your vehicle is undoubtedly one of your costliest possessions and you should do some research beforehand to minimize risk to your car and make the auto shipping goes smoothly.

The cost of the auto shipping is obviously an important factor. Auto shipping can be quite expensive, but there are now Internet comparison sites that can search automatically for different prices. There can be a bid difference between the prices offered for car shipping, but there can also be a big difference between the quality and professionalism of the companies.

One of the most important factors when choosing your auto shipping company is the conditions under which they will transport your car. There is a risk when shipping that there may be some damage done, in secure and sound conditions you can minimize the risk of scratching or breakages. Make sure you are confident that the company that you choose puts you at ease with their professionalism.

Many shipping companies will now guarantee car delivery times and they can be brought directly to your front door. Compare the estimated times of delivery between companies and choose one that meets your needs. For different people in different situations the timeliness of delivery may be a very important factor.

Before choosing the company that will ship your car do a little background search and check out their reputation. It is easy to undertake an Internet search with the major companies and any others that have less than sterling pasts will be able to spot. You might also have family, friends or colleagues who have used auto shipping companies in the past that they had good experiences with.

Selecting a company that has the proper licensing in place is also an important point to check on when considering auto shipping. A company that has everything in order will have no hesitation in sharing their paper work with you.

Check into the type of insurance that the auto shipping company’s have themselves and what they can also offer you in addition. Knowing what types of damage or breakages the company insurance will cover and what they might not is important before you ship your car. Some companies will not cover scratches or paint chips that may happen while the vehicle is in transit putting it down to the associated risk of transportation. Other companies offer a very thorough insurance that will cover any type of damage done to the vehicle.

Since your auto is one of your most valuable assets, it is important that you choose your auto shipping company with great care after having reviewed the business’ insurance, licensing, reputation and operating policies. With a little thought and consideration you can save yourself a lot of stress and potential problems. Never choose a shipping company based purely on price, as it may end up costing you much more in the long run if there are problems or delays along the way.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Car Transport, moving, relocating | No Comments »

Auto Shipping The Dependable Way

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

If you need to ship any vehicle a long distance whether it be a sports car, vintage, SUV or golf cart, generally the most economical and smartest way to do that is to hire a service that specializes in this type of service.  This service may be by carrier truck or shipment by sea or air. They will save you money, effort, time and wear and tear on the car and your psyche.

When you think of “auto shipping” what comes to mind is a company with some type of transport vehicle to take your car to the destination you specify, in the same condition as when you left it in their care.  Most folks take the company’s reliability for granted and expect their car to be waiting for them at the end of the journey.  Company names can be deceiving.  “Reliable Auto Shipping Experts, Inc.”  doesn’t mean a thing.  You need to research the historical record of the company to which you entrust your car.

Keep in mind, also that most auto shipping companies are small, independent operations distributed over most large countries by the thousands.  They probably own just a few trucks.

The most basic factors of time and money should be your first consideration when looking for a dependable shipping company.  If you give the shipper a flexible timeline, the price will be less than if make a specific time demand, and you will have a better chance at dependability of performance.  Prices go up the more you are pressed for time.

The deal is generally set up with either a broker or a single carrier itself.  You will find that some enterprising shipping company’s now act as their own brokers.  This being true, make sure that you know that you are dealing with the carrier that also brokers for himself and not a carrier that brokers it out to some unknown company..

The company with whom you sign a contract must have a valid MC license and you must find out about its insurance carrier.  Ask for a copy of the Insurance Certificate, then contact that company and find out what they really cover, and maybe more importantly, what they do not cover.  The reliable company will not bat an eye at such a request and may in fact welcome the customer who is willing to do his homework.  You don’t want to give away your precious car to some organization whose insurance policy will lapse as soon as they put it on the carrier.

Research companies.  You do not want to deal with one without a track record that satisfies you of their dependability, or refuses to give out basic information on themselves.  There is a guide, “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,” available for  you to verify their business ethics as well as determine if they are really a carrier and not an unspoken broker/carrier.

If you are dealing with a broker who knows his stuff, which is a good idea, it becomes the broker’s job to do the research before choosing the right company for you.  The broker will uncover information on even the most close-mouthed of companies, so you can be sure your car is in for a safe journey.

Visit MetroGistics for all of your Vehicle Shipping needs.

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Posted in Trucks, logistics, moving, relocating | No Comments »

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