June 04, 2010

  Auto Transport - Even Your Clunker Can Ride

Most vehicles moved by auto transport companies are new cars, trucks, and SUVs bound for dealerships. But there are many inoperable vehicles that travel by car transport, too—single vehicle shipments. Is it worth the money to pay for shipping a car that doesn’t run?

That depends on the vehicle. If it’s a classic that you’re planning to renovate, it probably is. If it’s an old family clunker that has sentimental value, it still might be worth the cost. After all, the alternative is to junk it, sell it, or move it yourself. That last option is not always possible and it certainly isn’t fun. Finding a trailer that can handle the weight, a vehicle with a towing package, a bunch of buddies to help you push the car onto the trailer—not to mention the beer and pizza you’ll have to shell out for in order to get those buddies to help—and an auto transport service starts to sound pretty good.

So what’s the first step in using an auto transport company to move your inoperable vehicle? First, find a company that can handle the job. Auto transport brokers, personal references, the Yellow Pages, or the Internet are a few ways to find the many companies available. Make sure you choose a carrier with the proper credentials. In addition to a decent price, that means reputation, experience, insurance, and equipment.

When interviewing auto transport companies, let them know that your car or truck doesn’t run. It’s possible that the carrier will need special equipment or even a driver with the expertise to load and transport an inoperable vehicle. After all, a car or truck that doesn’t run can’t drive onto a trailer under its own power. The auto transport driver will probably use a winch to pull the vehicle onto the trailer. If no winch is available, a hired helper may be necessary. Either way, your vehicle must be capable of being steered and rolled.

After you’ve selected an auto transport company and they’ve agreed to handle your shipment, you’re still not done. Before the trailer arrives, you need to take care of some housekeeping. Empty the oil, transmission and steering fluids from the vehicle. Make sure there isn’t much fuel in the gas tank—preferably less than a quarter of a tank. When the auto transport driver arrives, verify his insurance and certification. Fill out a written inspection form. Then turn over your vehicle knowing that you’ve done all the work that’s necessary to transport your inoperable vehicle safely.

06-04-2010 03:08:49AM - Permalink - Comment [0]

  A Quick Auto Shipping Overview

There are many reasons people rely on auto shipping companies to deliver their cars for them. One of the most prevalent reasons to have a car shipped is simply relocation. If someone is moving cross-country, they may prefer to fly to their destination and have their goods shipped to them. Auto shipping is the process of having a vehicle delivered, the same way you would have furniture delivered to a new home.

The cost of having a car shipped to a new location depends on how quickly it needs to get there, and how much preparation is necessary before shipping. If the car is a classic, it may require special treatment to ensure that it makes the trip safely. Larger cars, like SUVs, can cost a little more to transport because of their size.

Most auto shipping companies will require the proper ownership documentation before they will agree to ship the car. They may also require the customer to provide a statement of the condition of the car when it was brought to be shipped. This protects the shipper from any claims of damage that may occur during transport, and it protects the customer by giving proof that certain damage wasn't present before shipping.

When choosing a shipping company, one of the best places to begin is on a website dedicated to providing information and quotes from several of the best auto shipping providers. These sites collect information about shippers in one handy location, and offer the opportunity to learn more about each company before you commit.

One of the easiest ways to get a good idea of the service provided by auto shipping companies is to read the customer reviews. These candid testimonials provide better insight into the shipping process and quality than any advertisement.

Auto shipping sites also make it easy to get a good idea of the cost of auto shipping through their free quote forms. Getting a good shipping quote can take the guesswork out of finding the right shipping company based on price. A good quote will provide information about all of the costs of auto shipping, and give customers a great place to begin the process.

06-04-2010 03:06:50AM - Permalink - Comment [0]

June 03, 2010

  A Breezy Auto Transport for Your Motorcycle

So you’ve found a new job. Congratulations! But it’s on the other side of the country. Okay. Auto transport may not be the first thing on your mind. You have to sell your old home—or get out of your apartment lease—and arrange for a furniture mover. You’re going to drive your car yourself and your motorcycle—oh. You don’t have a hitch on your car to tow it. You don’t have a friend who’s willing to drive it across the country. The moving company won’t ship it with your personal belongings. You need a professional auto transport service that can handle moving your precious bike. What do you do?

First, do a little research. Like many other services these days, auto transport provides a world of options. Check with your friends or your local Better Business Bureau to find a carrier that has the expertise to move your motorcycle. Make sure they offer closed transport—an enclosed trailer—to keep your motorcycle safe from the weather and road hazards. They should secure your bike inside a crate or to a pallet that is the appropriate size for your particular bike. Verify, too, that the auto transport service can offer the appropriate insurance to cover the value of your make and model of motorcycle because not all bikes are created equal. Ensure, too, that drivers for the carrier are experienced at moving motorcycles.

Okay, so you’ve chosen an auto transport service that can handle your motorcycle move. You’ve arranged a pickup date and time as well the details for delivery at the destination. Now it’s time to prepare the bike for its big move. The auto transport service will probably give you a checklist of instructions to follow to get the bike ready. That list should include at least the following steps.

Empty the fuel tank
Drain the oil
Lock down the battery
Remove or fold in the mirrors
Unlock the steering
Remove the saddlebags
Empty the storage areas
Inspect the bike, making note of any scratches or dents
Make sure you have the ownership title and/or registration

When the auto transport driver loads your motorcycle, make sure you keep your ignition key. Small items like that often have a way of disappearing. Then step back and let the auto transport do its job. If you need it, they should be able to track the bike as it makes its way safely to its destination.

06-03-2010 05:23:01AM - Permalink - Comment [0]

  Training for Auto Transport Drivers—Not an Option

Auto transport is a great way to get a car from origin to destination without piling on the mileage. After all, why should your car roll when it can ride? But when choosing an auto transport company, remember that they are not all created equal. Choosing the wrong one can be costly and foolish—even downright dangerous. Expertise is critical to providing safe, efficient, and economical service so choose carefully. New companies may be great but experience is necessary to avoid damage to the cargo—your car.

And how do the drivers for auto transport companies gain their experience? The first and most important way is through training. Any driver working for an auto transport company should be fully trained and certified. And don’t forget the insurance. The drivers—or the companies that employ them—must be enough to cover not only their trucks and trailers, but the cargo as well, along with any other vehicles they might happen to bump into.

Speaking of the possibility of bumping into another vehicle, drivers for auto transport companies should be experienced at defensive driving. That’s where that all-important training comes in really handy. The drivers must know how to react when smaller vehicles brake suddenly in front of them or how to handle tailgaters on rain-slick roads. They must know the correct ways to drive on unpaved country roads as well as on interstate highways.

But proper training teaches auto transport drivers more than the proper way to handle those big rigs. It teaches them how to maneuver large, fully loaded trailers, often in difficult conditions. From making right-hand turns to pulling full trailers down narrow streets to parking in limited spaces, proper training provides auto transport drivers with the practice they need to make sure their trucks and cargo are always under their control.

Of course training doesn’t stop with handling the trucks and trailers. Training also teaches the drivers of auto transport vehicles the importance of maintaining log books and working within the limits of hours of operation. It helps them to understand trucking regulations and the highway laws of the various states through which they may be hauling your car. It teaches them safety tips for keeping their rigs and cargo safe, whether on the road or in truck stops.

Training. It’s a word that every auto transport driver should know because they’ve been through it. It’s a word that every customer should feel comfortable insisting upon.

06-03-2010 05:22:04AM - Permalink - Comment [0]

April 29, 2010

  Turn Right for Easy Car, RV or Boat Shipping

Common knowledge says the fastest way to get from one place to another is by way of a straight line. The same common sense approach works for vehicle shipping.

If you have ever tried to ship your car, RV or boat, you’ve most likely gone around in a few circles. There’s no shortage of contractors for vehicle shipping. There’s open or closed transport, door to door, door to terminal and terminal-to-terminal shipping. Pricing varies according to route and available drivers. Availability and pickup arrangements are as varied as the carriers are. Don’t forget about verifying all the different licenses and insurance.

It would be easy to spend an entire day making phone calls or visiting one vehicle shipping website after another, compiling a novella of notes while doing so.

With the many options available, vehicle shipping can seem complicated. Customer service at www.M2ReevesCarShipping.com with a one-on-one personal contact takes all the mystery and confusion out of the whole vehicle shipping process.

One visit, to one website, with one form on Page 1 is all it takes. Most questions are answered on one FAQ (frequently asked questions) page. Phone numbers and a variety of contact methods are at your fingertips. It’s one phone call, to one person, for a free instant rate quote. All this is contained in one stop.

Few of us are experienced in vehicle shipping. The staff at American Auto Shipping takes all the angst out of the process. A knowledgeable staff of real humans can help with any arrangement for any vehicle shipping and make suggestions for the best experience possible.

The commitment does not end there. Once all the details and arrangements are complete, a personal contact keeps you informed from pickup to final delivery. Tracking the shipment in route is as easy as logging onto the website and going to the tracking function in the top bar on the front page. One click and you’re in touch 24/7.

Either vehicle shipping can spin you around in circles, or it can be one of the easiest things on earth. Do yourself a favor, and take the straight line to American Auto Shipping at www.M2ReevesCarShipping.com the next time you’re here, but your car is there.

04-29-2010 03:49:50AM - Permalink - Comment [0]