The shipping of a vehicle means different things to different people. To some, it’s an object – simply a car, a boat, an RV, ATV, or motorcycle…to others, it’s a very personal thing like transporting a cherished family member.
Although price is important, other important issues surface when the all important selection process of choosing a Carrier for auto transport is begun. First and foremost you must select based upon a comfort level that is good for you.
Equipment: Does he have modern and safe equipments? Insurance: Is the carrier properly insured? License: Does the carriers have all of the proper licenses and permits necessary? Safety Record: His driving record is very important. Reputation: Does this carrier project a professional attitude?
Utilizing only Carriers that meet a strict code of ethics and conduct is vital, therefore your selection of Brokers that only use these types is very important. Shipping cars and vehicles is a very serious business and only companies and individuals that are very serious need to be involved.
Properly insured means having liability insurance as well as cargo insurance coverage, to not only cover your vehicle, but also any possible exposure to liability that may come along in the process of moving your vehicle. Most top companies today carry a minimum of $250,000.00 in cargo insurance and at least $1,000.000.00 in liability is standard.
Required and mandatory licensing is very important. Being licensed through the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and having all of the state and federal permits (including registration with the DOT) is not only expected but necessary. The minimum required will be a Motor Carrier Authority Number (a license), a DOT number (licensing) and each state requires permits (expensive) just to utilize their highways for transport.
Getting your vehicle there safely is very urgent, so a safety record indicating that your driver is a careful profession is critically important to you as a shipper.
All drivers/carriers build reputations and some are good, while others not so good. A driver/carriers reputation will certainly provide you volumes in terms of what to expect in regards to agreement, compliance with your contract, and the simple task of just getting along with you. Be careful here if you feel a bit uncomfortable. You might want to simply talk with another driver/carrier that makes you feel better about the entire process. You can find many review sites on the internet where you can review the performance and reputations of various transport companies. They are even complete with details and accounts of experiences listed by previous customers.
A successful company or driver is going to have modern well maintained equipment with which to move your vehicle. Stay away from those using “junk”. For the most part the safety and reliability of a large rig will have a lot to do with it’s age and visable condition. If it looks worn out it probably is. Successful Carriers pride themselves in top equipment and you will be able to tell the difference.
The nice thing about requesting quotes from brokers is that only companies selected to meet or exceed the above listed descriptions will be contacting you. After all, you safety and total satisfaction is what it is all about.
Before selecting a quote be sure and read Campbell Shahan’s really excellent article on what you need to know at auto transport where he points out the nice and the bad about auto transport auto transport