If you have been thinking about shipping a vehicle, whether it be a car, truck, SUV or motorcycle, there has hardly been a better time in recent memory.
While the recession may have limited your need or ability to buy a new car long distance or move, it has also made it the most affordable it has been to do so in years.
With fuel prices leveling off from their highs of 2007/2008, shipping companies are typically no longer requiring fuel surcharges. They are also very hungry for work because in the decline in the auto market.
Put these two together and you have a recipe for some great savings on the cost of getting your vehicle moved. Another added bonus is that you can typically get it done quicker at this point. Cross country trips typically take 12-14 days, but we are seeing trips being completed in 7 days or less in some cases.
Finally, add in the oncoming winter, and the late fall of 2009 will likely be the least expensive time to ship a vehicle since the late 90's.
Resolving Complaints with Vehicle Shipping Companies
So, what happens when your car shipping experience runs into problems which cannot be resolved? ShipVehicles does their best due diligence when allowing shipping companies into our network, checking for proper insurance, up to date DOT records and the like. And we also were the pioneers in the industry in introducing a consumer rating system for vehicle shipping providers on our network.
But, things don’t always work out as hoped, and there are a lot of companies out there providing services who are not on the ShipVehicles network. So, who do you call or write when you’re unable to resolve issues with the company providing you service?
A great place to start is with the Better Business Bureau. They are not perfect, and they seem to get complaints themselves from business owners, but they are your best first line of defense and resolution. If you suspect you are going to be having issues with the company providing you vehicle shipping services, check out their BBB record by doing a search here.
Have others had issues with this company already? If so, that isn’t a good sign and you should be wary about your own transport process. If it is already to the point where you have an issue with the company they are unwilling to resolve, let them know you will be filing a BBB complaint on their business. This alone sometimes is enough to grease the wheels of resolution. If that doesn’t work, then you should file the complaint using BBB’s online form.
The next step would be to contact the entity with the most power (yet least oversight), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This is the division of the U.S. Department of Transportation that oversees the safety of motor carriers operating in the United States. Auto carriers and vehicle shipping brokers are registered and licensed via the FMCSA.
Get the ball rolling by either calling in a complaint to 1-888-DOT-SAFT(368-7238) Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM EST. or by filling a complaint electronically here.
The FMCSA has a lot of power, as it holds the ability to grant or revoke the US D.O.T. Motor Carrier license and approval. Without these, auto carriers and brokers are not legally entitled to provide their services to anyone.
The reason we say the FMCSA has the least oversight is because historically, the FMCSA has been grossly undermanned, but mainly because their core mission statement is directed toward operational safety, not consumer protection. You can get good assistance here with consumer issues, and it is very important for the FMCSA to know about serious complaints, but the cogs will turn slowly for consumer complaints, especially if they are not serious in nature (theft, safety violations, extensive vehicle damage, fraud).
Important: The FMCSA is not someone you call to complain that your car is a day or two late showing up. You call them when your car and maybe the company transporting it has fully disappeared. Or, call them when you can’t get a vehicle shipping company to pay for damages to your vehicle incurred during the transport process. Reserve this line for when you have been wronged, not when you have been inconvenienced.
If the BBB and FMCSA aren’t getting you anywhere, and especially if issue at hand is something serious like vehicle theft or financial fraud, it is time to call your local sheriffs office for assistance. Again, this is only for serious issues that are criminal in nature. You don’t want to be calling your local law enforcement if you have a new paint chip on your hood.
We hope this helps you in resolving any serious issues you might face in this process. We encourage consumers to work toward a friendly resolution with their service providers before you resort to using anyone from this list.
One of the primary options you face when choosing to ship your vehicle is which method the car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle will be trailered. You basically have two options, open or enclosed.
Open shipping is what you most typically see rolling down the highway or unloading new vehicles at dealers across the country. These can be single car trailers, three car 'hot-shots' 0r the multi-tiered trailers that can hold many vehicles. The vehicles are completely exposed to the elements just like they would be if they were out driving down the road.
Enclosed shipping is just like it sounds, with vehicles traveling in fully enclosed trailers protected from the elements and most critically each other. More on that last point in a second. First, the pros and cons of each type.
Open trailers are cheaper, lighter, and can typically carry more vehicles. Therefore they are cheaper to operate and also provide the least expensive method to ship your vehicle. This method is also the industry standard and will provide many more options and likely a faster pick-up and delivery window.
The downsides of open shipping are mainly exposure, and security. Exposure comes from the elements, road debris, basically anything your vehicle would experience driving down the road under its own power. One element that is often overlooked however is that car leaking oil, coolant and (most scarily) brake fluid onto your shiny ride. If your ride has to spend ten or more days strapped below a brake fluid oozing jalopy, the chances of your paint arriving unscathed is going to be suspect. This is a rare occurrence, but something to consider if you are hoping to keep your car in pristine condition.
Security is also a potential issue with open transport. Having things like high-end stereos, navigation systems and other expensive electronics stolen on an open trailer is exponentially higher than it would be in a locked and sealed trailer. Truckers don't often stray far from their mounts, but when they do, your car isn't any more protected than it would be sitting on side of the street.
Enclosed transport solves the two main problems with open transport, with protection from the elements and superior security. And the brake fluid issue is largely a non-issue on enclosed trailers as most of them that are double decker have solid floors dividing the top level from the bottom that catches any fluids escaping from those vehicles sleeping in the top bunk. Thieves will have to break into the trailer before they can break into your car, but would first have to decide if the effort is even worth it not knowing what is inside.
The major downside with enclosed transport is really the price. Ranging anywhere from 25-100% more expensive than open transport, it can be cost prohibitive. There is also the limited availability factor with significantly fewer operations offering this option. So, getting your vehicle shipped during your ideal time frame may be a challenge.
One other upside to enclosed shipping is that the vehicles typically receive greater care while being loaded, transported, and off-loaded. This is simply a 'you get what you pay for' factor and also the fact that most of the rides traveling around in this method are of higher value.
ShipVehicles is of the belief that commercial motorcycle shipping should always be enclosed. The exposure to the elements and security issues are too great to have a motorcycle cover any distance on an open trailer. Currently, we are not familiar with any major commercial motorcycle shipping company that transports bikes on a open trailer. No companies providing motorcycle shipping quotes on ShipVehicles use open trailers.
Open shipping is a great option for the vast majority of consumers. You can even request to be on the top rack and/or immediately behind the truck (which protects from debris and elements a little better) with most companies. This is more critical in colder climates in the winter.
Enclosed shipping is for those with higher value vehicles looking for 'white glove' services and those who are protective of their vehicular investments. Sure, it costs more, but it gives you the most peace of mind as well.
Surprisingly, you have several options when it comes to the type, method and delivery when shipping a motorcycle. Their are options for air freight, ground freight, and door to door uncrated motorcycle shipping.
Most companies in the ShipVehicles network utilize door to door uncrated shipping. Some companies will offer delivery to commercial addresses at a discount and use what is called a pop-up crate. These are the two primary methods we endorse and encourage our customers to utilize.
A relatively popular option is to use a company like Forward Air to air freight their motorcycle. While this has numerous advantages, the main one being speed, there are also a lot of unseen disadvantages.
The primary issue is the air freight process itself. You will have to get the bike to the Forward Air terminal and drop it off without fuel or battery. When the motorcycle gets to the destination, the receiving party will have to pick it up sans fuel and battery. The other major issue is the lack of Forward Air locations, especially in the Western US. If you live in Montana for example, you would have to deliver or pick up your bike in Salt Lake City, Portland or Seattle.
For this reason, we prefer door to door shipping. It is massively more convenient and can save both the person shipping and receiving the bike a massive amount of time and effort. Your bike shows up where you want it to, ready to run.
Why Auto Shipping is More Expensive Than You Remembered.
What is the single biggest impact on the cost to have your vehicle shipped? Diesel fuel prices is the simple answer. Are you wondering why it is costing so much more these days or why your vehicle shipping quote seems higher than what you expected?
Back in 2002, the second year of ShipVehicles, the average price of diesel fuel in the U.S. was a paltry $1.40. Today? Diesel fuel is averaging close to $4.40 for the month of May. That is a whopping 213% increase in costs.
The Energy Information Administration website shows even more remarkable changes in the last year. Since March of this year, diesel prices have risen nearly $1.00 alone.
People who shipped their vehicles in recent years are likely not a good source of info for how much it is going to cost if they aren't factoring in fuel price increases.
We are amazed at how little fuel prices have altered pricing the last few years, but the recent price hikes are spelling disaster for mom and pop carriers and large corporations alike. At some point they are going to have to make more aggressive pricing adjustments to allow for the dramatic increase in fuel prices.
If you are looking to get a vehicle shipped, do it sooner rather than later, as it will be very unlikely that it gets any cheaper in the near future.
Greetings, and welcome to the new ShipVehicles.com blog. It is our intention to make this blog a great resource for our customers to learn about the auto shipping process and of course, how they can use ShipVehicles.com to help secure the best service to get their vehicle shipped anywhere in the United States.
ShipVehicles is not in its sixth year in operation and we have helped tens of thousands of people locate auto shipping services for their vehicles. We pioneered the use of a consumer powered rating system in the industry and hope we have helped all of our customers make more informed decisions.
Topics on the blog will be wide ranging and varied, so continue to check back from time to time to stay abreast of the latest news and developments.
