B9.5 Generation from Bangor, ME to Dayton, OH

There are many variables to consider when shipping a sedan from northern Maine to Ohio during the month of February. The route takes you through some of the most weather-sensitive areas of the country during the middle of winter. When the customer came to Tempus Logix with the need to have their 2020 Audi A4 transported from Bangor, ME to Dayton, OH, the team got to work the same day the order was received.

This is a breakdown of how the shipment was handled, the decisions made, and the reason for the timeline of the shipment.

Table of Contents

The Timeline

The order was booked on February 17, and the earliest available date was set for the same day. The carrier was assigned on February 20, three days after the booking. Pickup occurred on February 23, and delivery took place on February 24.

The total time elapsed from booking to delivery was seven days.

Three days between booking and assignment is quite normal, as dispatchers need time to assign each shipment to the appropriate carrier. Route type and time both play a role in this. Since this route passes through heavy freight routes, it didn’t take long to assign a carrier.

Between the assignment on the 20th and the pickup on the 23rd, the schedule was coordinated with the customer and other pickups along the route were accomplished. Open carriers typically load seven to nine cars on a single run, so the pickup order must be coordinated. The A4 was picked up in Bangor on the 23rd.

One day transit was required. The driver made the entire route from Bangor to Dayton and delivered the car on the 24th. The DOT limits daily driving to 11 hours, so a direct route such as this one need careful route planning to meet these requirements and arrive on schedule.

The Route: Bangor, ME to Dayton, OH

The distance between Bangor and Dayton spans approximately 1,100 miles. The route passes through the Northeast corridor and down through New York and Pennsylvania before finally arriving in Ohio. This is a freight route with regular carrier traffic, so it remains navigable even during the colder winter months.February is the peak month for winter in New England. For carriers out of Maine, the roads are icy, so the speed is slower. Choosing a carrier that is familiar with the Northeast is not simply a choice based on preference. It is one that impacts the way the entire process is handled.

Trailer Selection

Open transport was the correct decision for this transport. It is a good, solid sedan, not a classic or exotic vehicle that requires the added protection of an enclosed transport. It is also faster to schedule, as many more open transport vehicles are on the road. Additionally, the cost savings of open transport versus enclosed are significant.

The transport company used a standard multi-car transport vehicle. Cars are chained down using the axle straps and chains so that the vehicle does not move during transport. The A4 was chained down according to DOT regulations before leaving Bangor.

Some customers want to know about the exposure to the elements with the open transport in the winter. The way the vehicle is chained down ensures that it does not move regardless of road conditions. Some road salt or slush on the road is normal in February, but it washes off easily. There is no damage from the elements on a vehicle such as the A4.