Shipping a vehicle across the country is a very stressful and worrisome deal as it’s hard to anticipate all problems that may occur during transit. However, you may still take some steps to understand the ins and outs and minimize the risk associated with the shipping process. It’s hard to cover all possible problems, but here are some commons you need to consider while transporting your car.
Vehicle Damage
Having your car damaged during the transportation process is one of the most common mishaps that you are likely to encounter. Everything from severe damages to minor dents and scratches may occur during auto transport. Thus, make sure to inspect your vehicle meticulously after you have it shipped. Don’t miss areas that are most commonly overlooked, such as under the bumpers and roof. If you have your car damaged after having it loaded onto the hauler truck, you need to fill out a complaint against your shipper and make applicable notes on the inspection report (known as a bill of lading). Make sure to have the driver’s signature on the document to avoid difficulties in the future when filling in your complaint form.
Incorrect Car Shipping Quote
Occasionally, auto carriers provide customers with an incorrect car shipping quote to estimate the shipping cost. It may mostly happen because of a misunderstanding related to a car drop-off location. For instance, two different cities in different states bear the same name but are a couple of hundred miles apart. To avoid such unpleasant situations and get a correct car shipping quote, please ensure to reiterate the postal codes of both pickup and drop-off locations.
Late or Delayed Auto Delivery
Late delivery is one of the last things you want to come across when shipping your vehicle. Although delays in auto delivery may happen because of the trucker’s negligence, the most common reasons continue to remain out of human control. Traffic jams, extreme weather conditions, mechanical troubles, and even late acceptance of delivery create a domino effect and lead to late delivery. That’s why many respectful auto transport services offer a delivery window of one to six business days to avoid delivery delays.
Poor Communications
Poor communication and bad customer service are what may push you to find a new company to ship your car. To make the auto shipping process quicker and easier, consider working with an auto transport broker. Although brokerage companies don’t own their trucks and have no control over them, they cooperate with a more extensive network of auto carriers that don’t deplete the capacity of shipping orders nationwide.
Off-Route Destinations
Most auto carriers use common routes for auto transport trips. If you want to have your car delivered to an off-route destination, you may incur additional fees and have late or delayed delivery. Thus, before you hire a shipping company, it’s always good to review the terms and conditions to avoid unexpected delays and hiked prices.
How Can You Avoid These Problems?
To insure yourself against these problems when dealing with auto transport, you need to carefully research the carrier/broker company and consider all pros and cons. Check online reviews, get recommendations from other customers, check records with Better Business Bureau (BBB) and use the company’s Motor Carrier number to verify it with FMCSA. Nothing is for sure in this industry; however, the above-stated steps may help you find a reputable carrier or broker to ship your car safely and quickly anywhere in the US.
