Shipping Heavy Equipment

To transport heavy equipment, you take the same steps with Tempus Logix as you would take when transporting a car. It all starts with a quote. Get a quote with the help of our heavy equipment calculator. Our professional representatives will get back to you with the best quote in the market.  Our coordinating team of experts, remarkably experienced by years, makes the process of shipping heavy equipment seamless. Our knowledge of Federal Highway Administration’s regulations relating to heavy equipment transportation will be at your disposal upon contacting us. Understanding the process may seem complicated, but with Tempus Logix, it is not. Our company does not discriminate against weight for heavy equipment loads, as long as we can keep it legal, we got it covered.

We will help you with all the steps necessary for transporting your heavy equipment. These include but not limited to:

• We will assist in categorizing the type of heavy equipment, which may need special oversize permits from your state.

• We will find the most professional driver with a top-notch trailer that can safely and timely transport it.

• We will guide you on how to prepare it for the pick-up and drop-off.

• We will map the routes that meet the regulations and has the best climatic conditions for it to move through smoothly.

Just as we are at our customers’ side throughout the process of transporting a car, we will be there all the way through for you to relocate the heavy equipment. And if you are returning patron, then you know how well we do when it comes to transporting heavy equipment and cars.

The documents needed for shipping a car

Shipping a car involves two entities: the shipper who owns or possesses the vehicle and the company that takes on the shipping. On both ends, the process requires or prefers some paperwork to get the moving done. We are listing all the documents associated with interstate auto transportation and its corresponding explanations.

Dock Receipt: Tempus Logix provides this document to recognize that the freight is under our responsibility, and the customer allows us to transport it.  This document sets up the starting point for drafting the bill of lading for the cargo.

Bill of Lading (BOL):  It is an indispensable piece of paper because it serves as a contract between our customers and carriers. With its carriers, Tempus Logix generates this form of paperwork. The first purpose for the Bill of Lading, which means a bill of loading, is to record the cargo, its destination, delivery time, and the name(s) of the shipper(s) and carrier(s). The second purpose is for noting the condition of the car for reference, just in case something happens during the transit, so the carrier can reimburse our client. It serves as proof of damages. Without it, it would be hard to know if anything happened to the car.

Insurance: The client can have the car insured or not insured, but for the carrier, it is mandatory. The customer can ask about carriers’ insurance for transporting his or her cargo. Tempus Logix only works with insured transporters, and we make sure of that at all times.

Original Title and Registration: This collocation is two separate documents.  The title (aka pink slip) shows a vehicle’s ownership; the registration, obtained at one’s state DMV, identifies vehicles as roadworthy and allows them to have license plates. A customer may or may not provide these documents, depending on to what state the transit takes place.

Authorization from a lienholder: If a vehicle has a lien on it, then a customer needs to provide a notarized letter from the lienholder, permitting the car shipping. This document is mandatory for ports.

Gate Pass: A carrier needs authorization for the pickup or release of the car from/to ports or auto auctions before arriving there. We generate the gate pass along with the dock receipt, BOL, and Delivery Order (a document that allows the carrier to move the cargo). 

Photo identification: a customer provides any valid document identifying the shipper and the receiver of the car.

Our experts at Tempus Logix are always ready to answer any question about the paperwork needed to transport your car. Please feel free to make a call and we will be more than happy to assist you.

How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping

You just finished talking with Tempus Logix, and you got the best car transport price, car delivery timeframe, and the type of trailer in which you want to transport your car. Tempus Logix’s experts informed you that the driver would contact you 24 hours prior and then again 4 hours before the actual pickup. You are responsible to prepare your car for shipping before the driver’s arrival.

At this point, you might have wondered, “what do I need to do when the driver comes? Just hand him the keys?”

In actuality, that is all you need to do—meet him, watch the inspection of the car, sign the papers, and say your goodbyes. After this, you merely wait for your car delivery to your assigned destination.

But, if for some reason you wonder if there is any other thing you could do to prepare the car for the pickup, here are some tips:

Wash the car

Lather up, PW, and dry the car! Now when it is clean, you can start a visual inspection for any existing scratches, dents, or damages. If there are any, you may photograph them for your and carriers’ record. 

The transporter has to do this either way, but for you doing it beforehand can save some time. Besides, it will be easier to notice any changes to your car when delivered. With Tempus Logix, the vehicles arrive in the same condition as carriers have loaded them onto the trailers. Say if some does happen—Perish the thought!—the indemnity will follow faster because of your preparedness.

Empty the car

It is better to have the car empty of personal belongings before the shipment. But if you have to move some things with your car, then packed it neatly, put it in the trunk, and try to keep the 100 lbs free of charge limit. Make sure no loose parts/objects are on or in the vehicle. You do not want anything flying out or bouncing inside the car during the transit. Also, check for any leaks due to mechanical issues. It can cause damage to other vehicles if it is on a multi-level multi-car trailer.

Keep the tank low

For weight reasons, carriers prefer transporting cars that have less than 20% of fuel in the tanks. One gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds. 20% is equal to about 2.5 to 3 pounds. These numbers, compared with the weight of a full tank (72-90 pounds), makes a big difference for the GVWR, not to mention, adding them by 2-9 for multi-level multi-car trailers.

If you had filled up the tank and then you planned to transport the car, obviously you are not going to empty it. However, getting the car prepared before shipping will make the transit just much smoother.

Is It Safe to Ship a Car?

To answer this question, almost all the articles on the web say that it depends on what company you choose to do the transporting; customers should do their research to mark their checklist in terms of safety. Then, they also say that the transportation type, that is an enclosed vehicle transport or open transport type, would also affect the risk factors and costs.

However, it also happens that some companies in their articles falsely claim that it is safer to transport vehicles with companies that own their trailers, and not with the ones who contract the shipment, such as broker companies. The truth of the matter is that no one company in the States has that many personal trucks to meet the demand for car transportation. So, the very same companies who make these erroneous claims turn into semi-broker companies themselves because they cannot process all the orders on time. Had this not been the case, then there would have been one big company doing all the transporting. Naturally, with no choice, it forces companies to outsource either way.

Tempus Logix has done thousands of cars and heavy equipment transport nationally with no issues.  Our secret is not a secret at all. The key to our success lies in the relationship with our carriers. When we are processing an order and coordinating the pickup, we do not just assign the job to any given carrier on the board to transfer our customers’ valuable property just because we can make some money. We consider all the variables, even the drivers’ personalities. Having done this many heavy equipment and car shipments, we got to know the people whom we trust. Besides, we take other things into account as well. For instance, there is a carrier who transported a car safely, but was rude to our customer and our customer did not like the whole experience. The next time when we are about to do business with the same driver, we think twice because we consider all the feedback from our patrons. Nevertheless, we know many excellent and responsible drivers whose professionalism makes it possible for us to trust the transit of our customers’ property in a safe and timely manner.

Tempus Logix is a company comprised of people with values and understanding. It is not a system where it does things mechanically. Our specialists care for every car or heavy equipment transported as they would have cared for their own most valuable property.

So, is it safe to ship a car? We cannot speak for others, but with Tempus Logix, we guarantee safe and secure car shipment.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship My Car?

In Tempus Logix, we think the greatest price determiner for auto transport is the company you hire to truck your car. The reason we say this is that some factors that affect price fluctuations are general and pertain to every company in auto transport across the platform regardless of companies own pricing for a shipment. If it is a busy time of year, then it is a busy time of year for everyone. The price shift from high to low will be relevant for all the companies. The same goes for other factors—gas price, traffic, weather, to name a few. Correspondingly, then we have some generic factors that inherently cause a significant change in the increase or decrease in the price of moving a car.

Let us do a quick review of these factors.

	Lower Prices	Higher Prices
The vehicle type	Smaller size and weighs less	Bigger size and weighs more
The carrier type	Open transport	Enclosed transport
Distance	Longer distance*	Shorter distance*
Location: near highway/freeway	Closer	Farther
Timeframe	Extended	Expedited
Vehicle condition	Operable	Inoperable

All of these factors boil to one estimated and somewhat a standard price for all auto-shipment companies to bid and discretionally change it for their profit. Therein lies the rub. The real change in price happens at this point. That’s why it is indispensable to go with a company you can trust. Tempus Logix always offers affordable prices to its customers and gives many discounts. Tempus Logix does not burden its customers with the interplay of factors that affects price changes. Tempus Logix does all the calculations and price comparisons for its clients to choose the best one that suits them and not the company. Tempus Logix assists all its clients through its effective communication to sort out all the information necessary to yield the cheapest way to ship a car.

How does car transport work?

In today’s fast-paced world, auto transport services have become more than just a luxury—they are now a time and money-saving option for traveling long distances. However, despite their benefits, many car owners have limited knowledge about how car transport works.

In this article, we’ll explore the various services offered by auto transport companies and explain the steps car owners must follow when shipping their vehicles. We’ll cover the following:

• Research Available Auto Shipping Options
• Request an Auto Shipping Quote
• Review The Insurance Policy
• Prepare the Car for Shipping
• Sign the Bill of Lading

Research Available Auto Shipping Options

Car owners have many options for shipping their vehicles across the United States, including choosing the auto transport company, the carrier’s type, and the pickup and delivery service. However, to be able to select meticulously, one has to be introduced to the different options.

Auto transport company

When it comes to the auto transport company, a car owner must be extremely careful, as this decision will influence the whole auto transport experience. The best auto transport company to hire has the following features:

1. Registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
2. Has USDOT and MC numbers publicly available online
3. Experienced in auto shipping with several years in the industry
4. Offers reasonable quotes close to the average market price
5. Reviewed by many clients online positively

Tempus Logix is among the industry’s top-rated auto transport companies; it meets all the above standards and is ready to meet clients’ needs year-round in the United States. The company has over 1000 online reviews from satisfied clients and has already shipped over 45,000 vehicles of all types across the country.

Carrier type

An enclosed trailer is a fully enclosed transport vehicle used to haul vehicles, protecting them from weather and theft. Those who want a higher level of safety for their car and don’t want to expose it to the minimum harm go for the enclosed carrier; however, this carrier comes for a higher fee.

An open trailer is a transport trailer with no sides or roof, allowing for easy loading and unloading of vehicles but offering no protection from weather or theft. It is a good, affordable option for those seeking a reasonable safety level.

Pickup and delivery services

Clients have two options for transporting their vehicles: terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door:

• Terminal-to-terminal: it involves driving the vehicle to a designated terminal for pickup and receiving it at a terminal in the destination. This option is more affordable but less convenient.
• Door-to-door: it involves the carrier picking up and delivering the vehicle directly from the client’s pre-agreed address, providing a more convenient and secure option. However, this option is more costly.

Request an Auto Shipping Quote

Once car owners decide on the auto shipping carrier and the pickup and delivery services, it’s time to contact auto shipping companies and request quotes. It’s recommended to reach out to several service providers and compare their price offers before deciding. However, car owners shouldn’t be after the cheapest service and overlook its quality.

It’s worth mentioning that many auto transport companies implement auto shipping cost calculators on their websites. These online tools are free to use and instant in providing auto shipping cost estimates.

What sets Tempus Logix apart is the advanced AI-based auto shipping cost calculator on the company’s website. It offers accurate and instant quotes based on real-time online data processing for auto shipping conditions.

Review The Insurance Policy

Before signing an agreement with an auto shipping company, car owners should carefully review the insurance policy provided by the chosen service provider. The insurance policy should offer sufficient coverage to protect the vehicle during transit.

Clients should pay attention to the types of damages covered, coverage limits, deductibles, and any exclusions or conditions stated in the policy. Negotiating the insurance terms is fine when something doesn’t seem right.

Prepare the Car for Shipping

Car owners play an important role in ensuring the success of the auto transport process. Follow these instructions to prepare the car the right way:

1. Thoroughly wash the exterior and clean the interior of the car. It helps document the vehicle’s condition before shipping
2. Remove all personal items from the car, including loose objects, electronic devices, and valuables
3. Carefully inspect your car for any damages, such as scratches, dents, or dings
4. Document damages by taking clear photos or videos from different angles. It provides evidence of the car’s pre-shipping condition
5. Check for leaks and mechanical issues
6. Keep the fuel tank at approximately a quarter full to minimize the vehicle’s weight during transport
7. Ensure that all tires are properly inflated
8. Disable the alarm system to prevent unnecessary activation during transport

Sign the Bill of Lading 

When the car is delivered, the carrier driver and the client must observe the car’s exterior looking for any new damage. If any dent, scratch, or ding caused by the driver or carrier’s inefficiency is found, the auto transport company takes full responsibility and compensates the car owner financially.

However, the car owner must be attentive and not get triggered away to sign the Bill of Lading until they carry out a full inspection, as soon as the bill is signed, the client is abandoning any right to claim insurance.

Conclusion

Placing an auto transport order for the first time might be challenging, especially with the increased number of service providers in the US. That’s why getting to know the process in detail and who to place the trust in will ease things.

For Trucking a Car, Tempus Logix Delivers the Best Communication to Its Customers

Every day in Tempus Logix, when we answer phone calls and read quotes, emails, text messages, and comments, we take in everything communicated to us by the people who want to move their cars or heavy equipment. After all, we understand that this communication comes from a person and not just another number. Every individual that chooses us to transport their property matters to us from the first sentence spoken or written.

To facilitate auto transportation, we make communication easy for our customers. It is hard enough as it is for people to find a trusted company, calculate the transportation cost, and keep their worries at ease until their hauled cars reach their destinations. By addressing our customers’ inquiries, we simplify the complexity of auto transport for them. That is why we emphasize effective communication on our part. Our dealings make transporting a car smooth and easy for our customers.

The trained professionals in Tempus Logix are there to improve the experience of people wanting to move their cars, transport boats, tractors, or any other heavy equipment.  When a customer reaches us, we do not like keeping them waiting. We do our checks and clarifications thoroughly and swiftly. We pay close attention to our clients’ expectations and spot the best solutions for them with the main goal in mind: shipping the car or heavy equipment safely, at affordable prices, and ASAP. We are our customers’ ally in vehicle transport.

We build lasting relationships with our customers because we want them to always have a friend on standby to make auto transport happen without the usual hustle and bustle. Our approach is proactive; our communication is honest; and, the information we deliver is accurate and purposeful.

We work for our customers from 6 am to 9 pm PST (15 hours a day) with one purpose and only one purpose in mind: Customer Satisfaction. In our service, there are no short cuts, no ignoring of issues, and, definitely, no sweeping things under the rug.  

We Care for Our Customers’ Spending during Their Vehicle Transportation

Let’s face it: every business revolves around making money. The finances have a direct impact on the overall delivery of service. If you pay more, it is highly likely that you will get a better service.

In Tempus Logix, we do not let this pattern dictate our service delivery. Our goal is to do business with our clients on a regular basis. So when you ask for a car shipping quote from our website, we provide a quote that is perfectly balanced for being affordable and still keeping the professional service (quick delivery, professional driver and constant communication and on-time updates). We are not money-hungry. Our philosophy is that if we do fair business and have customer satisfaction, then that is a win-win situation for both parties involved.

On a platform, shipping prices fluctuate. Sometimes they go high and sometimes they go low because of many field related factors of shipment of cars and heavy equipment. Tempus Logix never aims for the high end of the shipping price because we understand the value of money from the perspective of our customers.

Yes, we are a broker company, but our agents do not earn their money from commissions only. They have a fixed salary; therefore, by having this payment system in Tempus Logix, ripping off extra money from customers’ pockets does not drive the broker’s motivation in deal-making. They care for the clients’ economy and desire to have them save money while doing business with Tempus Logix. Customer satisfaction is our main priority. 

We conduct our business with this distinguished approach. We make our modest income by providing a trusted, consistent, and constant service to our customers. We are always with them and we love to see them satisfied. And when there are times when it happens that our clients are not satisfied, we do our best to address the issues causing their dissatisfaction.

Car Shipping Do’s and Don’ts

Whether you’re shipping a car, shipping a motorcycle or any other vehicle that is usually transported with carrier companies and/or brokers, there are some guidelines you should follow when asking for a auto shipping quote to make sure your shipment goes smoothly. If you’re an experienced shipper and have done this a few times already, you might find these familiar. But if this is your first time doing this and you can’t really tell an overpriced quote from a reasonable one, here are some tips that might come in handy and make your experience successful.
Starting from the basics, there are 5 things the company you might work with will ask about your shipment in order to be able to give a quote.

1. The pickup address
2. The delivery address
3. The year, make and model of the vehicle(s)
4. The condition of the vehicle (including modification(s) and if it’s operable)
5. The chosen trailer type (open or enclosed)

Going further into these points, if the pickup or the delivery location is from a port or somewhere else that would require paperwork or any credentials, say an auction or a dealer, you have to make sure that you forward the needed paperwork before the driver arrives at the location. Also make sure to let the company know if you need any paperwork or the title signed, as well as anything else that might be important to take with the shipment.
The year, make and model of the car is pretty self-explanatory and doesn’t require any specifications, other than a specific edition that would differ from the stock version, which brings us to the modifications and what could potentially affect the price of the shipment.  Here you should pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle, and if it’s lower or higher than usual you should definitely disclose so. The width of the wheels should be disclosed as well to make sure that the vehicle will fit in the trailer without being too close to the sides to avoid any damages. If the vehicle isn’t operable, as well as doesn’t roll, you’ll have to assist both the loading and unloading part of the shipment, as that case usually requires a forklift. Assuming the company will take care of that all and finding out that they actually aren’t able to provide you with the assistance will save you a lot of time. And if the vehicle does roll, brake and steer, all you have to do is disclose that and just request for a truck that’ll have a winch which is the most common way of handling such shipments.
And lastly coming to the more pricey option, enclosed trailer usually are a bit more expensive than a regular open one, but ensure much more safety and it really comes down to what vehicle you’re shipping and how well do you need it taken care of.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Shipping

Before asking for a quote from a vehicle transportation company, most people have to think twice about whether they can trust them or not. There will be a lot of questions running through their minds, many of which are addressed in the FAQs about Car Shipping.

But mostly, they refer to the FAQs about Car Shipping to ask the most important questions, such as:

• Is my vehicle insured during transportation?
• When is the vehicle going to be picked-up?
• When will my car delivery take place?
• Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?
• Can I track my vehicle online?
• Why isn’t the car assigned/picked-up/delivered yet?
• How does trucking a car work?
• What’s a reasonable cost to ship a car?
• Can I ship my car across the country?
• Can I ship a truck?
• How do I request auto transport quotes?
• Is a cheap car shipping safe?

Well, we are here to answer your questions, and we are surely going to get you the right transportation with the right car transport company that your vehicle needs.

Answers to Car Shipping FAQs

Is my vehicle insured during transportation?

Tempus Logix is a brokerage company. We work with a big network of car carriers, and of course fully insured ones. We will not give your vehicle to non-trusted car movers; we always make sure that they are insured and up for the duty.

When is the vehicle going to be picked-up?

After you ask for a quote and book with us, we start searching for the perfect car moving company with an available driver for your vehicle in the pick-up area. When it is assigned, we will give you an estimated date and time for the pickup. The driver will call to give you prior notice or to give you an open window.

When will my vehicle be delivered?

When you place an order, you will receive an estimated date between the pick-up and delivery. This will give you a window to prepare yourself to receive your vehicle. We put estimated dates because it depends on the distance, traffic, weather conditions, etc. It may be possible to deliver your car faster than estimated sometimes. 

Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?

Of course, you can ship car and belongings together, but the weight should be less than 100 LBs, and be below the window level, or in the trunk. In case of there being more than 100lbs, the car moving company might charge a dollar for each pound.

Can I track my vehicle online?

Live tracking isn’t available yet, but we will inform you as soon as there is any update about the shipment. Feel free to call us at any time you like to get updates. And of course, the assigned driver will communicate with you as well.

Why isn’t my car assigned/picked-up/delivered yet?

Sometimes the car shipping process has some delays in its duration, some problems with the car haulers’ truck and sometimes some changes with their schedule. So, in that case, we will call you to see if you agree with this situation. If not, mostly we are obligated to cancel with that specific car shipping service provider and start looking for a new one to assure the quick transportation of your car(s).

How does trucking a car work?

Usually, if the car is operable it’s easily driven onto the trailer by the driver and secured to ensure stability during the shipping process. 

What’s a reasonable cost to ship a car?

It really depends on what car you’re shipping, what type of transportation type will you be choosing and how long will the trip be. As transport companies charge more if your shipment’s pickup or delivery location is harder to reach. But auto transport services, in general, don’t seem to vary in cost that much.

Can I ship my car across the country?

Yes. As long as you stay within the US. We can easily ship your car to another state. Even when it’s from one coast to another. Cross country car transport is what most of the auto transport companies that we work with are used to at this point.

Can I ship a truck?

If by shipping a “truck” you mean pickup trucks, vans, or even any other big vehicles. Considering the fact that we also have a pretty big experience shipping heavy equipment and such, we can confidently say yes. 

How do I request auto transport quotes?

You can easily request one by just calling us, requesting a quote through our website, email, text or even the chat we have available right when you go to our website. You can even request different types of quotes, say one for open car transport and one for enclosed car transport, to see which one you like best.

Is a cheap car shipping safe?

It really depends on how valuable the car is and how much you want to spend. But if we were to advise you on how much is considered too cheap, go for the company whose quote is not a “steal”. As auto transportation service is not the expense you want to save a lot off of.