FUEL SAVING TIPS

Author Archive

Be Secure, Not Sorry When Shipping Your Vehicle

The auto shipping proves by its rapid expansion that it is an efficient and safe industry with which to do business. At the same time along the way the industry has accumulated valuable experience with regard to technology and methods of operation.

It also means, however, that many new independent companies are eager to compete. It does not mean, however, that all of them have the experience, the resources, nor even the decency to ensure safe auto shipping. In many cases, as in any other business industry, many of the numerous existing auto shipping companies are simply the result of an increasingly commercialized society. Business today is the prevalent survival style and many people are eager to start a company, whether because they really are competent to do so or because they are simply incapable of doing anything else.

Some of these businesses will prevail despite all odds, but many will fail because they refuse to learn the business or understand the capitalization required for success in the business. Those few that remain because of luck and some beneficial ties rather than true business acumen will hang on as long as they can given the competition but undoubtedly will not remain in business very long.

Moreover, new companies which will soon close are not always easy to detect. Their self-presentation and the prices may convince you that they are dependable. But the last thing you want to do is to trust a company which promises a terrific deal but delivers your car late to the wrong terminal, with property stolen, leaving you to discover that you have not insured the trip against damage and theft.

You must take the time to ensure the safety of your vehicle and all that is in it. A careful research of several companies is a must. You should start your analysis months before you intend to ship your auto, and it must be a careful analysis of the market.

It is preferable to plan the shipping well in advance also because it will allow you to book your order well in advance. Even large companies are pressed for time: urgent orders mean very high prices, even if the job is simple, simply because the company personnel will have to go out of their way to complete your order. The more time you give your chosen company the more likely they are to do the job thoroughly and with care, while offering you reasonable prices.

No matter who the shipping company is, they do not want to deny you services even if they are incapable of meeting your time demands. They will take your business and will probably not complete it to your satisfaction. The immediacy of your requirements increase the perils of delayed shipment and a damaged automobile.

Of great importance to you is the company’s licensing and insurance coverage. Thoroughly inspect their Certificate of Insurance and their MC license. If the insurance coverage offered does not meet your needs, ask for additional coverage. They should have no trouble meeting your insurance requirements.

The customer service and attitude towards it’s clients is the mark of a competent shipping company. They should be willing to do just about anything to gain your trust, including allowing you to inspect any pertinent documentation. They should be good at uncovering your unique requirements and help you to meet them. If you find that a company does not want to show documentation, answer questions, or give you solid advice, find another one who will.

For more information on Auto Shippers please visit JMN Log.

Posted by Tom Kearns on March 19th, 2010 No Comments

Is Economy or Business Class the Best Way for You to Transport Your Car?

Nothing like progress to eat away at your income. With the rapid increases in technology, almost everyone can have a better, more comfortable life. This of course comes with greater expense. But with a higher standard of living, an increasing percentage of the population can indulge in more luxuries, and our society encourages them to do so.

Today’s families own more than one car. Each parent has a job and needs transportation. The teenage members of the family MUST have a car, at least to share. This same freewheeling family will probably move several times before the kids grow up and out. There are those times that require all those vehicles to relocate with the family a long distance away.

Even one car can be prohibitively expensive or too stressful to be driven by a single driver. The cost of fuel can easily amount to more than $20 per 100 miles. Should you have two cars and are driving say 500 miles, that fuel cost will be at least $1000. If you have more cars to relocate…well, you get the picture. Also to consider is the cost of wear and tear on the vehicles and the food and/or lodging that must be purchased along the way. Suddenly the auto shipping industry seems like a godsend.

The inability to relocate may cramp your lifestyle. The fairly new auto shipping industry will not only save you money and personal stress, but will help you to fulfill your dreams. Relocating for a better position may have to be set aside if you can’t relocate those vehicles because of either the distance or the terrain.

Auto shipping is very much representative of the modern movement towards successful international business and life style. It makes easy what would have otherwise been impossible. To hire a professional, certified, established carrier company is now the sensible and natural thing to do. There are a number of parameter to consider and then your car is in safe hands and on its way to that next great stage in your life.

To get the most economical deal, allow plenty of time for the company to plan for your vehicle. Given the time, the carrier can get enough customer orders to fill the truck to capacity, saving him significant money and passing the savings on to you. If you procrastinate and require the carrier to ship at once, you may find yourself to be the only car on the carrier. You will be charged a bundle for your lack of planning.

The next step is whether to go with a closed or open container carrier. The open carrier is the cheaper way, but your car is exposed to the vicissitudes of weather and accidental damage from outside the truck, like road debris, hunters with wayward rifle shots, etc.

If you are not under financial duress and you want the utmost safety for your car(s), your best bet will be the closed container carrier. There are constantly new technologies being introduced to the industry. Shipping containers and security measures are much better than they were ten or twenty years ago. You will also need to specify that you want the latest Trans-Rack containers to give you the most peace of mind when shipping your treasured automobile.

For more information on Auto Carriers please visit JMN Logistics.

Posted by Tom Kearns on March 10th, 2010 No Comments

Auto Transport: Put Money Second, Save the Environment First

It is most unfortunate that reducing the pollutants that industries spew into the environment leads to increased cost of the products and services they provide. Techies tend to get excited about the possibilities of upcoming technologies such as super-crystals or nano-microchips. These things are innovative and bring out the curiosity of the technologically inclined. The other side of this, though, is the trendy consumer who must acquire everything new and shiny because “everybody who is anybody” has one. There are a lot of folks walking around with the latest in wireless cell phones listening to music without earbuds who don’t give a whit about either the technology involved or even the music. They are fashionable.

Car owners tend to follow the same pattern. To many of them, a car is a luxury item, while to others it a symbol of status, an achievement to display. There are approximately 25% of car owners worldwide who own their vehicle not out of necessity, but because “everybody has one.” Some own cars even though it is not sensible or convenient to do so. Yet these same people will do anything, even work multiple jobs so they can show that they own a car, whether used or new, or Kia Rio or Mercedes XL. Why? So they can drive around the corner (instead of walk) to the hottest club.

By derivation, the same is true for related services. Promising industries like the Auto Shipping industry begin by offering real enough benefits. They work to perfect themselves, their services, and, inevitably, their marketing campaigns, and soon become not simply the sensible service to take advantage of, but a status symbol. When the symbol is generalized enough, not only the major names in the field, but even the smallest and least successful companies benefit from indiscriminate consumerism.

There have been steps taken to reduce the ill effects these mammoth carriers have on the environment, but their number is increasing as shipping grows in both potential and popularity. Innovative technologies are being created to improve auto shipping, but there is no current technology that can turn back the damage done to the sea and air by one lone ro-ro ferry performing only one job.

It may seem that environmental problems are not as yet apparent enough in the world for individual consumers to worry about. But the opposite is true. Heedless consumerism distracts from actual events only slightly outside the field of auto shipping by sea and land. Invasive species introduced by large cargo ships are estimated to cost the U.S. dozens of billions of dollars per year. Ballast water spreads bacteria, cholera of various strains, toxic algae, and voracious pests like the the Zebra Mussel. A single load of ballast water from a freight carrier can spread within a matter of years enough pests to destroy fishery, agriculture, tourism and recreational industries.

Successful marketing is just as much responsible for the bright future of the shipping industry as the need for its services. Because business is currently good for the industry, governments are sure to impose technical and performance restrictions, surcharges for roads, vehicle models, and related services.

For more information on auto transport or to get a vehicle shipping quote please visit http://www.jmnhaul.com .

Posted by Tom Kearns on March 7th, 2010 No Comments

Trustworthy Car Shippers Can Transport The Car For You

Anytime you are moving a long distance, getting all of your vehicles to the new place can be a problem. While, if you only have one vehicle, it may not be that big of a deal, families that have multiple vehicles face more problems. Car shippers can help to solve those problems.

A caravan of vehicles with the family spread across the country is just not all that fun. The drive can be long and tiring. While it may be possible to tow one vehicle behind a self moving van, what do you do with the other one?

Some people end up selling one of their vehicles and replacing it when they get to the new home. Buying a new car is not always an option and who knows what you you will get in a used car. It is a shame to sell a perfectly good vehicle and hope to get something close as a replacement one at the new place.

If that second or third vehicle is a restoration or antique vehicle, there may be no replacement available and you certainly cannot replace the car when you get to the new place. Driving the car is also not feasible.

Shipping costs for vehicles are very reasonable. The cost may not be that much more than you would pay for gasoline to drive your car that distance. The vehicle will arrive safely and in the same shape as when it was loaded onto the truck.

Your vehicle is loaded onto a trailer which is in tern pulled across the country by a semi trailer. You will not be adding any extra miles to the vehicle that will make a difference in your lease contract. It is safely delivered to your new location so you are able to start driving it once again.

Shippers try to fill trailers with vehicles to save you money in the transportation costs. The transportation may take two to three weeks unless you pay for the available expedited service that gets your car to you in a shorter time.

If you have a vehicle that you want transported in an enclosed trailer, many of the car shippers also offer this service at an additional fee.

Some shipping companies offer door to door service. Your vehicle is picked up form your old drive way and delivered to the new drive way. If the car arrives before you do, then there is secure storage available for the vehicle.

If your move is too long to drive, then ship all the vehicles and save the long drive by flying. Ship one vehicle to be at the new home to be there for your arrival and keep the second one until moving day. This allows you to have a car at both ends of the move and gets both vehicles to you. It saves the long drive for everyone. You arrive at the new home ready to unpack and get life back in order. Your car arrives in top shape and has not had all the extra miles of wear and tare from a long trip.

Please visit JMN Logistics for all of your Nationwide Vehicle Shipping needs.

Posted by Tom Kearns on February 9th, 2010 No Comments

Auto Shippers May Be A Great Option If You Need To Transport A Vehicle Across Country

There are situations where you may need to get a motor vehicle from one point to another and for whatever reason you are unable to drive it from point A to point B, or perhaps you simply do not desire to drive it. Whatever the reason may be for this you prefer to get the vehicle there without driving. Auto shippers provide a great alternative to driving this vehicle from A to B.

By using an auto shipper you can eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on an automobile that would be inflicted on it as a result of a long distance drive. Auto transporters also come in handy if purchasing a vehicle in another state. Regardless of the reason auto shippers can provide an excellent service that may be more affordable than you might think.

Shipping a vehicle across country can often be cheaper than driving a car across country. When traveling long distanced you need to take into consideration the amount of time you will need to a lot yourself. You will also need to consider the amount of time it will take you to drive and the hotels and meals that you will need along the way.

You may want tom ask around your friends to see if any of them have ever used an auto shipper. You can also check internet forums. Many cities have internet forums that consist of members that live in that area. Often these web groups will provide suggestions for different services including auto shippers.

There are many ways that auto shippers move vehicles from one area to another. But one way that you may not have considered is traveling your car by train. This method can be less expensive and often faster than using a truck service. Train services can be located on the internet.

The first thing you will want to do when you locate some auto shippers is to ask for a free estimate of the anticipated cost. Most auto shippers will gladly provide this information. It is also important to inquire about insurance and bonding when talking to an auto shipper. Make sure they can cover the expense of the vehicle if something should happen while it is in their care. If they are reluctant to provide you with this information then you need to find another auto shipper.

When searching for auto shippers it is always a good idea to call for a free quote. Most auto shippers will be glad to give you an estimate of the cost that will be incurred to transport your vehicle from one point to another. When interviewing these companies it is also a good idea to ask if they are fully licensed bonded and insured. Don’t be afraid to ask for evidence of this. If a shipper gets offended by this question then they don’t deserve your business anyway.

If you are shipping a car that is rare or exotic you will most likely want to use auto shippers that will use a closed carrier. Many auto shippers can provide the transport of several vehicles at a time. These services will commonly use multiple car carriers like those used by car manufacturers to ship new vehicles to the dealership.

Please visit JMN Logistics for all of your Nationwide Vehicle Shipping needs.

Posted by Tom Kearns on February 5th, 2010 No Comments

Classic Shipping for Classic Cars

You’ve bought a Blower Bentley and lovingly customized it a la California Kid: it is a customized vintage sports car and you are weaving in and out of traffic like a comet between common stars. Or you have already acquired the unique recent Marussia. The point is, nobody has a car like yours and now you have to ship it and you are not sure how to. You are reluctant to drive that mint-new beauty all those miles and it seems that for a magical car like yours only magic would do to teleport it to the destination.

Fortunately for you there are plenty of auto shipping companies ready and waiting to pick up you gem and ship it off to wherever it needs to go. Your car that you love so much will be guaranteed to show up at its new home in one piece and as beautiful as the day it left your driveway.

The first thing that you should do is find the carrier that you plan to use. Make sure that you seek out a carrier that has real experience. Most of us have never been in a situation where we need to ship our car so it is often difficult to know who the best auto carriers are. If you find yourself in this situation, hiring a good auto shipping broker may be the best option for you.

Like anything else, it’s best to shop around to find the best deal. You also need to make sure that you fully understand all of the terms and conditions that the carrier works under. Make sure that they understand that your automobile is not just a run of the mill car off of the lot. It’s important that the shipping company knows that your car is a custom one of a kind car and that they can cover it under their insurance.

If you opt for an open carrier, make sure they understand your car must be on the top tier, to keep it safer from possible vandalism or theft. On the down side, the upper deck is more prone to exposure to harsh weather, vermin, and any road debris that may be flying high along open roads.

Ideally you want to probably go with a closed carrier. This means that your car will be in an enclosed trailer from start to finish and will not be exposed to the outside world in any way. This will cost more money. Its up to you how much you want to spend depending how comfortable you are with your car shipping in an open carrier.

You will of course not add to the shipment any of your personal belongs for transport. It is a good idea to remove all customizations that can be taken off the vehicle and those that cannot, should be thoroughly documented.

You should also make sure that your fuel tank is not topped off. You want to have enough fuel to get the car on and off the carrier, but much more than that is unnecessary. Its best to cut any excess weight and extra gas is just that.

Before handing the car over to the company, inspect it and document the smallest prior damage, if such exists. I am sure the owner of a Bentley or a Marussia need not be reminded, but just in case, make sure you wash the car before you take dated digital pictures of it in clear daylight light from all sides and angles, so that no significant nuance or scratch remain undocumented.

Please visit JMN Logistics for all of your Nationwide Vehicle Shipping needs.

Posted by Tom Kearns on January 18th, 2010 No Comments

Problems and Perspectives in Shipping with Closed Containers

For most people, the only consideration of getting their car from here to there is to drive it. But now there is another option, that of shipping your vehicle by using a recently developing industry, that of auto shippers. There are many burgeoning reliable companies available now who will ship you car long distances, domestically or internationally. Shipping your auto has become easier, cheaper, more widespread and more secure

Have you just won your dream car in an auto lottery; bought a car overseas; are you moving to another city? Before the dawn of the auto shipping industry you would have to either give up your dream, give up your car, or drive it (the car, that is, to pursue the dream) all the way yourself, suffering long monotonous (the word itself tediously rides on the wheels of 4 dull o’s) hours at wheel, expenses (expected and unexpected), damage (hopefully, mostly to the car) by criminal and natural elements, and, after you have mastered a few foreign-language audio-courses and listened to the entire King James Bible, some bad luck while passing through one of those sleepy American towns which are not what they seem. Now you can spare yourself all this trouble by calling a shipping company.

In early August of 2007, the French company CMA COM, S.A. ventured into the container shipping business. CMA COM, S.A. is the third largest shipping company in the world. They stated that at least four light vehicles, no matter what make or model, could be loaded into each of their containers. They declared that cutting edge technology was responsible for their entry into the container shipping industry. This technology enabled door-to-door shipping - from factory conveyor to the destination distribution center - with absolute safety.

Although the popularity of this method is increasing, the future of container shipping is still undetermined. The industry demands shipments of great complexity, risk and above all, responsibility. The makes large scale projects impossible to carry out successfully except for those large transportation companies able to obtain sufficient capital and technology to cover any problematic situation that may emerge.

Labor is costly in the industry. Each vehicle is expensive and any damage to it, no how matter small could become a very costly matter for the company. A shipper who regularly moves its cargo of automobiles on schedule must hire and probably train a full-time, permanent crew of skillful workers who understand the need for tender loving care of the cargo under their care.

The future of container shipping depends on the development of national and international business. Containers are mostly required for large-distance, large-scale operations, most often in trading between countries. If a country has good safe roads - and not all large countries do - and a sufficiently large network of car factories (foreign or domestic) than the quicker, easier, and less expensive open-carrier method may be standardized. Countries work to improve conditions (road quality and road crime), but these improvements may take several decades before the easier method may be popularly regard as safe enough.

It takes a large enterprise to be able to avail itself of the cheapest possible options. The future of the business relies heavily on the large car manufacturers and if they have the mass production of vehicles necessary to require them to transport across borders into the major cities and industrial complexes of the world.

For an Instant Auto Shipping Quote please visit JMN Logistics llc

Posted by Tom Kearns on January 16th, 2010 No Comments

Auto Transport The Dependable Way

Shipping the car across large distances is in most cases the most sensible and economic solution, saving effort, time, and car wear. There is shipment across roads by several types of carrier trucks, shipment by sea, and shipment by air of any type of car or motorcycle, whether modern, prestige, vintage, veteran, classic or sports.

The term “auto shipping” naturally implies that your car will be delivered to the specified destination whole and on time (rather than gradually and in parts). And surprisingly large numbers of people regularly commit the mistake of taking a company’s dependability for granted. It would certainly be strange for a company slogan to read: “We deliver (most of the time)!” Yet one must just the same realize that it is a trick of language to imply reliability while in fact the company may not be deserving of its name, to say the least. Company names and official titles are platonic ideals: language suggests what function the establishment is supposed to represent in principle, but it does not attest to its actual performance in the field down on Earth. Hence, it is inadvisable to go with just any company or to rely on the company to perform impeccably no matter what.

You should know that most auto shipping companies, while spread out in thousands of locations all across the larger countries, are really rather small operations that own a few trucks.

The most basic factors of time and money should be your first consideration when looking for a dependable shipping company. If you give the shipper a flexible timeline, the price will be less than if make a specific time demand, and you will have a better chance at dependability of performance. Prices go up the more you are pressed for time.

Typically, you hire a broker to do the leg work to find the best shipper for you. More and more though, clever entrepreneurial types are acting as a broker themselves. When you are dealing with a carrier, be sure to understand that the one you are doing business with is also the one that is transporting your car. You don’t want the surprise of trusting your car to a carrier you had no knowledge of.

Do not sign contracts without having seen a valid MC license and always ask to see a copy of their Insurance Certificate and contact their insurance company to find out the exact terms of their insurance. Reputable companies will be glad to oblige a vigilant client, demonstrating their reliability, and will always be comfortably ensured several years ahead. You don’t want to trust the car you worked so hard for to a company whose insurance policy ends next moth without a guarantee that they will be insured or even in existence as an official firm at the time of transportation.

Looking companies up is always a good idea. Better not to be involved with companies which are not listed anywhere or unwillingly offer basic info about themselves. Check the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to verify they are indeed a carrier and not a covert broker-carrier.

If you are dealing with a broker who knows his stuff, which is a good idea, it becomes the broker’s job to do the research before choosing the right company for you. The broker will uncover information on even the most close-mouthed of companies, so you can be sure your car is in for a safe journey.

Visit JMN Logistics for more information on Auto Shipping or to get into auto shipping visit JMN Logistics at Car Haul Jobs.

Posted by Tom Kearns on December 28th, 2009 No Comments

Auto Shipping - Open Carriers

Many issues must be considered before deciding upon one of the many companies available to provide a specific service, the most important are probably cost and reliability. When looking for a reliable auto shipping company, many customers are not aware that there is more involved in their decision, that there are actually different carrier types within the auto shipping industry. The trucks offered by most of the medium sized to large transport companies are not just the big trucks with big trailers that haul a bunch of cars. The car owner who prefers not to endure the stress involved in driving his car long distances himself needs to educate himself on the more technical aspects of the auto shipping industry.

We are not concentrating here on air and water shipping as that is a different subject entirely. The focus is on domestic shipping most commonly over land, in either an open or closed vehicle carrier. The most common and least expensive type of carrier is the open one. These vehicles carry about a dozen vehicles, are reliable and can be operated without any specialized training, keeping in mind that the exact reason and particulars of the transport are known to both carrier company and customer. A better option for long-distance hauling is the closed-type carrier. Cars on open carriers are subjected to dirt, weather conditions, not to mention vandalism and/or theft, which brings up the point that closed carriers may be the best choice for short distance hauling as well, else that gorgeous platinum Corvette may end its journey resembling pond scum. Of course you are absolutely sure that your vehicle is covered by insurance, preferably the policy of the auto carrier, but even so, settlement is such a nuisance.

Naturally, owners of rare, expensive or vintage cars are more aware of the closed carrier option than those of us with normal, everyday cars. But the folks with Fords and Chevys should also consider this as an option, even though a more expensive one. The extra expense is partially due to the smaller capacity of the open carrier.

Essentially, then, the advantage of open auto transport is its relatively economic cost. Even driving a car by your own means to a remote destination is likely to cost more, because of the gas prices, especially if your car has poor gas mileage. Driving your own car even across a single state may incur expenses and involve unforeseen damages which are otherwise easily avoided when shipping the car with a company.

It would be hard for anyone to miss the sight of an open auto transport truck, they are common road sites which is testament to their reliability and safety. These carriers because of their size, approximately 80 feet long and 14 feet high, are restricted to those roads capable of accommodating them, roads without low bridges, sharp turns and low tree growth. Goods are constantly being manufactured that rely on these carriers to get their wares to show rooms and stores.

Another advantage to the open carrier mode of shipment is it is apt to offer more flexible options in the way of time frames and perks. A customer can specify where on the carrier he wants his car to ride, upper tier away from the bad guys, or even hauled behind away from possible damage by other vehicles.

For more information on car transporters or to get an instant auto shipping quote please visit http://www.jmnhaul.com .

Posted by Tom Kearns on December 28th, 2009 No Comments

Exploring Auto Shipping Brokers

A vehicle is not just a vehicle, and our money does not grow on trees. Vehicle transportation can put you into a hectic situation if you are trying to do it by yourself. The best of this world is we can have someone do it all for us; no need to ‘Stop being lazy’! An auto shipping broker can do what we do not want to do; take care of it all, while we just rest on our laurels and pick which state of affairs that is best for our monetary and situational circumstances.

Of course we are talking about going to an auto transport broker. Someone to take care of all our car needs! Perfect, but what is Auto Shipping Broker anyway? Here it goes. A broker is the middleman who deals with a vast number of carriers so they can find you the most suitable vehicle carrier based on your budget and, of course, convenience. A broker will most likely find you the best price when you contract through them versus dealing with the auto shipping companies. The broker does not ship your vehicle for you. Instead they have the right to use a vast network of carriers and with this have the absolute leverage in finding the right shipping service to send your vehicle in the accurate direction with an open spot. This can be incredibly useful when you consider the slim openings that are often available to the single customer. Auto shipping services usually transport your vehicle on a specific route with a definite schedule; working with a broker you have more options.

Brokers do not insure your vehicle, but can help you find the right company that will. Also the right party to pick up and deliver your car exactly as you want will be found by the broker. While a large amount of trucks are owned by many carrier services, the broker is not tied down to a specific fleet company. A more expensive turnaround can be expected if the trucks used to transport your car are very far away, but when working with a broker they can quickly track down the trucks or shipping services in your immediate area. You can also expect sooner pick up and drop off times working with a broker instead of a carrier company.

One of the best things is you will never be rushed or fixed with a broker; meaning, most of the time with carriers once you get a quote they immediately expect you to book with them. Nothing is forced with a broker, you are given plenty of options based on your requirements. You will also receive direct service communication. Brokers can inform drivers or carriers directly of everything, while this access is not something carrier companies have often. It is simply their job is done once they ship.

The choice is always yours. If you want auto shipping, and life, to be a bit easier and hassle free, going with an auto shipping broker may be the right choice.

For more information on car shipping or to get a vehicle transportation quote please visit http://www.jmnhaul.com .

Posted by Tom Kearns on December 14th, 2009 No Comments