Vehicle transport services are crucial for tons of different situations. Whether you’re selling a car to a buyer across a long distance, moving from one end of the country to the other, or going on vacation somewhere far away, the vehicle shipping industry is a necessity for millions.
The industry does a great job, too. It’s largely one of the safest ways to get a vehicle from point A to point B across massive distances without worrying about driver fatigue or wear and tear. More importantly, when you choose the best vehicle shipping service, the entire experience is seamless.
How is that seamless experienced pulled off, though? How do you drop your car off, and then see it, seemingly magically, when you arrive at your location?
Well, there’s a complicated process in place that works to efficiently and safely move your vehicle from point A to point B, and it’s been perfected over years of experimentation and optimization.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how vehicle shipping service works and what happens when you drop your car off with a transport company.
1: Planning
Every successful venture starts with a well-laid plan, and the same is true for vehicle transport services. There’s not just a single pre-established route with stops that the driver takes. Any good service will have a multitude of service routes with a variety of drop-off options.
The service will start by looking at your needs and your drop-off point. For example, if you need the car to be at a dealership that is buying the vehicle in 5 days, they’ll revolve their plan around that. If you’re in the middle of a move and need the car at a suitable company stop within a week, that will be considered, too.
Then, the team will get to work looking at planned routes depending on which shipping option you chose. For example, if you choose to go with open transport services, they’ll choose a planned trip that works with the other cars being transported, or if you chose a more private, door-to-door option, it might even be a straight shot.
The route chosen will be designed to meet your needs, improve company efficiency, and maintain safety.
2: Prepping Your Vehicle
Before dropping it off, you likely prepped your vehicle for shipping in several ways. Things such as removing your belongings, ensuring the fuel amount was limited, and other basic measures were your responsibility.
However, for safety reasons, and to make sure your car doesn’t affect the planned trip, the company will make some preparations of its own. This can include checking your fluids to ensure their weight is minimized and fire hazards are kept to a minimum in case anything goes wrong, wrapping or otherwise protecting the car depending on the services rendered, and other things that will help make the trip go smoothly.
3: Loading the Car Up and Departing
This part of the process looks dramatically different depending on what type of car transportation service you opted for.
For a private shipment service on an enclosed trailer, your car will simply be loaded into the trailer, secured, and locked up. At the scheduled departure time, the vehicle just takes off and gets the job done.
However, for a multi-vehicle service, the process is a little different. Your car will be transported with other vehicles on a multi-tier open trailer, and every car has a different stop. Your car’s route will be considered, and it will be loaded onto the trailer according to its delivery point in comparison to other cars. It will then be secured on the trailer and wait for the loading process to end.
This is a heavier trailer making many stops along its route. So, it might take longer, and there are extra precautions taken to ensure none of the vehicles can slide off the trailer or otherwise become affected during the trip.
4: On the Road
This is one of the biggest things you need to look for because, around management and other authority figures in the drop-off location, employees tend to be on their best behavior. When there’s a single driver taking your vehicle across thousands of miles by themselves, there’s the opportunity to act inappropriately and unsafely.
Luckily, you can easily tell when that’s an issue with a company because their reviews will reflect it. Not just from customers, either. People on the roadways vent their frustrations publicly about bad drivers; especially when they’re tied to a company.
When you deal with a good company with good reviews, the trip is fairly simple.
The driver will take the assigned route to the letter, and they will focus on following road safety protocols. After all, they’re carrying tens of thousands, if not millions, of dollars worth of people’s property.
It’s not a particularly interesting process. For straightforward trips, it might be a straight shot. For longer, more complicated trips, designated stopping points are set up to ensure the driver can safely handle the trip.
Reading the reviews of the company is also a good way to avoid scams when choosing a vehicle shipping company.
5: Drop Off and End of Service
This is where things get a little more interesting. There shouldn’t be any damages or concerns to worry about with a seamless service. In the event that happens, a good company will take accountability, use this time to prep an auto transport insurance claim and get ready to compensate you appropriately.
Nine times out of ten, it’s straightforward. Your car arrives at its destination, and it’s unloaded. At a company location, it’s stored in the parking garage or lot until you arrive to pick it up and finish the transaction. Workers aim to ensure the car is clean and that nothing happened while they wait for your arrival.
If you opted for a customized drop-off for a special occasion, the vehicle and its driver will be waiting for you at the decided-upon time and place. Getting your vehicle is as simple as meeting with the driver, waiting for them to unload it, and signing any relevant paperwork before driving off to go about your day.
Get the Best Transport Service for a Seamless Experience
Now that you better understand how vehicle shipping service works, you also grasp the complexities that lie within this dynamic industry. From logistics and regulations to diverse transportation options, navigating the world of vehicle shipping requires expert guidance and knowledge.
The vehicle transport industry is largely a respected one with high-quality companies serving their communities. However, you can get a lackluster experience if you opt for whatever company is cheapest.
Instead, you want to hire the best to transport your vehicle, and that’s Elevation Transport Services. Contact us today to find out what sets us apart.
