Customer Reviews

What Prevents Cars From Falling Off an Auto Carrier During Transport?

Posted on 01/10/2019

Table of Contents:
Standard Auto Transport
Luxury and Exotic Car Transport
Inoperable Vehicle Transport

 


 

Standard Auto Transport

For many people considering shipping their car, a common fear tends to be that their car could possibly fall off the carrier during transport. In reality, this is barely even possible so long as your driver takes the routine steps needed to secure your vehicle to the auto carrier prior to transport.
First, the driver must safely drive the car onto the carrier with exact precision. Yes, it is only matter of driving or backing the car up a few feet, but the wheels of the car must be completely and perfectly lined up with the loading ramp rollers (the two treads). If this is even slightly off the driver won’t be able to properly get the vehicle onto the carrier. Don’t worry though, auto transporters have so much experience doing this that it’s second nature for them.
 
Next, the vehicles are attached to the auto carrier at four different spots. The driver will use a series of chains and straps to secure the vehicle to the carrier.
 
The vast majority of vehicles are made with precise tie-down holes in their frame. Chains with specially made hooks to fit these holes are connected tightly in order to secure the cars to the auto carrier. The drivers are even required to mount the angle of the chain a certain amount of degrees from the vehicle to the trailer.
 

Luxury and Exotic Car Transport

Most Luxury and exotic car manufacturers use less intrusive means to do this, so they don’t alter the actual car or frame at all. So instead, they use extremely high-strength straps which are secured over each tire and strapped to the trailer. Doing it this way also eliminates any potential scratches or dents to the vehicle frame during shipping as well.
 
Either method is extremely secure. Auto Carriers have (very rarely) tipped over in accidents in the past and not a single vehicle has fallen off in some cases. That’s how securely fastened these cars are to the carrier.
 

Inoperable Vehicle Transport

Inoperable vehicles are a different story. It’s much less frequent that someone will ship an inoperable vehicle but when they do there’s much more that goes into it.
 
When you ship a non-running vehicle, the auto transporter will need to have a winch on the carrier. A winch hooks to your vehicle and can slowly pull it onto the carrier. Sometimes, a fork lift will be needed to move your car close enough to the trailer, so the winch can be connected.
 
These shipments of inoperable vehicles are much more costly than regular car shipping because of all the extra work that goes into it as well as the low availability of carriers equipped with winches.

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What Prevents Cars From Falling Off an Auto Carrier During Transport?

Posted on 01/10/2019

Table of Contents:
Standard Auto Transport
Luxury and Exotic Car Transport
Inoperable Vehicle Transport

 


 

Standard Auto Transport

For many people considering shipping their car, a common fear tends to be that their car could possibly fall off the carrier during transport. In reality, this is barely even possible so long as your driver takes the routine steps needed to secure your vehicle to the auto carrier prior to transport.
First, the driver must safely drive the car onto the carrier with exact precision. Yes, it is only matter of driving or backing the car up a few feet, but the wheels of the car must be completely and perfectly lined up with the loading ramp rollers (the two treads). If this is even slightly off the driver won’t be able to properly get the vehicle onto the carrier. Don’t worry though, auto transporters have so much experience doing this that it’s second nature for them.
 
Next, the vehicles are attached to the auto carrier at four different spots. The driver will use a series of chains and straps to secure the vehicle to the carrier.
 
The vast majority of vehicles are made with precise tie-down holes in their frame. Chains with specially made hooks to fit these holes are connected tightly in order to secure the cars to the auto carrier. The drivers are even required to mount the angle of the chain a certain amount of degrees from the vehicle to the trailer.
 

Luxury and Exotic Car Transport

Most Luxury and exotic car manufacturers use less intrusive means to do this, so they don’t alter the actual car or frame at all. So instead, they use extremely high-strength straps which are secured over each tire and strapped to the trailer. Doing it this way also eliminates any potential scratches or dents to the vehicle frame during shipping as well.
 
Either method is extremely secure. Auto Carriers have (very rarely) tipped over in accidents in the past and not a single vehicle has fallen off in some cases. That’s how securely fastened these cars are to the carrier.
 

Inoperable Vehicle Transport

Inoperable vehicles are a different story. It’s much less frequent that someone will ship an inoperable vehicle but when they do there’s much more that goes into it.
 
When you ship a non-running vehicle, the auto transporter will need to have a winch on the carrier. A winch hooks to your vehicle and can slowly pull it onto the carrier. Sometimes, a fork lift will be needed to move your car close enough to the trailer, so the winch can be connected.
 
These shipments of inoperable vehicles are much more costly than regular car shipping because of all the extra work that goes into it as well as the low availability of carriers equipped with winches.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.