Auto Shipping - Open Carriers

By Tom Kearns

It often happens that a customer avails himself of a service without realizing they had any choice about it. There may be so many issues to consider, the most vital of which is the estimated price and reliability, that you might never think of the existence of multiple carrier types. The trucks offered by any sensibly sized company are not merely great big trucks or trailers hauling a bunch of cars. The owner who would rather not drive endless miles by himself and who will have his car shipped safely had better have some notion of the technical differences between the various methods offered by standard companies.

Since air and water shipment are a business unto themselves, we are not dealing with that here. We are concentrating on domestic auto shipping within one country's borders, usually over land, in either open or closed carrier transport. When visualizing such a vehicle, the long, many tiered, open truck with trailer comes to mind. This is the most commonly seen type of vehicle on the road today and is a safe and reliable means to ship a vehicle requiring no special attributes. Long distance transportation though is probably better carried out with closed carriers. Cars in open carriers are exposed to the vagaries of weather, road dirt, and vandals, thieves and hijackers. When looked at in this way, even with short distances the open carrier may be the right choice. Of course, you have made sure that your vehicle is covered by insurance, preferably the company's rather than your own. But even with that, settling the claim you make because your 1928 Duisenberg was a scratched up pile of mud on arrival is not something to look forward to.

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.

The essence of open carrier shipping is its cost advantage. Driving a car yourself a long distance to its final destination will probably cost you more than hiring it done by an auto shipper, because of the cost of gas, repairs on route, possible damage to the vehicle, and the differing traffic laws of states that are you not aware of. The cost of shipping your car is at very least a known factor.

An open auto transport truck is hardly an uncommon sight which is testimony not only to its popularity but its reliability. Such trucks are around 80 feet long by 14 feet high and are restricted to only those roads capable of handling them, those without low bridges, sharp turns, or overhanging tree branches. Factories trust these vehicles routinely to transport their finished products to show rooms and lots.

The open transport method is likely to offer more flexibility in time frames and perks. Also, a customer of an open carrier can specify where he wants he car located on the truck, whether top tier to keep it further away from ill-intentioned humans, or even towed behind the truck keeping it away from other vehicles. - 30242

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