Truck Driver

 The driver for an auto transport company works for a fleet owner that, in turn, works with a broker or individual company to actually perform the auto shipping service. It is important to remember that being an auto shipping truck driver is a much more physical job than most other types of truck drivers. One of the reasons for this is that the truck driver is also responsible for loading and unloading your vehicle during the service. For non running vehicles, this can be a difficult task. In addition, an auto transport truck driver can be on the road for extended periods of time and keep track of up to 12 different orders at the same time.

 No formal education is required to be an auto shipping truck driver. However, you must pass a series of written and driving tests to obtain the proper licenses to drive a large hauler. For auto transport companies, experience in driving other large trucks is an important factor as driving a car hauler often requires experience driving other types of haulers.

 Car Shipping Dispatcher

 The dispatcher of an auto transport company is often a position filled by an experienced customer service representative or truck driver. While the truck drivers simply drive the routes that they are given, the dispatcher is responsible for securing the service and planning it efficiently with the drivers or hauler fleet companies. A dispatcher must be very experienced in the industry and must often use a creative approach to auto shipping services in order to save customers money and truck drivers time.

 Most auto transport companies will require dispatchers to have some form of college degree to make sure that they have the organizational and creative skills to handle this very demanding job. There are often many different orders that must be coordinated and one mistake can be a disaster for the entire service – over loading a hauler or causing a truck driver to go far away from their scheduled route.

 Customer Service Representative

 A customer service representative in the auto shipping industry is an important part of the process as they deal directly with the customer to secure their order and help them find discounts or special deals on their order. A customer service representative must also be able to answer questions about their company and the industry itself when a customer asks. Finally, a customer service representative must be able to professionally and quickly handle customer inquiries and complaints. Not only does the complaint need to be heard, but a customer service representative must know how to assist the customer in solving the problem.

 For the most part, auto transport companies only require a test and screening process before hiring a customer service representative. However, having at least a 2 year degree from an accredited institution (communications is an excellent customer service degree) can help you secure a well paying customer service position in the auto transport industry.

 Diesel Mechanic

 A diesel mechanic is a very important member of any auto shipping team. These professionals make sure that all of the haulers used by an auto shipping company are in good running order and ready to perform a shipment. These employees are often called diesel mechanics because they work primarily with diesel trucks and engines. However, these mechanics must have a broad mechanical background to help them understand other systems such as electrical systems or hydraulics.

 In order to become a diesel mechanic for an auto shipping company, you must have the required certifications and experience to perform the job. As this is a vital position where your work can determine the success or failure of an auto shipping service, you will likely have to go through an extended screening process to verify that you can perform the job correctly each time.

 Fleet Owner

 Owning a fleet of auto shipping haulers or ships can be an excellent way to earn a return on your investment by leasing your vehicles to auto shipping brokers or drivers. This position is usually a self employment opportunity that requires a large initial investment for a return over time. Some fleet owners will buy both the semi truck and the trailer required for the vehicle shipment while others will rent one or the other. One of the advantages of owning both the semi trucks and trailers is that, when your trucks aren’t needed for auto shipping services, you can lease the truck to other industries that need vehicles but have their own trailers.

 Why Shop for Vehicles Online?

 Shopping for a vehicle online is one of the only ways to find many rare or exotic vehicles that would not otherwise be available in your area. Especially with European vehicles, finding the car that is right for you can be impossible if you limit yourself to even your country. However, many online shoppers get worried about buying a vehicle in another country because of the port entry process and paperwork required for the vehicle to be shipped to your country – not to mention the physical act of getting the vehicle to your area.

 Another popular reason for shopping for vehicles online is the fact that doing so can help you save thousands of dollars on a vehicle purchase – even if the vehicle is not rare or exotic. Even when adding in the cost of auto shipping, you can save thousands of dollars on your purchase once the vehicle has been delivered to your home. Even if you find the car of your dreams in your area, you might be surprised at how much cheaper you can find it online.

 How Auto Shipping for an Online Car Purchase Works

 Once you have purchased the vehicle, securing services for shipping the vehicle is as simple as entering the location of the seller when filling out your free quote or scheduling your service. The seller will sign the Bill of Lading and start the service when the vehicle is ready to be shipped. If you plan to use auto shipping services in this way, make sure you let the seller know what you plan to do and tell them the date when the vehicle will be picked up so they know to be available. Some sellers will also allow you to send them the money required to start the shipment. However, it is best to simply pay for the service in full rather than trusting the vehicle seller with the additional money – often in the form of cash.

 When the vehicle shipment begins, you can track your vehicle as it travels toward your location. Most car sellers will be experienced enough to provide you with a copy of the Bill of Lading as well as handle the pre shipment inspection with the truck driver.

 1. Where are you located?

 For auto shipping brokers, location is normally not a significant factor in predicting the speed of any auto shipping service. Instead, asking about the location of an auto shipping company helps you determine whether the company maintains a real, physical office or whether they are purely an online operation. Finally, you might be surprised to find out that the company is located close enough to your location for you to stop by and meet with a representative face to face.

 2. Do you have any licenses or proof of insurance?

 This is another important question that can help you determine whether or not the company is legitimate and can protect your vehicle in the event of a theft or accident. Licenses are only granted to companies that can prove that they have the means to offer their services and have insurance to protect their customers. Typically, the service representative will provide with a number that you can use to look up their company and verify their information before booking your service.

 3. What goes into the auto shipping process?

 It is important to know how a company handles auto shipments. Some companies have major differences in how they perform car shipping services – especially differences between brokers and companies that maintain their own freight of haulers. Finally, asking about the auto shipping process can help you determine whether or not your car shipping service representative knows the process and actually works with the company.

 4. Is door to door shipping available?

 One of the ways in which to evaluate the knowledge and experience of the service representative (as well as obtain some information about your service) is to ask specific service questions that a legitimate auto transport company should be able to answer. For example, asking about door to door shipping can help you plan for where your vehicle will be picked up and where it can be dropped off.

 Submit a Free Quote

 One of the easiest ways to determine how much car shipping rates will be is to submit a free quote with Budget Auto Shipping. This is a fair and accurate quote that will help you plan your budget should you decide to trust Budget Auto Shipping with your service. It is also important to remember that submitting a free quote does not constitute a contract in any way. The free quote submission form is a service provided to the customer and Budget Auto Shipping does not collect or sell your information for any other purpose. After you have received your free quote, you can continue with the inquiry and a car shipping rates specialist will help you secure the service and discover ways in which you can save even more money when your actual bill is due.

 It is important to fill out the free quote submission form as completely as possible in order to get the most accurate quote. You will have the option to choose which type of hauler you would prefer as well as choose your shipping date and pick up/drop off locations. Your free quote will be sent to the email address that you provide but you will not receive any other emails from Budget Auto Shipping unless you elect to do so.

 Saving Money on Car Shipping Rates

 When determining the cost of shipping a car, it is also important to keep in mind the discounts that you will be eligible for by using Budget Auto Shipping. For example, if you are shipping your vehicle both on land and over water, you can save 50% on your entire order when compared to the competition. In addition, members of the military and government employees also receive a 10% discount on their order. Finally, college students or their parents can be eligible for a 10% discount – regardless of the specific order. Remember that these discounts are stack able – meaning that if you are a college student using both international and domestic services, for example, you could save as much as 60% on your entire order when compared to the competition.

Delivery

The best car movers work hard to pick up and deliver your vehicle based on your instructions. For example, you might prefer that a company like Budget Auto Shipping pick up your vehicle from your garage. However, it is important to look in to local regulations that might prevent door to door shipping of your vehicle.

Other obstacles to this type of pick up or delivery include low hanging trees or power lines and unfinished roads that could cause slipping or slow travel speeds. The best car movers will also work to makee sure that your vehicle is picked up and dropped off during daylight hours to make pre-shipment and post-shipment inspection easier.

Schedules

The best car movers will not guarantee to have your vehicle delivered in less time than necessary for a safe and legal delivery. Companies like Budget Auto Shipping do not rush their drivers – an activity that can cause accidents or shipping problems. Shipping a vehicle is a sensitive and difficult process. With the best car movers, speed is never preferred to safety and you can be sure that your car will be delivered efficiently and in the same condition as when it was picked up. The best car movers should keep schedules that reflect the full car moving process rather than oveer scheduling expecting to make up for lost time.

Insurance

The best car movers use insurance coverage that willl cover all vehicles being shipped on their carriers as well as any damage that could be caused by an accident. Budget Auto Shipping provides up to $750,000 in insurance coverage to each of its customers to fully cover any damage or loss that could occur during the shipping process. It is important to note that your car should be insured by yourself if you expect to drive it to or from a pick up location. This is especially important for used cars that might not have insurance coverage.

What is Posted on the Budget Auto Shipping Twitter Page

Budget Auto Shipping posts frequent updates about services and auto transport information on Twitter. In addition, you can find fast links to each Blog post and Press Release that Budget Auto Shipping releases. Many of the posts have information designed to help you make an educated decision about the auto transport services that you need. In addition, they can also help you prepare for situations that might occur during the auto shipping process.

From the Budget Auto Shipping Twitter page, you can also access the main web site as well as find information about Budget Auto Shipping’s location and mission statement. The information roll on the Twitter page allows you to catch up on all previous Blog posts if necessary – as well as allows you to take a look at the most recent news updates.

One of the most important updates that you will find on the Budget Auto Shipping Twitter page is in the form of a press release. These articles often contain the most important current information about Budget Auto Shipping – especially news about how national and international events might effect auto transport services around the world. By following Budget Auto Shipping on Twitter, you can always receive updates before people that regularly read the Blog on the Budget Auto Shipping web site. Information is often posted on Twitter before it is posted on Facebook.

If you would like to also check out the Facebook Budget Auto Shipping page, you will find other information about the company not listed on Twitter – business hours, company contact information and a free quote submission form, for example. To visit the Budget Auto Shipping Facebook page, simply visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/autoshipping?v=wall&ref=ts.

From the United States, you can add the Budget Auto Shipping Twitter page to your SMS by texting “follow budgetautoship” to 40404. By doing this, all Twitter updates by Budget Auto Shipping will be sent to your mobile device

 Why Check a Vehicle Before it is Loaded on an Auto Carrier?

 There are several reasons that giving your vehicle a quick check before auto transport services is an important step. One of the reasons lies in the fact that there are multiple levels on a standard open carrier – the most popular trailer used for auto shipping services. If vehicles stored on the upper level are leaking any fluids at all, including gas, oil or other fluids, these fluids can not only cause damage to your vehicle if you drive it immediately after delivery, but also damage vehicles stored underneath it. This is one of the major reasons that Budget Auto Shipping recommends that you limit the amount of gas in your tank to about ¼. You may simply be wasting gas if it leaks out (some vehicles are transported on an angle) and it can cause cosmetic damage to your car and other vehicles on the auto carrier.

 Some problems that can occur during transit can make your car technically inoperable when it arrives. For example, if any of your tires are leaking air, special equipment may be required to unload the vehicle on delivery that could result in a delay in delivery in a small extra fee.

 Checking Your Vehicle Before it is Loaded on an Auto Carrier

 One of the first checks that you can perform on your vehicle prior to auto transport services is to have a fresh oil change and ask the technician to inform you of any possible leaks. You can also pay attention to the ground when you back out of a parking spot. If you see any fluids, you might have a leak that should be fixed before shipping. Next, be sure to check your vehicle’s tires for proper pressure. This is another check that can be performed during a simple oil change or at your local gas station. Finally, for the most efficient service, it might be wise to take your vehicle to a garage or dealership for a tune up. By doing this, you can receive a fresh vehicle on delivery that you can drive away with confidence.

 How Budget Auto Shipping Customers are Covered

 The drivers that Budget Auto Shipping uses to provide your services are completely professional and experienced in recognizing situations or factors that can result in damage to your vehicle. For example, such as driver can identify dangerous situations during your pre-shipment inspection. Some customers forget to remove all personal items from their car before shipping. These items can become loose during shipping and damage the vehicle interior – something that an insurance company will not cover. By looking carefully for such items, a Budget Auto Shipping car carrier driver can prevent any damage to the interior of your vehicle that would not be covered by insurance.

 Budget Auto Shipping also covers its customers using several different types of insurances. For example, any auto carrier must be covered by a minimum of $750,000 in insurance under federal law – a regulation that Budget Auto Shipping takes seriously. Budget Auto Shipping also uses additional insurance to protect customers using their service if any damage occurs. You can be sure that any damage or loss of a vehicle while it is being trusted to Budget Auto Shipping will be covered by an expansive auto shipping insurance policy – at no additional cost to you.

 How You Can Add Extra Coverage to Your Vehicle

 One of the easiest ways that you can take advantage of extended protection in covered auto transport services is identifying if you should upgrade to an enclosed car carrier. These trailers provide the maximum protection to your vehicle when an open car carrier would not be appropriate. For vehicles that may be difficult to replace, an enclosed auto carrier can prevent environmental concerns or road debris that might otherwise damage a vehicle traveling on an open hauler.

 Prepare Your Vehicle Prior to Pickup

 One of the most frequent reasons for a delay is the result of a customer forgetting to properly prepare their car before it is picked up. This problem can escalate if multiple customers on a route make the same mistakes – causing a long delay for the customer at the back of the line. One of the ways that you can prepare your car is by giving it a quick wash. Removing any dirt from the body of your car will make the pre-shipment inspection go much faster and smoother. You do not need to get a full car wash but simply giving a quick spray with your hose can go a long way.

 If you have a car alarm, be sure that it is turned off during shipment. An auto carrier driver is transporting a great deal of weight and trucks are loud. If your alarm is set off during shipment, it is very unlikely that the driver will be able to hear it. If the trip is long, your battery could die before the vehicle reaches its destination – resulting in a delivery headache and possible extra fees. You might also consider removing any added materials from your car such as the antennae or any spoilers/expensive rims, etc. Finally, pushing the side mirrors toward the vehicle can be helpful in preventing their damage during transport.

 Be Aware of the Shipment Schedule

 You can prevent delays in auto transport services by making sure that you adhere to the schedule and are present at both the pickup and delivery. Your driver will most likely call you as he approaches the delivery point to help you determine when you should be ready for delivery. This will give you enough time to travel to the terminal (if applicable) and prepare your payment if you chose a C.O.D. (cash on delivery) option. If you are late to a pick up or delivery, this can cause a serious delay in the entire auto shipping process for both you and other customers involved in the transport.