Holy Rollers, GM Test-Drives Cars at Detroit Church

The auto showroom is the place most people see new cars up close and personal, but GM is taking a unique approach to moving cars to where the potential customers are. The eye-catching headline out of the Detroit News was of a “ride-and-drive” mobile GM showroom that was set up outside a Baptist church in Detroit on Sunday with the pastor’s blessing, aiming to expose people to GM cars that might not make their way into a conventional showroom. Less theologically-questionable ride-and-drives have been done in California outside of coffee-houses and Korean restaurants, as GM experiments with alternative marketing methods.

Alternative marketing might become more of an issue as GM dealers close up shop; GM is looking at online marketing tools and other non-traditional ways of marketing cars. One alternative that is rather old-school comes from Japan, where cars are sold door-to-door much as life insurance or cosmetics are sold in the US. Busy people might not want to spend time going to a car dealership, but if the cars are at church or at their favorite watering hole, they might stop by to take a look.

This brings some possible extra work for car haulers; unless the cars are individually driven out to the locations, there might be work opportunity for car carriers to get the cars out to the remote locations. Unloading the hauler could be problematic in some settings, but it could also be a conversation piece that would draw attention to the event-“What the *$&#* is that car hauler doing in front of the church?”

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100418/AU...f-new-customers

The Vienna Express Begins her Career, The Next Generation of Large Freight Vessel, car shipping, overseas shipping companies

There's a new generation of city-size freight vessels being designed for overseas shipping companies by ship builders around the world at the moment. Ships with engineering designs and ship components and systems designed to improve the environmental characteristics of the vessels that will be plying the trade routes in the years ahead. The next generation of super-sized freight vessels will have to be versatile in order to do the job of moving ocean freight. The freight industry has shown signs lately that it can shift quickly and the equipment international car shipping firms use to conduct car shipping services needs to be able to handle a variety of jobs. The vessels they use to move ocean freight also needs to be versatile enough in their abilities to be usable for a large and changing variety of strategies that might be employed at various times to do the job and meet problems that might arise in their business. This has been shown recently in the shifting to low-steaming strategies and the emergence of new fast-freight services to handle a niche service that appears to have been at least partially created by the implementation of the slow-steaming policy.

One overseas shipping company that just took delivery of a next generation freight vessel designed with the latest thoughts on making this generation more compatible with the environment and reducing the carbon propeller-print of the ocean freight industry is Hapag-Lloyd. The Vienna Express is over 8000 TEU and includes systems designed to help Hapag-Lloyd implement their current strategy of a controlled speed strategy on their routes. A vessel with a length of 335 metres and width across the deck of 42 metres, the Vienna Express's home port is currently the Port of Hamburg and flies a German flag when she's at sea.

Hapag-Lloyd currently has over 110 containerships in its fleet that are busy taking cargo of all size and shape to destinations around the world at all times of the day. The arrival of the Vienna Express is an event for sure, but Hapag-Lloyd invests in ships of this type on a regular basis in order to keep their business healthy and the level of their freight services current. In fact, investment in vessels and ships is probably the biggest bill firms like Hapag-Lloyd will pay in order to keep the ships moving to destination. This cost has certainly gone up with the changing environmental standards of ship building and freight movements in the world and it's likely to continue to increase as we head further into the century of the environment.

http://www.worldcargonews.com/htm/n20100225.671886.htm
http://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/fleet/hapag_lloyd_vessels.html

Outlook for Car Carriers in 2010, Treading Water the Way to Go

Business was not looking good for pure car carriers or anyone else in 2009. During the year, approximately one in five vehicle carriers were taken out of service in response to the decrease in demand. Many of the larger, older vessels will likely never be used again and will be set off to the scrap yard.

However, in 2010 it looks like there may be a need for many companies to plan for business to improve. The question will become how companies will look to handle the increase in business with so many vessels currently out of service. Do they bring old vessels back into service or make the commitment to future business by committing finances to new vessels?

Transportation companies will look to be more caution with what they spend while the automotive industry is still in flux. Efficiency and economies of scale will be the order of the day for companies as they look to survive the recent decline in business in anticipation for the inevitable upturn.

Companies that are able to tread water may be in the best position once the decline passes. However it will take cautious spending and sound operational cost management in order to do so. The decline will help those that are able to weather the storm as it makes it easier for companies to phase out older car carriers that are no longer economical to operate. They will be in good position to take full advantage of the economy once it finally improves.


http://www.joc.com/2010/h%C3%B6egh-autoliners-inc

Handling Damages When Shipping Cars, shipping cars, transportation company

Car shipping is almost always a simple and reliable affair. Your car is picked up on time for a reasonable price and it is delivered when it was promised and in the same condition in which it left your care. But how do you handle those rare instances when your car shows up at its destination with a scratch on the paint or a tear in the upholstery…or even missing an expensive rim?

First of all, whenever your car is picked up by a car shipping representative, make sure you complete an original inspection report. This will make note of pickup and delivery instructions, the mileage of the vehicle and the condition of it. Go over the car carefully with the car shipping representative, making note of any paint or body damage, the condition of the mirrors and all the windows, and the condition of the interior. Detailing the condition of your car protects you as well as the transportation company.

Then, when the vehicle is delivered to its ultimate destination, use that inspection report to go over the vehicle again. Take your time in going over your car, making note of any new damage on the inspection report. Point out any damage to the driver who delivered your vehicle and then have him sign the inspection report. This will generally be your only recourse in being reimbursed for repairs of damage that occurred while your vehicle was in the care of the transportation company. Finally, contact the transportation company to discuss the situation. Any reliable company will work with you to make sure your vehicle is repaired in a manner that is acceptable to both of you.

Source:
http://www.autotransportreviews.com/tips.php

Carriers and Brokers, Whats the dif and why does anyone care? Car carriers

How do car carriers differ from shipping brokers and why does it matter? The main difference is that car carriers own their equipment—trucks and trailers—and employ their own drivers while brokers do not. Car carriers actually transport cars while brokers arrange for the transport.

So if a person needs to ship his vehicle, why would he use a broker instead of a carrier? At first glance, it would seem to make more sense to work directly with a carrier. After all, why use a middle-man?

While some people might prefer to work directly with a carrier, there are valid reasons to use a broker instead. A broker generally has access to a much larger fleet of trucks because the broker works with multiple car carriers. In other words, the broker has a network. Pickup and delivery of the car can usually be expedited because the broker isn’t tied down to a limited number of trucks and drivers as a single carrier would be.

Many carriers also only provide terminal-to-terminal service. Instead of delivering to the vehicle owner’s specified location, the carrier may require the owner to pick it up at a terminal in the destination city. Or the vehicle will sit at the terminal until other vehicles arrive that are destined for the same delivery area. The broker’s network allows it to access carriers that are headed the owner’s way, thereby expediting the delivery.

Because of this network of multiple carriers, a broker can usually also find the best price for the transport. And the broker can find a carrier that specializes in moving the owner’s particular type of vehicle.

So using a middle-man may actually save time and money. But, as with any other aspect of auto transport, the vehicle owner should research and determine the best option for him.


Source:
http://www.americanautoshipping.com/auto-s...car-carrier.asp
http://www.aaat.com/transport/2009/01/auto...rs-vs-auto.html

Cheap Car Movers May Cost You!

Cheap car moves can save you a lot of money…or cost you far more than money. Sure they can transport your car for less money. But what are the risks? Will your car arrive at its destination in the same condition that it left your possession? Will it arrive in a timely manner? It’s important to do your homework about anyone you hire to move your car, whether it’s across town or across the country. Don’t pick an auto transporter just because offers the lowest price.

Shop around and ask a few questions. How much will it cost to move your car from one place to another is, of course, an important question. But is the auto transporter licensed, bonded, and insured? Do they comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s safety standards? What kind of equipment does the company use to load and unload cars? How long has the company been in business? Have any complaints been filed against them and what is their track record for safety? How will they handle any issues that might arise during the transportation of your vehicle? Have any of your friends, coworkers, or neighbors used their service and, if so, how did it work out?

Trust your instincts when querying auto transporters. Are they willing to answer your questions in simple terms or do they throw a lot of jargon at you? Are their answers respectful or do they treat you as if you should already know the answers to your questions? Attitude can tell you a lot.

Whether you’re moving the old family clunker or some exotic collectible vehicle, you want it to arrive at its destination safe and sound. So do your research on any company you’re considering. Ask questions and expect a successful move no matter how much or how little you pay.