RORO...Not talking about a kid's boat song

RORO (roll-on/roll-off) ships are ocean-going vessels that are specifically designed to transport cars, trucks, railroad cars and other wheeled vehicles from one port to another. The name comes from the fact that these vehicles can be driven (or rolled) on and off the transport ship via ramps instead of lifted with cranes. This type of loading is definitely easier on the vehicles being transported, and it’s a quicker process as well.

This wheeled cargo is not measured by weight, as most other cargo is measured. Instead, it is measured in lanes in meters (LIMs). LIMs are calculated by multiplying the cargo’s length in meters by the number of decks on the ship and then by the number of lanes in width that the ship can handle.

The idea for commercial RORO ships came from landing craft used during World War II to load and unload military vehicles—very quickly—at sea shores. Think amphibious assault…Normandy…D-Day. Over the years after the war, commercial international transport of vehicles via ocean-going vessels grew into a big business. Much of the transport has been into the United States from Japan—all those fuel efficient subcompacts. But recent issues with the U.S. economy have caused a decrease in the number of car imports from Japan and other countries, resulting in a downsizing of the worldwide RORO fleet. Many of these vessels are older ships that have been retired.

Of course, American vehicles are transported via RORO as well. And, no doubt, as the economy turns around, the need for RORO ships will return to previous levels. Newer, more efficient vessels with ever greater cargo capacity will replace the “retirees”. RORO…it’s the only way to move wheeled vehicles overseas.

KS Prevents Accidents While Loading/Unloading PCC

NYK Line, a leading logistics and shipping transportation company based in Japan, and Kajima Road Co Ltd created KS Grip, a novel anti-slip material for shore and internal ramps of pure car carriers (PCCs). The material will be used in the PCC Pleiades Leader that was built at Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in November 2009.

Conventionally, an expanded metal of meshed steel plates offer friction in just one direction, causing vehicular slippage during automobile loading / unloading on a rainy day. However, the new material, based on specialized paving technology of Kajima, will create friction in all directions, protecting against slippage and preventing accidents during loading and unloading. Durable KS Grip can survive great pressure applied on the vessel deck and ramp surfaces while loading / unloading scores of automobiles on a PCC. A special coating on the grip limits the anti-slip material dispersion. The KS retains its flexibility even when waves are distorting the hull. Colored KS Grips help in distinguishing between driving and non-driving ramps, ensuring high-level of safety at workplace.

The Japanese Kajima is engaged in civil, building, steel structural, pavement, waterproofing, gardening, water supply facility, tile, brick, block, electrical and masonry works. Shin Kurushima, located in Toyohashi, Japan, builds 300,000 D.W.T vessels, including tankers, container carriers and bulk carriers.

Flatbed trailer safety in parades

Parades! From the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City to the simplest small-town event, flatbed trailers are a staple feature. Usually pulled behind an SUV or pickup truck, flatbed trailers are often decorated as “floats” with bright sheets of fabric or plastic, metal or wood figures, chicken wire and balloons…even flowers. The safety of these trailers should be of primary importance—before, during, and after the parade.



First, anyone involved in decorating or riding on the float should go through safety training with parade organizers. Make sure that everyone understands all the rules. Here are just a few that should be followed.



While decorating the float, make sure that no decorative features interfere with operation of the vehicle or the trailer. From the front bumper to the rear and all the tires in between, the float should be in top-notch condition. Safety chains should be employed to ensure the flatbed trailer won’t get away from its hauling vehicle and all safety lights should be operable and visible.



During the parade, adults should supervise children and teens who ride on or walk near the truck and trailer. Have volunteer wheel walkers on hand to keep spectators away from the trailer and to inform the float’s driver of any potential problems with the vehicle or the trailer during the parade.



Finally: no alcohol! No matter what event the parade is commemorating, leave the beer and other alcoholic beverages out of the cab and off the flatbed.



Parades are intended to be fun, and following all the safety rules will ensure that they are.

The Consolidated Transportation Plan

Car transport firms and vehicle transport truckers conducting owner operator trucking in Maryland travel on roadways that are often congested with traffic that makes transporting during peak hours of use difficult to manage efficiently and on time. The Maryland Department of Transportation has devised and implemented a six-year plan called the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) in order to help make transporting during peak hours of use a lot more efficient and safer for all users.

The Consolidated Transportation Program is Maryland’s answer to increasing traffic congestion that has become more intense in the past few years. The department of transportation expects the plan to reduce traffic congestion on the highways of Maryland and take care of future growth in traffic flows due to Maryland’s increasing population and the number of transports using the roads of Maryland to transport goods and materials to Americans.

The Maryland Department of Transportation’s plan calls for the government to work together with the people, individual jurisdictions within Maryland, and local and state officials to devise and implement projects to enhance transportation within Maryland. In addition, the plan looks forward to try to predict as close as possible future needs of the transportation system of Maryland and take this into account when designing and implementing transportation projects.

The individual projects of the plan designed to improve the roads of Maryland are still being kept under wraps by the Maryland Department of Transportation. There’s very little specific information released on the individual projects, but as they progress more information will be available.

Little Gunpowder Falls Bridge Construction

Car transport drivers planning on using the Little Gunpowder Falls Bridge as part of the route they travel from point to point may want to see if they can think of a different route to take. The Maryland State Highway Administration currently has bridge construction crews working on improving the bridge and getting over the bridge will be slower due to the decrease in traffic capacity created by the construction work.

US 1 (Belair Road) travels over Little Gunpowder Falls Bridge at the Baltimore/Harford County line. At present the Maryland State Highway Administration says four lanes of traffic will be open to traffic on the bridge throughout the current construction work being done on the bridge. Construction began in the summer of 2009 and will continue until sometime in the spring of 2010, unless there are delays, in which case they’ll provide updates on the date of completion.

The project includes the removal and replacement of the bridge, along with a realignment of the roadways leading up to the bridge. The road engineers want to shift the road about twenty feet west to decrease the sharpness of the curve and improve the safety of the approach to the bridge.

At the same time they’re replacing the bridge three buildings are being removed and a new drainage system is being added, along with a gravel parking lot. Paths leading to the trail that goes to Gunpowder State Park are being put in, pedestrian access to the trail underneath the bridge is being added and road crews are putting in new road and trail signs.

Rosedale Streetscape Project

Car transport drivers using the transport roads of the community of Rosedale in Baltimore, Maryland as a route to help them move around the country should be aware that the Maryland State Highway Administration currently has road construction crews working in the area and traffic flows could be reduced during construction.

At the moment M. Luis Construction Company of Baltimore is at work enhancing traffic safety and operations, and making the 2.25 mile section of roadway between US 40 (Pulaski Highway) and Maryland Highway 588 (Golden Ring Road) look prettier for tourists and commuters that travel along this route.

Called the Rosedale Streetscape Project, this project includes widening the roadway; grinding, repairing and resurfacing of the street, the construction of walkways and pedestrian ramps suitable for disabled Americans to use to get around, and the installation of new curbs and gutters. At the same time they’ll make improvements to the drainage systems, built small retaining walls, and improve the traffic signal system. The last things they’ll do are to put in new pavement markings, remove a few trees and put in new ones, before making the area all green.

Construction of this project that began in 2007 is expected to come in at about $11 million, but they still have work to do and won’t be completed until sometime in 2010. The amount of construction that work crews can do relies on the weather and we are talking about Maryland, so road construction is often interrupted due to weather conditions.

Once they get this project finished though the area will look a lot better and it should help relieve traffic congestion in the area and improve safety for travellers on the road.

Auto Transport Brokers - Things You Need to Know, Broker for Auto Transport

In order to decide whether you need auto transport brokers or auto transport carriers you need to know the main difference between them. A broker or broking company does not own the transportation vehicles. They simply act as a middleman between you, the shipper, and the auto transport company. This lack of a fleet to transport vehicles is precisely what turns out to be an advantage with brokers. They are sure to know all the auto transport carriers in your neighborhood and will find the right match for you in a jiffy. Besides, if one carrier fails to turn up, auto transport brokers are sure to have another carrier up their sleeve.

By choosing to deal with auto transport brokers, you are giving yourself a better deal. The brokers too will offer discounts to get your custom. As auto transport carriers do not typically advertize their presence, you will be hard put to find them on your own. When dealing with brokers, you have to be careful of the fine print, especially about the insurance of your automobile. This insurance is usually taken by the carrier not the broker. So check the details of the type and amount of insurance available for your automobile and see if this suits you. If not, negotiate with the broker for a better deal. By choosing an auto transport broker over an auto transport carrier you choose to get your vehicle delivered to you on schedule as most brokers have many alternatives to fall back on.