Luxury and exotic automakers require less intrusive methods. The transporters even have specific requirements for the mounting angle of the chain from the vehicle to the trailer. Chains with specialized hooks to fit those holes are ratcheted tight to secure the vehicles to the transport trailer. Most cars are manufactured with specific tie-down holes in the chassis or frame. Chains and straps are used to secure vehicles to the trailer. Officials say such an incident is extremely rare because each vehicle is secured at four locations. įor the average motorist traveling behind an open-trailer auto transporter, the obvious fear is a vehicle falling off onto the highway. A load of different-sized vehicles can take up four hours. An experienced driver can load and secure a trailer of familiar, similar-sized vehicles in about 90 minutes. Larger vehicles are usually on the top level. Some cars are backed onto the trailer while others are driven in nose first to maximize space or meet overhang requirements. Obviously, the first car loaded can't be the first car delivered, or else the entire trailer has to be unloaded. This operation has been compared to solving a 3D puzzle because of the time, vehicle size and scheduling issues that have to be juggled. The transport driver is responsible for loading and unloading the rig. On the following page, we'll look at the advantages and challenges of rail transport. We've learned how vehicles are carried from one destination to the next. Of course, rail has its own limitations in destination locations and specialized equipment required to load and unload the vehicles. Longer routes then become more cost effective by rail. The average distance for truck transport falls within a 250-mile radius of the pickup point. will travel on rail before an 18-wheeler auto transport tractor-trailer makes the final delivery to the dealer. Īutomakers estimate that 65-70 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. The automaker relies on five ports, two on the East Coast and three out West, where the vehicles are unloaded for transport to the dealer by truck or rail. Toyota can charter or contract up to 30 ships to serve the American market. For example, Toyota will import about 1.1 million vehicles to America from Japan in 2008. These ships are used to bring foreign-built cars and trucks to the United States. Ĭar-carrying ocean vessels have been built to hold up to 8,000 vehicles, although most are designed to transport between 4,000 and 5,000 vehicles. Used vehicles can make multiple trips on auto transporters as they are shipped to auctions or wholesale operations before going to a dealer. About one third were sold through franchise dealers, another third sold through 42,751 independent used-car dealers and the rest sold by private individuals. In 2007, according to ADESA Analytical Services, almost 42 million used cars were sold in the United States. Used cars are also transported throughout the country. With vehicle pricing so competitive, automakers strive to keep the destination charges down because they are included in the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). Destination charges are only for auto transport within the United States. That means large pickups will cost more than small compact cars but the charge for that product is the same whether the consumer buys the vehicle one mile or 2,000 miles away from the assembly plant. Automakers instead use proprietary formulas to arrive at a nationwide average for a particular product type. The manufacturer's actual cost to transport a specific vehicle from the assembly plant to the dealer is not reflected in the destination charge. This fee is posted on the window sticker or Monroney label found on all new vehicles. Īutomakers spend billions of dollars to transport new vehicles to their dealers, and much of this cost is passed on to consumers through the destination charge. These are not random deliveries, like a load of paper towels dropped off at a supermarket: Dealers order specific vehicles from each production plant, and the correct vehicles must be properly routed through multiple channels for a timely and damage-free delivery. These cars, trucks and SUVs must be delivered to 4,000 dealers. Ford has 13 full production plants that produce 2.5 million vehicles. Consider the organizational demands of Ford Motor Co.
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