Shipping a vehicle isn’t as simple as posting mail. Although they may share the same basic shipping process, there are more external factors to consider when transporting cars. Shipping companies are most knowledgeable about the best practices on how to ship a car as they follow several guidelines to guarantee safe and efficient transport.
Nevertheless, being educated on certain factors crucial to maintaining your vehicle’s optimal condition throughout its journey will be more beneficial. Among the myriad factors impacting the safety of the transport process, weather-related challenges and seasonal impacts stand out as the most unpredictable.
Seasonal Impact on Car Shipping Procedures
Car shipping may appear as easy as just treating your car as a passenger on its way to a specific designation. While this holds for the most part, as drivers yourselves, you should know that each season presents different hurdles on the road.
Specifically, driving during winter can be pretty challenging, with the icy roads and thick snow covering most parts of the ground. Winter also means snowstorms and other adverse weather conditions, resulting in zero visibility on the roads. These could make a dangerous environment for long drives, even for big carriers.
On the other hand, while offering better road conditions, summer seasons also have a higher risk for heat strokes and vehicle overheating due to extreme heat in some regions. While these setbacks are much easier to overcome with adequate preparation and safeguards, it is essential not to underestimate the consequences of even slight negligence.
Weather-Related Delays and Remedies
Across all seasons, drivers often face unexpected weather conditions, such as snowstorms or sudden hales for some regions during winter and tropical thunderstorms or severe heat waves during the summer. These extreme conditions could cause delays in some shipping schedules.
Thus, it is paramount that you choose carriers that adopt strategies to mitigate the consequences of these delays, such as altering their routes or investing in weather-appropriate vehicles. To curb extreme heat, it is important that they also keep a well-maintained cooling system on their cars and arrange shipping schedules during the cooler parts of the day.
Read this article for a helpful reference on properly preparing your car for extreme heat.
Scheduling Considerations For Proper Flexibility
Advance Booking
On all occasions, proactive planning always proves advantageous. Booking car shipments in advance allows carriers to schedule adequate trips to cater to the demand. Advance booking, while also very cheap, provides a helpful avenue for shipping companies with the flexibility to design their shipping schedules that allow room for adjustment in case of sudden extreme weather conditions. This also helps make room for peak seasonal demands and helps carriers allocate resources better.
Monitoring the Weather
While shipping companies have tools to help them monitor and predict weather conditions well in advance, it is also vital that you execute your own monitoring. This will help you anticipate any possible disruptions in your target schedules and enable proactive measures to help minimize the delays in getting your vehicle to your desired destination.
If weather conditions don’t allow travel on your moving date, rescheduling ahead of time can save significantly on expedited costs. This foresight enables planning for a more favorable date well in advance.
Here’s a great tool you can use for your own weather monitoring: https://www.weather.gov/arx/severe_monitor
Choosing the Right Shipper
Selecting the right shipper ensures swift and reliable transport. Research your options thoroughly and ensure you choose a company with a proven track record and high delivery rate.
When transporting your vehicle to a new region, selecting a shipper with a main branch in the same area is best. This gives you access to information about additional services provided when needed, as well as potential aftercare.
You also need to compare quotes, customer reviews, and services offered to enable you to make the most suitable decision in your choices. Factors like the vehicle type and customer preferences, including shipping method and timeframe, should also contribute to this decision-making process.
Appropriate Shipping Method
Depending on the season, you may opt to choose for an open or enclosed transport. During summer, open transport is the most cost-effective option for car transport due to its relatively more stable weather conditions. On the other hand, it is best to choose enclosed transport, even with the extra cost, for the added protection it provides for your vehicle against snow or raging winds during winter.
Communication and Contingency Plans
Clear Communication
In these modern times, communication shouldn’t be a challenge anymore. Ensure that your shipper has appropriate communication tools with everyone involved in the shipping process. For instance, maintaining an open line with their driver is crucial to ensure that any assistance needs are met, and unforeseen incidents are communicated to the company for proper guidelines.
Contingency Plans
Preparation is necessary, especially in a business with multiple variables that affect completion, such as weather elements. Upon choosing a carrier, ensure you ask them about flexible delivery schedules, backup transport, service centers between regions, communication devices, route options, and trained drivers. This level of information will provide you with peace of mind that your valued vehicle’s journey is very well-protected.
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