By Allen 
Shipping a car is often viewed as a simple e-transaction due to the booking process that accompanies the purchase. However, as soon as you confirm your order, a multi-step process begins that includes, but is not limited to, outlining the logistics, assigning a driver, and determining a route for your vehicle’s transport. Knowing what to expect helps ease the apprehension that often accompanies the automotive shipping process.
Understanding what happens during the order processing stage is particularly helpful for those having to deal with the complexities surrounding corporate relocations.
Processing Order and Confirming Details
The first order of business for the transport company after you make your car shipping order is ensuring that the details of your order have been properly entered. They will check that the locations entered for pick up and drop off, vehicle type, vehicle operational state, and preferred shipping method are accurate.
At this stage of the process, the transport company may issue a confirmation email or call, during which they will:
- Verify your contact details.
- Validate the vehicle’s make, model, and functional accessories.
- Confirm that your desired shipping and delivery dates are available.
This is also an important stage for customers using corporate relocation, where detailed attention to timelines and coordination with an employer or relocation manager is critical.
Carrier Assignment and Dispatch Planning
Once your booking is verified, the next step involves pairing your shipment with an available carrier. Transport companies collaborate with networks of licensed and insured carriers to determine the optimal carrier for your route and schedule.
Carrier assignment takes into account the following considerations:
- Route efficiency
- Vehicle size and type
- Mode of transport (open or enclosed)
- Time sensitivity
Once a carrier is assigned, dispatch teams begin planning the time windows for pickups and planning the most efficient routes. This ensures that your vehicle is transported by veteran car movers who have experience with your shipping corridor. \
Scheduling the Pickup Window
Car shipping rarely allows for the exact timing of pickups. Instead, carriers proffer a pickup window, which typically ranges from one to three days. This provides more leeway for drivers dealing with traffic, weather, and other deliveries along their route.
Before pickup, you can expect to be notified of:
- When a driver has been assigned to the shipment
- The estimated pickup day
- The driver’s contact information is closer to the pickup date
This more flexible scheduling works particularly well for clients who are best places to buy cars or out-of-state dealerships, where the delivery timing can be uncertain.
Pre-Pickup Vehicle Preparation
Prior to the arrival of your driver, you will need to prepare your vehicle for shipping. The following preparation steps must be completed for safety and documentation purposes.
Common preparation steps include the following:
- Clearing out personal items
- Cleaning your vehicle to allow for visual inspection
- Ensuring proper tire pressure and battery charges
- Disabling alarm systems
By completing all preparation steps, you minimize the chance of delays and help professional car movers ensure a smooth pick-up experience for your vehicle.
Vehicle Inspection and Bill of Lading
During pick up, the driver will perform a visual inspection of your vehicle. This inspection will serve to document your vehicle’s condition and will be logged onto a Bill of Lading.
The inspection documented on the Bill of Lading will include the following:
- Taking note of any scratches, dents, or cosmetic damage
- Checking if your vehicle is operational
- Recording the odometer mileage
The Bill of Lading is a significant document in the shipping process as both you and the driver will sign the Bill together, which in turn, protects the customer and the provider of transport services.
Loading and Securing the Vehicle
After the inspection process is complete, the car is then driven onto the transport trailer. Depending on the transport method, this may include the use of a ramp or liftgate.
Balancing and ensuring the safety of the vehicles happen during the loading process.
For safety and security, wheel straps and tie-downs are secured
Careful adjustment of clearance and height should be dealt with, topped off with having experienced car movers obey strict loading protocols that prevent shifting or damage during transit.
- After loading the vehicle, your vehicle will begin a journey that will be monitored by the dispatch, who are in contact with the driver and will manage any delays should they arise.
- Distance and route complexity, traffic, and weather conditions are major factors that will determine the efficiency of the transit.
- For many corporate relocation services, seamless movement of vehicles is required, and customers appreciate having system-generated movement updates throughout the journey.
- Many modern car shipping companies provide communication or status updates. While real-time GPS tracking may not always be available, you can expect communication at key milestones.
An example of an update that may be expected is a notification having been sent before the vehicle is due to be delivered.
Delivery Scheduling and Arrival Notification
When your vehicle arrives at their destination, they will reach out to you to set up a time for delivery. Similarly to the time of pickup, delivery is scheduled for a time within a broad timeframe.
Before Delivery:
- The driver will check to ensure the delivery location is accessible.
- If necessary, alternative drop-off locations can be arranged.
- You will be notified of the driver’s approximate arrival time.
- The outlined steps will ensure an efficient delivery.
- Inspection and Delivery of Vehicle
When the driver arrives, you will perform a final inspection of your vehicle with the driver. This inspection is done to verify the condition of the vehicle against the Bill of Lading.
During delivery:
- Check for any additional damages.
- If the vehicle is operational, confirm that it can be started and driven.
- Sign the delivery paperwork.
- If any issues arise, they will be captured immediately in order to provide necessary assistance.
- Delivery Related Support and Engagement
Most businesses reach out to customers following the delivery to ensure their expectations have been met and to gather feedback. This may involve:
Providing assistance with any required insurance.
Offering assistance with any additional shipments or deliveries.
Reputable vehicle shipping companies understand that the service they offer extends far beyond the vehicle delivery.
Conclusions
Scheduling vehicle transport is the first step in a series of organized endeavors to ensure your vehicle is delivered in the highest quality and most secure manner possible. Each part of the process, from assigning a transport carrier to conducting preventative inspections, to managing the order in transit, to delivering the vehicle, serves to preserve the quality and value of your vehicle and your expectations.
Knowing what happens after your reservation is made will allow you to understand what happens after every step to protect and preserve the value of your vehicle. This will prepare you to understand what is going to happen and to help you feel secure and prepared to protect your vehicle.