Customer Reviews

What Makes an Excellent Auto Carrier Driver?

Posted on 10/29/2020

Jump to:
Why this matters
The traits of an excellent auto carrier driver
Conclusion
 
excellent-auto-carrier-driver

 

Why this matters

The traits of an auto carrier driver can make all the difference for the safety and timely delivery of your vehicle. In the end, this is who does the figurative and literal “heavy lifting” when it comes to your car shipment. The level of commitment your driver has in terms of securing your car and delivering it on time makes the entire car shipping industry tick.
 
They are responsible for the safety and delivery of five or even up to eleven cars at a time, so, there is no room for error or weakness during their trip. They do nothing but sleep, eat, drive and look after the safety of your vehicle for up to several weeks straight. Traits like stamina, dedication, strength, flexibility, patience, intuition, dexterity, confidence and care are all vital to an auto carrier driver’s success.
 

The traits of an excellent auto carrier driver

The following are the primary traits that propel your auto carrier driver to safety and success during the car shipping process:
 

  • Stamina – This comes in handy for a driver throughout the auto shipping process. However, it is most important when your driver must travel long distances on foot to retrieve a car from a dealer or private seller in a large lot, for example. They then need to keep the whole transport going without much of a rest, if any.
  •  

  • Dedication – They must breathe, eat and dream the car shipping process. Sometimes, they are on the road for a few weeks at a time. For over eight hours a day, every day during this trip, they must constantly be alert and ready for any complications that might arise during the transport. Even during their rest time, they might have to readjust a strap or rearrange the cars on the trailer.
  •  

  • Strength – They need to be strong enough to secure each one of the cars in their haul to the trailer. Let’s say they have ten vehicles that they need to deliver. Each one usually has four points where it needs to be secured to the trailer. That is forty securement points which absolutely must be made before the transport even starts. Then, each one needs to be undone as each individual car is delivered. That sure is a lot of labor.
  •  

  • Flexibility – They will need to be flexible enough to maneuver in and out of cars when there are only a few inches worth of space. They will also need to be able to slip in between cars that are already on the trailer.
  •  

  • Patience – Whether it’s waiting for a vehicle owner to run into their house to look for the proper documentation or having to unload and reload all the cars in their haul due to a safety issue, these drivers really need patience.
  •  

  • Intuition – These drivers must be able to figure out how the cars will fit on the trailer essentially just by looking at them. If one doesn’t fit properly, they will need to unload and start over from the beginning.
  •  

  • Dexterity – This is one of the most important of all the traits on this list. These drivers need to be able to move a load of extremely expensive and valuable cars onto and off of the trailer in such a particular way that none of them get scratched or damaged. This also includes making sure that the vehicles are secured to the trailer in such a way that a rough road won’t cause damage to any of the cars during the transport.
  •  

  • Confidence – With everything that is on the line during every one of these auto transports, these drivers definitely need to be confident. Any slip up, even a slight one, could end up costing them future work or even their entire career as a driver.
  •  

  • Care – This is another one of the critically important traits that a driver must possess in order to be successful during their transports. Obviously, they need this not only for the safety of the cars they are transporting, but also for their own safety as well as for the safety of all other drivers on the road.

 

Conclusion

Being a driver for an auto transport company is as complex as it looks. It can be both dangerous and extremely difficult work. A driver needs several key traits to have success delivering the vehicles safely and on time. RoadRunner Auto Transport can have your car shipped with our vast network of longtime and trusted vehicle carrier drivers. Visit our car shipping calculator for a free quote!

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What Makes an Excellent Auto Carrier Driver?

Posted on 10/29/2020

Jump to:
Why this matters
The traits of an excellent auto carrier driver
Conclusion
 
excellent-auto-carrier-driver

 

Why this matters

The traits of an auto carrier driver can make all the difference for the safety and timely delivery of your vehicle. In the end, this is who does the figurative and literal “heavy lifting” when it comes to your car shipment. The level of commitment your driver has in terms of securing your car and delivering it on time makes the entire car shipping industry tick.
 
They are responsible for the safety and delivery of five or even up to eleven cars at a time, so, there is no room for error or weakness during their trip. They do nothing but sleep, eat, drive and look after the safety of your vehicle for up to several weeks straight. Traits like stamina, dedication, strength, flexibility, patience, intuition, dexterity, confidence and care are all vital to an auto carrier driver’s success.
 

The traits of an excellent auto carrier driver

The following are the primary traits that propel your auto carrier driver to safety and success during the car shipping process:
 

  • Stamina – This comes in handy for a driver throughout the auto shipping process. However, it is most important when your driver must travel long distances on foot to retrieve a car from a dealer or private seller in a large lot, for example. They then need to keep the whole transport going without much of a rest, if any.
  •  

  • Dedication – They must breathe, eat and dream the car shipping process. Sometimes, they are on the road for a few weeks at a time. For over eight hours a day, every day during this trip, they must constantly be alert and ready for any complications that might arise during the transport. Even during their rest time, they might have to readjust a strap or rearrange the cars on the trailer.
  •  

  • Strength – They need to be strong enough to secure each one of the cars in their haul to the trailer. Let’s say they have ten vehicles that they need to deliver. Each one usually has four points where it needs to be secured to the trailer. That is forty securement points which absolutely must be made before the transport even starts. Then, each one needs to be undone as each individual car is delivered. That sure is a lot of labor.
  •  

  • Flexibility – They will need to be flexible enough to maneuver in and out of cars when there are only a few inches worth of space. They will also need to be able to slip in between cars that are already on the trailer.
  •  

  • Patience – Whether it’s waiting for a vehicle owner to run into their house to look for the proper documentation or having to unload and reload all the cars in their haul due to a safety issue, these drivers really need patience.
  •  

  • Intuition – These drivers must be able to figure out how the cars will fit on the trailer essentially just by looking at them. If one doesn’t fit properly, they will need to unload and start over from the beginning.
  •  

  • Dexterity – This is one of the most important of all the traits on this list. These drivers need to be able to move a load of extremely expensive and valuable cars onto and off of the trailer in such a particular way that none of them get scratched or damaged. This also includes making sure that the vehicles are secured to the trailer in such a way that a rough road won’t cause damage to any of the cars during the transport.
  •  

  • Confidence – With everything that is on the line during every one of these auto transports, these drivers definitely need to be confident. Any slip up, even a slight one, could end up costing them future work or even their entire career as a driver.
  •  

  • Care – This is another one of the critically important traits that a driver must possess in order to be successful during their transports. Obviously, they need this not only for the safety of the cars they are transporting, but also for their own safety as well as for the safety of all other drivers on the road.

 

Conclusion

Being a driver for an auto transport company is as complex as it looks. It can be both dangerous and extremely difficult work. A driver needs several key traits to have success delivering the vehicles safely and on time. RoadRunner Auto Transport can have your car shipped with our vast network of longtime and trusted vehicle carrier drivers. Visit our car shipping calculator for a free quote!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.