Customer Reviews

The Anatomy of an Auto Transport Company

Posted on 05/03/2022

Jump to:
Customer Service
Dispatch
Sales
Marketing
Executives
 
anatomy-auto-transport-company

 

A car shipping company has several moving parts that work together in order to get your car shipped to its destination as quickly and safely as possible. From sales to dispatch, each department at an auto transport company has a specific job to execute in order to ensure the success and timely delivery of customer vehicles.

 
These are the typical departments at many car shipping companies:
 

Customer Service

 
One of the most important departments at a car shipping company, customer service is crucially important to the vehicle shipping process. They are the main point of contact for the customer once their shipment has been booked. If the customer has any questions or concerns about their shipment, they will contact customer service and look for answers. Customer service is responsible for giving the customer any answers or information they might need as well for putting it into the simplest terms for them.
 
If any issues do come up during the conversation with the customer, customer service is responsible for alerting the appropriate department so that the issue can be rectified as quickly as possible. An ability to stay calm under pressure and a keen attention to detail are definitely necessary qualities to have for an auto transport customer service representative.
 

Dispatch

 
Dispatch is the department responsible for all of the actual logistics work that goes into shipping your car. They coordinate with the auto carrier drivers and help them determine the best routes to use in order to fulfill your shipment as efficiently as possible. They also facilitate the best proximity of pickups and deliveries for carriers in order to minimize transit time while simultaneously maximizing the number of cars shipped per carrier.
 
Dispatch will also need to work less typical hours as well. Car shipments, especially when facilitated at a large volume (lots of orders), happen around the clock. It’s also a very fast-paced job which requires focus, intuition and the ability to constantly multitask .
 

Sales

 
The sales department at any auto transport company is responsible for taking the leads they get from the efforts of the marketing department and converting them into customers. Their job is to inform the customer about the service and merit of that particular auto shipping company as well as to motivate them to book a shipment.
 
They also must explain how that company will meet that specific customer’s car shipping needs and why the price of shipping a car costs what it does at that time. A salesperson will also have to ensure that it is even possible for that particular shipment to be made in the particular timeframe that the customer needs. A salesperson in the auto transport industry must be energetic, quick-thinking, and well-informed at all times.
 

Marketing

 
The marketing department is responsible for generating all the leads an auto transport company gets. In 2022, this is done through a series of digital marketing strategies including: paid advertising on sites like Google and Facebook, website optimization, search engine marketing and more.
 
They are also responsible for monitoring and analyzing customer behavior with regard to the website and advertisements so that they can make more informed decisions about these things in the future. A marketing professional in the auto shipping industry must be constantly learning new tactics to stay ahead of the competition because what produces the most effective results constantly changes and evolves.
 

Executives

 
Much like most other companies in the business world, the executives at a car shipping company make any and all major decisions about the company. This can range from decisions regarding employee hires to the amount of money to reinvest in the company in areas such as advertising. The executives that you might find working at an auto transport business can include a President, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Legal Officer, Corporate Financial Officer, Corporate Technology Officer and more.
 
In many cases, at least one of the executives (usually the president or CEO) are also the founders and/or owners of the company. The majority of auto transport companies are not publicly traded companies. This means that the executives at these companies truly do have the ability to make any change at the company that they see fit without interference from a board of directors or investors. Executives must be natural leaders with the ability to accurately forecast how changes implemented in the company will affect both the short-term and long-term productivity and prosperity.
 

Conclusion

 
An auto transport company has several critically important parts. These include customer service, dispatch, sales, marketing and the executives. These departments work hand in hand in order to complete a vehicle shipment for a customer. Together, they form the well-oiled machine that is the vast majority of the auto transport industry.
 
Whenever you think you may need a vehicle of any kind shipped somewhere, whether it is for a move, college or any other reason, you can always get a free instant quote on our homepage!

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The Anatomy of an Auto Transport Company

Posted on 05/03/2022

Jump to:
Customer Service
Dispatch
Sales
Marketing
Executives
 
anatomy-auto-transport-company

 

A car shipping company has several moving parts that work together in order to get your car shipped to its destination as quickly and safely as possible. From sales to dispatch, each department at an auto transport company has a specific job to execute in order to ensure the success and timely delivery of customer vehicles.

 
These are the typical departments at many car shipping companies:
 

Customer Service

 
One of the most important departments at a car shipping company, customer service is crucially important to the vehicle shipping process. They are the main point of contact for the customer once their shipment has been booked. If the customer has any questions or concerns about their shipment, they will contact customer service and look for answers. Customer service is responsible for giving the customer any answers or information they might need as well for putting it into the simplest terms for them.
 
If any issues do come up during the conversation with the customer, customer service is responsible for alerting the appropriate department so that the issue can be rectified as quickly as possible. An ability to stay calm under pressure and a keen attention to detail are definitely necessary qualities to have for an auto transport customer service representative.
 

Dispatch

 
Dispatch is the department responsible for all of the actual logistics work that goes into shipping your car. They coordinate with the auto carrier drivers and help them determine the best routes to use in order to fulfill your shipment as efficiently as possible. They also facilitate the best proximity of pickups and deliveries for carriers in order to minimize transit time while simultaneously maximizing the number of cars shipped per carrier.
 
Dispatch will also need to work less typical hours as well. Car shipments, especially when facilitated at a large volume (lots of orders), happen around the clock. It’s also a very fast-paced job which requires focus, intuition and the ability to constantly multitask .
 

Sales

 
The sales department at any auto transport company is responsible for taking the leads they get from the efforts of the marketing department and converting them into customers. Their job is to inform the customer about the service and merit of that particular auto shipping company as well as to motivate them to book a shipment.
 
They also must explain how that company will meet that specific customer’s car shipping needs and why the price of shipping a car costs what it does at that time. A salesperson will also have to ensure that it is even possible for that particular shipment to be made in the particular timeframe that the customer needs. A salesperson in the auto transport industry must be energetic, quick-thinking, and well-informed at all times.
 

Marketing

 
The marketing department is responsible for generating all the leads an auto transport company gets. In 2022, this is done through a series of digital marketing strategies including: paid advertising on sites like Google and Facebook, website optimization, search engine marketing and more.
 
They are also responsible for monitoring and analyzing customer behavior with regard to the website and advertisements so that they can make more informed decisions about these things in the future. A marketing professional in the auto shipping industry must be constantly learning new tactics to stay ahead of the competition because what produces the most effective results constantly changes and evolves.
 

Executives

 
Much like most other companies in the business world, the executives at a car shipping company make any and all major decisions about the company. This can range from decisions regarding employee hires to the amount of money to reinvest in the company in areas such as advertising. The executives that you might find working at an auto transport business can include a President, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Legal Officer, Corporate Financial Officer, Corporate Technology Officer and more.
 
In many cases, at least one of the executives (usually the president or CEO) are also the founders and/or owners of the company. The majority of auto transport companies are not publicly traded companies. This means that the executives at these companies truly do have the ability to make any change at the company that they see fit without interference from a board of directors or investors. Executives must be natural leaders with the ability to accurately forecast how changes implemented in the company will affect both the short-term and long-term productivity and prosperity.
 

Conclusion

 
An auto transport company has several critically important parts. These include customer service, dispatch, sales, marketing and the executives. These departments work hand in hand in order to complete a vehicle shipment for a customer. Together, they form the well-oiled machine that is the vast majority of the auto transport industry.
 
Whenever you think you may need a vehicle of any kind shipped somewhere, whether it is for a move, college or any other reason, you can always get a free instant quote on our homepage!

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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.