Customer Reviews

"HOT" Cars – But Not What You Think (Cars and Safety This Summer)

Posted on 07/24/2015

Hot Cars
 
When you think of hot cars, do you think of the need for speed or the latest and greatest in technology?  While there are many connotations to hot cars, unfortunately, there are some that are not positive. Many individuals still practice unsafe conditions during summer with their vehicles, and the people and pets within them. And even more unfortunate, statistics show that the number of fatalities for children left in hot cars is increasing through the years.
There are a couple of scenarios that occur causing these tragic events. Understanding them a little better may help boost preventative measures.
Forgetting a child in the car – The first thought that will more than likely come to mind is that it can’t happen to you. The thought of forgetting that your child is in your vehicle is unthinkable, but it does, unfortunately, happen. It is not unheard of for a parent to forget their child in their vehicle. Perhaps a parent who doesn’t typically drop off for daycare may have a child quietly sleeping in the back seat and, unfortunately, forget them.
Day care workers have also made the unfortunate and fatal mistake of leaving a child in a car seat in a closed vehicle.
Neglect – As sad as it is to say, sometimes neglect is involved. People leave children in hot vehicles due to neglect and the end result is tragic.
Convenience – Sometimes for the sake of convenience a caregiver or parent may leave a child unattended in a vehicle because their thought is that the “will only be a minute.” That’s all it takes sometimes because rather than being distracted by a youngster who is crying, active and engaged or even misbehaving in a store, there is a higher risk of forgetting.
Child’s Play –  Children have always and continue to view the car as a fun place to play or a great place to hide.
Year after year, this is a topic of awareness and it cannot be emphasized enough to take proper precautions to safeguard your child while in your vehicle.
Preventative Tips for Kids and Cars

  • We live in a world with not enough time and not enough sleep, but fortunately there is an app or technological tool to remind you of everything. If it’s not your turn to drive to daycare, set a reminder on your phone. As foolish as it sounds, it might just save your child’s life. Set a reminder for 5 minutes after the time that your child begins preschool. If your child begins at 9:00 a.m., then set your reminder at 9:05. It’s better to take a minute to put something on your calendar than to forget.
  • Set up a routine. If dropping off your child is one of your daily obligations, try to stick to a routine. Rather than switch on and off with the dropping off duties, leave it as one parent’s responsibility. There is less chance of forgetting or confusion this way.
  • Believe it or not, how you organize, manage your time and sleep has a lot to do with your morning routine. Do your best to let the little stuff go, organize your day, evening and work life, as well as set your morning routine in action. The more organized you stay, the less chance of you forgetting there will be.
  • If you do switch drop-off duty, make certain that your spouse or a friend or co-worker is your accountability partner. Text someone or call them and ask them to set a reminder to check in on you in the morning that you are responsible for dropping off your child. An accountability partner can call you at drop-off time to keep you in check.
  • Sometimes kids like to play in your car; take responsibility for your keys and keep them out of the way and out of reach.
  • While it’s tempting to let a sleeping child alone after falling asleep in the car (especially after not having slept all day) don’t do it. Many children will successfully transfer from car to crib without waking.
  • Leave your briefcase of purse in the backseat. You will need that to get to work. Heaven forbid you forget the drop off, when you reach work and go to retrieve your items, you will see your baby sleeping in the car seat.
  • Plan errands around awake time for your child. If you know it is at or near nap time, don’t go out. Wait until your child is done napping, well-fed and ready to accompany you on your errands.

While it is important to do as much as you can prior to the heat of the summer to protect your child from such a tragic incident, please also keep in mind that the elderly are impacted by being left in your hot vehicle, as well as your pets.
In addition, remember to get your car maintenance in order. If you need coolants or if your air conditioning unit is not working properly, make certain to get your vehicle up and running for you and your family this summer. There are many safety issues when dealing with summer from sunburn to poison ivy; don’t make hot cars one of them.

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1Shipment Details

"HOT" Cars – But Not What You Think (Cars and Safety This Summer)

Posted on 07/24/2015

Hot Cars
 
When you think of hot cars, do you think of the need for speed or the latest and greatest in technology?  While there are many connotations to hot cars, unfortunately, there are some that are not positive. Many individuals still practice unsafe conditions during summer with their vehicles, and the people and pets within them. And even more unfortunate, statistics show that the number of fatalities for children left in hot cars is increasing through the years.
There are a couple of scenarios that occur causing these tragic events. Understanding them a little better may help boost preventative measures.
Forgetting a child in the car – The first thought that will more than likely come to mind is that it can’t happen to you. The thought of forgetting that your child is in your vehicle is unthinkable, but it does, unfortunately, happen. It is not unheard of for a parent to forget their child in their vehicle. Perhaps a parent who doesn’t typically drop off for daycare may have a child quietly sleeping in the back seat and, unfortunately, forget them.
Day care workers have also made the unfortunate and fatal mistake of leaving a child in a car seat in a closed vehicle.
Neglect – As sad as it is to say, sometimes neglect is involved. People leave children in hot vehicles due to neglect and the end result is tragic.
Convenience – Sometimes for the sake of convenience a caregiver or parent may leave a child unattended in a vehicle because their thought is that the “will only be a minute.” That’s all it takes sometimes because rather than being distracted by a youngster who is crying, active and engaged or even misbehaving in a store, there is a higher risk of forgetting.
Child’s Play –  Children have always and continue to view the car as a fun place to play or a great place to hide.
Year after year, this is a topic of awareness and it cannot be emphasized enough to take proper precautions to safeguard your child while in your vehicle.
Preventative Tips for Kids and Cars

  • We live in a world with not enough time and not enough sleep, but fortunately there is an app or technological tool to remind you of everything. If it’s not your turn to drive to daycare, set a reminder on your phone. As foolish as it sounds, it might just save your child’s life. Set a reminder for 5 minutes after the time that your child begins preschool. If your child begins at 9:00 a.m., then set your reminder at 9:05. It’s better to take a minute to put something on your calendar than to forget.
  • Set up a routine. If dropping off your child is one of your daily obligations, try to stick to a routine. Rather than switch on and off with the dropping off duties, leave it as one parent’s responsibility. There is less chance of forgetting or confusion this way.
  • Believe it or not, how you organize, manage your time and sleep has a lot to do with your morning routine. Do your best to let the little stuff go, organize your day, evening and work life, as well as set your morning routine in action. The more organized you stay, the less chance of you forgetting there will be.
  • If you do switch drop-off duty, make certain that your spouse or a friend or co-worker is your accountability partner. Text someone or call them and ask them to set a reminder to check in on you in the morning that you are responsible for dropping off your child. An accountability partner can call you at drop-off time to keep you in check.
  • Sometimes kids like to play in your car; take responsibility for your keys and keep them out of the way and out of reach.
  • While it’s tempting to let a sleeping child alone after falling asleep in the car (especially after not having slept all day) don’t do it. Many children will successfully transfer from car to crib without waking.
  • Leave your briefcase of purse in the backseat. You will need that to get to work. Heaven forbid you forget the drop off, when you reach work and go to retrieve your items, you will see your baby sleeping in the car seat.
  • Plan errands around awake time for your child. If you know it is at or near nap time, don’t go out. Wait until your child is done napping, well-fed and ready to accompany you on your errands.

While it is important to do as much as you can prior to the heat of the summer to protect your child from such a tragic incident, please also keep in mind that the elderly are impacted by being left in your hot vehicle, as well as your pets.
In addition, remember to get your car maintenance in order. If you need coolants or if your air conditioning unit is not working properly, make certain to get your vehicle up and running for you and your family this summer. There are many safety issues when dealing with summer from sunburn to poison ivy; don’t make hot cars one of them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle transportation 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. 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 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 to 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, local car moving. There is a broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed car shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed vehicle transportation guarantees maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since carrier availability is limited. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles including 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 inoperable 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 accommodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed transport services 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 transport services are 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 reach your door safely. 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.