Having a strong relationship with a car shipper can make your search for new fleet vehicles a lot easier. As you build a relationship with your car shipping company, you can track patterns in their workload that you can use to manage your shipping costs. Because you will be able to ship frequently throughout the year, consider the tips below to ensure the best experience.
1. Ship By The Calendar
Every business has busy periods and quiet times. As possible, ask about when your car shipper experiences slower times and try to ship your company cars when they have empty spots.
Unlike a single driver, your employees probably aren’t stuck without a car if their company car doesn’t come in on a specific date. You can actually include a company car in their employment contract but note that the delivery of the vehicle may be delayed.
Car shippers tend to be busy in late spring. If your car shipper also finds those times to be their busiest, you can book your shipments in February for southern transport and in June for summer transport.
By tracking the schedule and confirming with your car shipper that you will need to move a certain number of cars by the end of the year, you may be able to book your shipments either at Net 30 with a discount for early payment or tie them to a particular credit card with great points.
2. Drive To Pick Up If You Can
There are car delivery services that will pick up your vehicle from anywhere in the continental US, and drop it off anywhere nationwide. Use these services in bulk to reap the best savings. Quickly move your fleet vehicles to new markets or even overnight replacement vehicles for a team in the field.
If you need to save cash while shipping cars, stay flexible. You may need to drop off the car to be shipped at a secured lot or a car dealership, and you may need to pick it up near a port if the vehicle had to be shipped over water. This is part of why it is so important to have a strong relationship with a car shipper that you trust.
Leaving a new company car in a secured lot will be easier once you know that the lot is fenced, well-lit, and monitored. If you can’t be sure of the security or if you’re working with a new shipper, take the time to either drive out and get a feel for the place or get someone to find photos of the facility. Chasing around after a damaged or stolen company car is a terrible waste of the time you took to find, finance, and ship the vehicle.
3. Carefully Review Routes Before You Book
The vehicles that transport cars face some serious weight challenges. Take a hard look at the route that your car shipper will need to use to move that new company car. Will they need to
Cross mountains in winter?
Cross the desert southwest in late summer?
Travel through large cities to deliver the vehicle?
Accommodate for oversize vehicles and comply with other safety regulations?
Many of the drivers who make deliveries in the largest cities in the United States travel through those towns in the middle of the night. Do be aware that choosing a safer route when the streets are quiet may delay your delivery. If you need a vehicle expedited, it may make more sense to ship it singly on a flatbed.
4. Avoid Overloading The Vehicle
The heavier a vehicle is, the more the shipping process will cost. Do be aware that many car shipping companies will require that the vehicle is under 1/4 tank upon loading. If your company car is a small delivery van with racks or is loaded with machinery and dividers in the trunk, you will need to empty out everything but the spare and the jacks before you can ship the vehicle.
Of course, this means that you will need to ship those additions apart from the vehicle. If the build-out is a custom job or the removal of these storage tools is going to be time-consuming, it may make more sense to go ahead and pay for the extra weight.
Do take the time to remove any and all stock from the vehicle. If you need to carry printed materials, have them delivered to your new location by your printer. If you need to carry spare parts for your handyman business, load up all hardware and ship it via UPS ground. This will reduce the cost of your vehicle shipment and lower the risk that things will get bounced around in the transport.
There are other things to consider when learning how to ship your company cars. Make sure you thoroughly consult with your shipping service provider about what your needs are, and inquire about any discounts you can take advantage of.
5. Make Sure The Car Is Drip-Free
Car shippers can’t transport a vehicle that leaks. To make sure that your vehicle is drip-free, take it out for a drive and warm up the engine. Next, park it over a clean piece of cardboard and leave it out overnight. If you find drips or a puddle under the car the next morning, you’ll need to get it checked out by a mechanic.
Once you know the cost to get rid of the drip, you have a decision to make. Are you better off purchasing a company car at your new destination, selling the car and buying something else at your original location, or fixing the car? If the vehicle is built out for hauling your product or already bears your logo, then repairing it may make more sense.
Leaky cars do more than increase the risk to your car carrier. They can also damage the vehicle below them, depending on the transport vehicle. By shipping a dripping car, you may negatively impact the reputation of the car shipper and damage a good working relationship. If you know you have a leak, work something else out.
Once you have a company car standard that you want your employees to use, you can expand your search across the country and probably find some great deals. However, you will need a great car shipper to get your new cars to your city; you may even be able to get your car delivered to your door.
The post 5 Hacks To Ensure A Better Company Car Shipping Experience appeared first on Enterprise Podcast Network – EPN.
