In this new segment about the auto transport industry, we’ll spend some time giving all you auto transport customers out there some helpful tips in brief snippets that allows you to quickly read about different topics in the auto transport industry and not just what they mean, but what they mean for you and your auto shipping experience. There are a lot of different aspects to the auto transport industry, and the more you know, the better off you’ll be come shipping time. There’s always more to learn when it comes to shipping your car, and as a conscientious  human being we think that you’ll find this segment to be a pretty cool bit and incredibly helpful.

Toyota, Honda and Kia all saw their transaction prices go up a bit over last year’s numbers, which is pretty surprising given that cheaper cars are being sold. But it’s actually good news, from an economic standpoint. See, if transaction prices go up alongside sales, it means that more cars are being sold for more money, which in turn means that the economy is improving because more people have money to spend on new cars. Auto transport companies don’t purchase new trucks lightly, but those sales have gone up too, meaning the auto transport industry specifically is improving as well. More cars to ship, plus newer trucks on the road, means more money for businesses and more money to keep things going.

In an effort to increase sales in May by 30%, Volkswagen is seriously considering moving some previously Europe-only models to the U.S. market, including the VW Pogo and the Up!. There is also an all-new mid-size SUV that is still under discussion regarding its inclusion, but so far all systems are go for the company to start bringing some new models into the U.S. market. Auto transporters probably don’t care – a VW is a VW, really – but it’ll be nice to know that there will be more diversity when I go shopping for a new Volkswagen…if I ever decide to go shopping for a new Volkswagen, which really I probably won’t. Not because they’re bad cars or anything, just…I like Ford better than VW. Sue me.

We reported on Chrysler’s sales gains a few days ago, but now we’re getting information in that sales in May have jumped across the industry – something that vehicle transport companies are telling us is true, mainly based on an increase in the overall number of new cars shipped. Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen all reported sales figures rose by double digits in May 2012, and the trend is likely to keep going up as we continue on. With many new models being introduced over the next few years, analysts are predicting the auto industry to remain strong going into 2013 and beyond, which is awesome news for everyone, including the auto transport industry.

The Memorial Day weekend is a weekend where everybody and their brother drives somewhere to get away. Which means that gas prices tend to spike during this time and usually don’t drop significantly until the end of the summer. The summer is a killer season for auto transporters, and with gas prices hovering around $3.65/gallon nationwide, with diesel prices only slightly higher, the reprieve has been a welcome one. But that doesn’t mean that gas prices won’t go up – with demand in China and India soaring, alongside a struggling European economy and a lackluster recovery in the U.S., all the factors are still there to see the prices rise to $5/gallon…but let’s hope that doesn’t happen.