What Does the Future of Auto Transport Look Like?
The auto transport industry is slow to change. Ask anyone – we’ve been in the industry for fifteen years and our basic model is exactly the same as it was fifteen years ago, and this goes the same for many auto transportation companies.
As it stands, the way that automobiles are transported, be they from the manufacturing plant to the dealership, the dealership to the customer, or from one customer to another, is done exactly the same as it has been for the past fifty years, though some of the technology that shipping companies utilize has changed drastically.
As technology gets more and more advanced, more and more automobile shipping companies are looking to save money on the back end in order to utilize profits on the front end, and everyone is looking for a way to get away from diesel prices, which – as of this writing – are topping close to $4/gallon in many areas of the country.
The method of auto transportation likely won’t change any time soon. What we mean is that auto shippers will still operate big-rig trucks that can haul 8-10 cars at a single time, and because of federal regulation the size of them won’t change.
Auto transport trucks can only weigh a maximum of 80,000 pounds, can be no longer than 75 feet long and no wider than 102 inches per law. The load height can also be no higher than 13.5 feet due to overpass height – in the west it’s 14 feet, and some carriers can get away with taller loads because of the higher overpasses in states west of the Rockies, but seven inches really isn’t a whole lot of extra clearance, so most shippers stick with the 13.5′ max.
What most auto shippers will do is upgrade their trucks technologically. Trucking companies are already seeing electric-hybrid technology entering long-haul trucks, and Walmart, oddly enough, has been the first to really implement the new technology. Electric drivetrains are more prevalent in cars that auto shippers are moving, but the future looks like it’s trending away from diesel fuel and toward cleaner, more sustainable engines, which is fantastic for everyone in the industry.
Prices will likely drop for customers and brokers, and trucking companies can focus on getting from A to B without having to know where all the refueling stations are. If you’re interested in learning more, read more of our blog posts; otherwise, you can call 800-930-7417 for a free quote. You can also get your quote online simply by filling out our free quote request form.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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