How New Tech Is Shaping the Vehicle Shipping Industry
Technology is ever-changing, and though you may not think it, it even affects the vehicle shipping industry. Granted, technology doesn’t move the goalposts much when it comes to shipping cars – we still use the same methods they used in the fifties!
But technology has changed how we approach that job – how we interact with customers, how we load and secure cargo, etc. Even in the 21st century we’ve seen major strides in long-haul trucking tech – fuel efficiency is higher, loads are safer, communication is instantaneous.
All of these have an impact on the vehicle shipping industry and your shipment. But there’s even more new tech coming just around the corner, and that’s what we’re talking about today.
Article Overview
What new tech is coming to the vehicle shipping industry
We’ve talked about things like autonomous auto transport trucks, electric trucks, the coming electronic logging device for truckers, and more. All those technologies are either coming to the industry or have already arrived, notably the ELD mandate. Electric trucks and autonomous trucks could very well revolutionize the industry once they are ready to hit the open road. The ELD mandate is helping truckers to better follow hours of service regulations, which should help keep them fresh and safe while on the road.
How new tech can impact the vehicle shipping industry
Things move slow in the car shipping world, but that’s not surprising in an industry that uses big vehicles to haul small vehicles. Why fix what isn’t broken? But there’s always room to improve, and that’s what this blog post is about.
Several new companies have unveiled plans to bring out an all-electric transport truck. Tesla, Nikola, Thor, the list goes on. The idea is that if we make the physical act of driving more efficient, fleets save money and customers get better service. More importantly, perhaps. is the impact on the environment. A move away from fossil fuels could means that one of the largest polluting industries – long-haul trucking – could be more eco-friendly.
Would prices be lower with electric or autonomous trucks?
This is the million-dollar question. Logic would dictate that trucks that don’t need to spend money on fuel for their trucks would be cheaper to ship with. But electric trucks are expensive – and will be expensive – at least in the immediate future. Fleets will likely have only one or two electric trucks to start, and recouping the initial cost may be difficult in mixed fleets. so it may take time to see real price drops.
But they should drop over time. As electric trucks become more common, prices will inevitably drop. Competition will go up as more carriers get on board, and over time we’re likely going to see legislation actively punishing older, more polluting trucks. And we do see that now, but it will likely be even more pronounced as electric technology becomes more commonplace.
How common will electric auto transport trucks be?
Something that we don’t think about, though, is maintenance. Maintenance for fleets right now is pretty straightforward, and any diesel mechanic should be able to handle the task. But with electric trucks, maintenance is a lot different. This could actually inhibit the implementation of electric trucks, as not all fleets will be able to afford an electric truck mechanic.
Because of this, electric trucks could see delays in actually hitting the road. Trucks in the vehicle shipping industry tend to operate on pretty thin profit margins, and many of them can’t afford to hire a brand-new, specialized mechanic for just one vehicle. More likely, drivers will rely on dealership mechanics to handle that, but that comes with its own set of problems.
I think that, over time, we’re going to see electric trucks slowly phase out older, diesel-guzzling transport trucks. But it’s going to take time, longer than it’s taken electric cars to make an impact. We see more and more on the roads today, but there are plenty of gas guzzlers out there still. For how long electric cars have been out, implementation has been slow, and it’ll likely be even lower for the vehicle shipping industry.
Looking to ship a car?
If you’re searching for a quality company that can help you ship your vehicle, look no further. Here at American Auto Shipping, we have almost 20 years of experience helping customers ship their vehicles. Use our free quote request form to get started. If you do, you can see a price to ship your vehicle to or from anywhere in the U.S. immediately. You can also give us a call toll-free at 800-930-7417. Speak to a live agent who can answer your questions, give you a free quote right over the phone, and more. No matter what you need, what you’re shipping, or what you’re looking for, we can help.
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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