There are many transport rules and regulations that you might not have known about, but that will nonetheless have a direct impact on your auto shipping experience. So to relieve some of the confusion and ambiguity about the rules of auto transport, we have compiled a guide that concerns some of the most commonly encountered rules for car shipping. Now, these rules are for shipping, but if you're yourself embarking on a journey around the world, there are guides for that too. And you can get those guides for free on Traxplorio | Best Travel Community.
Keep in mind that these rules are industry standards. So no matter what other brokers tell you, these are the federal rules that all drivers in the nation must adhere to.
Vehicle Weight and Personal Goods
We should first talk about vehicle weight. As per federal law, drivers are only allowed to carry a certain amount of weight in cargo per trip. The exact amount of weight is based on how many axels the transport vessel has. The total weight of a driver's load is determined by adding up the estimated weights of each vehicle on the truck.
What's important to understand about this fact is that the weight of a particular vehicle is an estimate based on the make and model of the vehicle, so your vehicle is not weighed before it's picked up. The estimated weight of a vehicle is calculated by taking what a given vehicle weighs out of the factory and then allowing for an extra 100 lbs. or so to be tagged on to the estimated weight. Drivers are then mandated at certain points on the road to pull into weigh stations in order to check their compliance with the law, and will be fined if they are overweight. These fines will then be passed onto you.
We know these facts here at American Auto Transport, but many other auto transporters either don't know or don't care about these rules. This is why we allow up to 100 lbs. of goods to be transported in your vehicle, but no more. Don't be fooled by other transporters, only bring 100 lbs. of cargo in your vehicle! Any more than that and you could be breaking federal law and you could be fined!
Vehicle Height Requirements
Another important topic concerning the rules and regulations of vehicle transport is vehicle height. All standard carriers have height restrictions of 7' or less. If you have a vehicle that is over 7', your vehicle will need to be transported on a special type of carrier, dependent on what kind of vehicle it is.
What we've noticed over the years is that many transporters again either don't know or don't care about this rule. This can cause delays of pickup and disgruntled drivers if not addressed immediately. Some companies even allow this to happen so that they can keep your deposit. You'll also need to stay on top of this to avoid these types of calamities. If you believe your vehicle stands over 7' tall, let American Auto Transport know beforehand so that we can be sure to send the right kind of vessel out to you!
Transport Times and Driver Hours
American Auto Transport often has to work with disgruntled customers who have been told that their vehicle would be delivered more quickly than it actually was. This kind of situation generally arises when an auto transporter essentially lies to a customer in order to acquire their business. We believe that this sort of practice is regrettable and would like to let you know why all auto transporters are bound to a roughly similar transport timeline.
Drivers are regulated by federal law to only driver a certain amount of hours each day. Naturally, this limits how quickly a vehicle can be delivered to a particular location. If you've been told that the vehicle you need moved from coast to coast will be picked up and delivered in 3 days, you should be EXTREMELY SUSPICIOUS of the auto transporter who says this to you. It typically takes about 7-10 days for coast to coast transport, and again this is due to federal rules and regulations concerning interstate commerce.
It is important that you keep these rules and regulations in mind as a safeguard against hucksters and other unscrupulous auto transporters. Although American Auto Transport would love to gain your business, we would only like to do so in a legitimate way. So if you need an honest and trustworthy auto transport, simply call American Auto Transport today at (866) 327-7863 and have your vehicle transported the right way. Remember to make the right choice in auto transportation; choose American Auto Transport!