When you’re dealing with assets as valuable as vehicles, you need to take steps to protect them.
The road can be dangerous and unpredictable; however, you can mitigate some of these risks with the proper preparation and safety practices.
What to Know About Trailers
Trailers are used to transport all sorts of assets. In this case, we are discussing transporting vehicles. The odds are that every vehicle has been on an auto transport trailer at some point in its lifetime. This is because auto transport trailers are used to transport vehicles from the manufacturer to the dealership.
There are plenty of situations that warrant auto transport. For instance, rental car companies use auto transport to redistribute their fleets — taking vehicles from low-demand areas to high-demand areas. Vehicles may also need to be transported for auctions after being taken out of operation by rental companies.
But rental companies aren’t the only ones with fleets. Plenty of businesses maintain vehicles that may need to be transported to be serviced or otherwise redistributed. Finally, car dealerships may need to redistribute their inventory from one location to another.
Choosing a Trailer
As you can see, there’s plenty of uses for auto transport trailers. Just as there are plenty of different uses, there are plenty of different trailer options to choose from. For instance, there are enclosed trailers and open trailers. There are also single-vehicle trailers, multi-vehicle trailers, and multi-level trailers.
Let’s explore some of the different options, including the pros and cons of each:
- Open trailer: The most common method of transporting vehicles involves an open trailer. An open trailer is completely open and doesn’t have any sides. This method of shipping works well and is quite efficient if done correctly.
- Enclosed trailer: Conversely, you could choose to go with an enclosed trailer. This method of transport is reserved for more high-end vehicles that require extra protection from the elements and dangers of the road.
- Single-vehicle trailers: Single-vehicle trailers are designed to transport one vehicle at a time. Although this may not be the most efficient method of transport, it provides the customer with an extra level of protection and attention during the trip.
- Single-level, multi-vehicle trailers: Single-level, multi-vehicle trailers are designed to transport multiple vehicles within a single level. These trailers can haul anywhere from two to six vehicles at a time, depending on the size. You can choose between different trailers within this type of auto transport, including gooseneck trailers and bumper pull trailers.
- Multi-level, multi-vehicle trailers: Multi-level, multi-vehicle trailers are designed to transport multiple vehicles across multiple levels. Depending on the size, these trailers can haul up to 12 vehicles at a time, with six vehicles on the bottom level and six vehicles on the top level. This is, by far, the most efficient and common way to transport vehicles — especially when the transport involves long distances.
The right trailer to choose depends on the type of work you’re trying to do. If you want to focus on specialized vehicles, you could go with a single-vehicle enclosed trailer. On the other hand, if you want to focus on hauling as many cars as possible, you could go with a multi-level, multi-vehicle trailer.
Prepare the Auto Transport
Before loading any vehicles onto a transport trailer, you need to prepare both the trailer and the vehicle. Here’s what you need to do to prepare for transport:
Vehicle Weight and Configuration
You need to determine the dimensions of the vehicles on the auto transport trailer based on vehicle size, shape, and weight. You will need to come up with the best configuration that maximizes the space on the trailer and evenly distributes the weight of the vehicles.
These considerations are especially important when it comes to double-decker auto transport trailers. However, the more cars that are involved, the more complicated the configuration.
Complete the Inspection
You then need to complete a vehicle inspection. This is a key component to protecting your asset as it details the vehicle’s condition before transport and notes any potential issues, flaws, or defects. It’s important to be extremely thorough when conducting your inspection and take plenty of photos of any issues you come across.
Here are some of the different items that you need to check as a part of the pre-trip inspection:
- Check the exterior and interior of the car for obvious signs of damage, including dents, scratches, paint chips, upholstery rips, and upholstery stains.
- Check the ties of the vehicle for any obvious signs of punctures or other damage. Try to note the tread of the tires as well as their age.
- Check the roof and windows for any obvious signs of damage, including cracks, chips, dents, scratches, etc. Note the location of any issues and the general size of the damage.
- Note any known mechanical concerns involving the engine, brakes, suspension, shocks, electrical system, etc.
- Also, note any extra features of the vehicle to provide an accurate description. For instance, spoilers, rims, navigation systems, etc.
Follow These 3 Steps to Safely Load Your Vehicle Onto an Auto Transport
Safely loading vehicles onto an auto transport trailer is easy so long as you follow these three steps:
Step 1: Park the Vehicle Being Towed and the Auto Transport in Line With Each Other on a Level Surface
To begin the loading process, you need to park the vehicle being towed and the auto transport trailer in line with each other on a level surface. Make sure that the area around the auto transport trailer is clear and there’s enough room to work. From there, engage the parking brake on the tow vehicle.
Once everything is in line and ready to load, you need to couple the vehicle to the auto transport trailer. Make sure that the coupler and safety chains are securely attached to each of the vehicles for safety purposes.
Finally, you need to make sure that the auto transport trailer’s electrical wiring is plugged in and working properly.
Step 2: Load the Vehicle on Auto Transport
The next step is to load the vehicle onto the auto transport trailer. Begin by lowering the rear stabilizers or by placing blocking under the rear of the auto transport trailer to stabilize it.
From there, take your ramps and secure them to the end of the auto transport trailer. Make sure to properly align them with the tires of the vehicle being loaded.
Once everything is aligned, you need to drive the vehicle up the ramps onto the trailer slowly. After the vehicle is in the correct position, put the vehicle in park and engage the parking brake.
Step 3: Secure the Vehicle on Auto Transport
The final step in the process is to secure the vehicle to the auto transport trailer. Even though this may be the last step, it’s one of the most important. After all, you don’t want to encounter issues with the load while on the road.
Make sure to use the appropriate straps, chains, or other tensioning devices based on the trailer to secure the vehicle. Once the vehicle has been secured, remove the ramps and return them to their storage position.
From there, raise the rear stabilizer back up or remove the blocking from under the rear of the trailer.
How to Protect Your Asset While on the Road
Now that your vehicle is loaded and secured to the auto transport trailer, you still need to protect it while you’re on the road. Here are some of the different ways that you can protect your asset during transport:
- Maintain a speed of less than 55 miles per hour during your journey — this rule applies even if the speed limit on the highway is higher.
- Take turns slowly and carefully to avoid potentially shifting the positions of the cars on the auto transport trailer.
- Stay alert and anticipate stops. At a stop, make sure to brake early so that the vehicle has enough time to slow down and stop.
- Stop often for rest so that you can stay alert. Whenever you do stop, make sure to check the trailer. Specifically, you should check the connections, towing hitch, lights, tire pressure, and load security.
Conclusion
A lot goes into protecting your assets before and during your trip. With the right due diligence, you can safely and successfully transport vehicles all over the country.
If you want to book auto transport loads all over the country, then you need to work with RPM. RPM services thousands of shipments a day, and we provide our carriers with the tools they need to book loads fast and get paid faster.
Reach out today to start driving with us!
Sources:
Do I Really Need an Enclosed Car Carrier? | Move.org
How to Safely Load and Tow a Car Hauler | Carry-On Trailer
Preparation and Driving Tips for Safe Towing | Consumer Reports
