Auto transporters and car owners have one thing in common when it comes to auto transport–we all want your vehicle to be as safe as possible in transit. The importance of car(go) securement may seem obvious and even easy, but there is a lot of care and experience involved when it comes to keeping your car safe and secure.
And this significance isn’t just for truckers and transporters; this year has also been an active one for federal safety inspections focused on cargo safety. Excellent auto transport comes together through a combination of knowledge, skill, experience, and sometimes even excitement.
Handle With Care
Securing an automobile for transport is a specialized skill that involves a lot of knowledge, experience, and hard work. More than just simply backing up to a loading dock, car haulers have to be hands-on almost every step of the way.
After the car has been driven onto the trailer, the truck’s hydraulic ramps lift and tilt the car into optimal position.
Then the trucker gets to work strapping it in with a series of wheel straps.
The trucker starts with at least four wheel straps, two each at the front and rear of the car, to keep it from moving at all. Sometimes there are special mounting points on the vehicle, but most often the car is secured by the chassis and over and around the wheels.
A carrier is one place you don’t want your car bouncing or rocking! Immobilization is of utmost importance, but placement is key to keeping every car pristine. That’s why reputable car shippers like The Car Carriage only work with experienced auto transporters who have exceptionally high service and satisfaction ratings.
Rules and Regulations
According to the North American Standard Inspection Program, every year, around four-million commercial motor vehicle inspections are conducted every year. Federal focus has been on safety across all areas of transportation, so it comes as no surprise that inspections have been especially intense when it comes to how cargo is carried.
Safety is a major concern–to protect the cars of course, and others on the road. That’s why there are so many rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on cargo securement, especially when it comes to transporting vehicles.
Special Securements
Car haulers have a lot of experience providing special care and consideration for each customer and car. Every vehicle has its own sensitive areas and stress points, but experienced auto transporters know just how and where to strap-in every vehicle size and shape.
On older cars, such as popular classics from the 50s and 60s, the metal may be weaker or even partially rusted, so truckers know to avoid putting any extra weight on those parts. In this case, the trucker would use special canvas straps to hold the car, and possibly extra tire strapping.
Sometimes cars need to be shipped with parts that cannot fit inside the car, like Roadsters or Hotrods. They have to be secured as well using straps or cargo nets.
The additional four tires attached to the above vehicle required extra straps and cargo nets.
For oversized and overweight loads, such as a M35A and MRAP military vehicles, appropriate equipment must be sent to accommodate and secure the extra size and weight. In these cases, chains can be used (due to the durability of the vehicles), attached to the frame, as well as stronger and wider straps and larger ratchets that can take the extra pressure.
Labor of Love
The Car Carriage staff has shipped vehicles of every size and shape imaginable. Now you’ve seen not only how and why securement is so important for auto transport, but also some examples of the ways The Car Carriage makes sure every auto travels at its very best.
It’s a big responsibility, but we’re not only up for it, we enjoy doing it. Our car haulers have done the hard work of learning how to care for this special cargo because they love the experience, the cars, and the satisfaction of getting every vehicle safely home.
