The Most Common Problems of Vehicle Transporting
Your personal vehicle, or fleet of vehicles, is a huge asset. Trusting it in the hands of auto logistics companies can be a stressful experience.
There is a lot at stake when moving vehicles from point A to point B. It’s important to trust the selected company to move your vehicles safety, on time, and at the agreed-upon price.
Like any industry that involves moving heavy machinery at high speeds, the vehicle transport industry is not without its risks and problems. Read on to find out what problems may arise, and how you can help to minimise or avoid them in the first place!
Damage to Your Vehicles
This is probably the biggest issue you can have with any vehicle transporter. Even disregarding major accidents, minor vehicle body or interior damage in transit can occur for a number of reasons.
To help mitigate these issues, the auto logistics company must be held accountable. They should be able to clarify to customers exactly what their company policy is, with regard to unexpected damages incurred between pickup and drop-off. Customers can facilitate this accountability with a thorough inspection of their vehicles on arrival, in a well-lit area.
Ideally, customers will take note of any scratches, dents, cracked glass or roof damage (including the often-overlooked area under the bumpers), and make a note of anything noticed on the bill of lading or other handover paperwork. Once the driver signs the documentation, customers are now assured of some supporting paperwork if they need to file an insurance claim.
Late Delivery of Vehicles
Delayed delivery can occur, no matter how many safeguards the car moving company puts in place to avoid it. Theft, hijacking, bad roads, traffic jams, extreme weather, mechanical problems – even something as simple a flat tire can add an hour or more to the journey.
Car shippers will typically estimate your delivery within a delivery window, rather than an exact time. If anything should occur that might delay the vehicle delivery timeframe, customers should be contacted ASAP. A professional vehicle moving company will make sure this is a firm and concrete policy, and their drivers will be fully briefed and act accordingly at all times.
Getting an Incorrect Quote
Occasionally, the quote you will receive from an auto logistics company might be incorrect. An inaccurate or incomplete quote is a risk in any business with many variables at work.
It is worth bearing in mind that most of the time, a misunderstanding about the exact delivery address can cause an incorrect quote. Even GPS navigators can get confused! Another factor could be the poor state of various roads on the route that were not known by, or disclosed to, the vehicle moving company. Extra charges can creep in which were not initially accounted for.
Reputable auto movers will avoid such predicaments by calculating the best transit routes, quoting a customer very clearly and plainly, and adding very little if any “small print”. Customers can do their own part by going over every detail of the quote to find out if anything is omitted or added, and ensuring all their own details are 100% correct.
The auto transport industry is highly competitive, and can be plagued by fraudsters and scammers. A disreputable company might well offer customers an unusually low quote for their services, and then suddenly introduce a number of “hidden costs” that raise the price. When the customer disputes the much higher cost, they might find out that they won’t be getting delivery of their vehicles until they settle the account! Thorough investigation of the company, including by way of contacting customers who have submitted a client testimonial can prevent this.
In a Hurry? Don’t Hurry Your Decision!
If customers do their “homework” thoroughly, they can balance their knowledge of client experiences, company research, and the info reflected in the quotations. This bit of extra legwork helps make decisions easier and less stressful. If a situation arises where you need to move your fleet or single vehicle in a hurry, at least you’ll have a level of confidence to choose the right company for the job.
Keep Your Vehicle or Fleet Safe with RedDot Group!
We provide safe, secure, professional vehicle transport services. We operate from 6 locations in South Africa (Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, George, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth).
RedDot Group specializes in helping OEMs, car dealerships, individuals and other businesses to transport their vehicles to different locations in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. We currently deliver to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
RedDot Group streamlines the vehicle pickup and delivery process. Our handpicked professional drivers ensure round-the-clock updates on your vehicle or fleet. We handle all the niggly details so you can relax in the knowledge that your assets are in good hands!
Be reassured – your vehicles are alright on the road with RedDot Group!
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