November 2016

Can You Pack Your Car When Shipping It?

Are you shipping your car this festive season? If so, you might feel tempted to pack it full like Santa’s sleigh. You probably think that filling your car with personal belongings (or gifts) can save you money because you won’t have to pay for extra airline baggage or moving companies. Most cars have plenty of space for things, so it would be useful if you could it while shipping your car.

Customers often ask about what may and may not be in the car while it’s being shipped. So here’s everything you need to know about having personal belongings in your car while it’s being shipped.

Can My Car Be Packed Full?

Customers often think that shipping a full car will help them save a lot of money. Unfortunately, most auto transport will refuse to ship a car that’s full of things.

Car carriers can carry a set amount of weight. Carrying too much weight is both unsafe and illegal. Determining the weight of every individual vehicle is already a bit tricky. Weight will differ depending on what car model a customer owns and how full the tank it. Because of this, most auto transport companies quote customers based on what car model they own. That way the company has a rough estimate of how many cars they can transport on a single carrier while still remaining within the legal weight.

In reality, you’re already paying for weight when you ship a car. You can’t fill a car with heavy things and still expect to pay the same price. When heavier vehicles are being shipped, the car carrier can’t transport as many cars in a single load, which will make auto transport more expensive.

To save on weight, your car should ideally have very little gas in its tank when you hand it over to the auto transporters. If it’s possible in your case, you can even take off the spare wheel so your car will be a bit lighter.

What Can I Have In My Car?

Despite the fact that extra weight will cost you more, you might still be interested in shipping a car with things in it. A few little things surely couldn’t do any harm, right? Especially if the things in your car barely weigh anything. Unfortunately, even that can be a problem.

By law auto shippers aren’t allowed to transport personal belongings. A licensed auto transport company is only licensed to carry vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. An auto shipper caught transporting cars that have personal belongings in them will be fined. Because of this, most auto shipping companies will tell you to empty the car before handing it over.

Some people put a few things in their trunk, mistakenly believing that it’s okay to have things in a car as long as it’s less than 100lbs. But actually the car should be completely empty.

It’s okay if you forget to take out a CD, or a small notebook in the cabinet. Most auto transporters won’t mind if you forget things that are very little, but don’t intentionally leave things in your car. Not only is that illegal, it isn’t covered by insurance. Any goods you leave in your car will be at your own risk. The auto transporter will assume no responsibility for damages and losses of goods you left in the car before handing it over. Only damage to your car itself is covered under the company’s insurance. Because of this, you should avoid forgetting even small things in your car if they have great value to you.

Things You May Never Ship

As mentioned before, your car should be empty before shipping. If you forget something, that usually isn’t much of a problem, but there are things that auto transport companies cannot ship under any circumstances. It’s strictly forbidden for your car to contain firearms, hazardous materials and contraband while it’s being shipped.

You should also remove anything that could potentially damage your car. Your auto transport company won’t assume responsibility for damage to your car if it was caused by something you left in the car before handing it over. For instance, if you left a bottle on liquid in your car seat and it leaked and spilled while your car was being shipped, the damage won’t be covered by the auto company’s insurance.

To avoid any losses and damage your auto transport company can’t cover, you should remove even things that you normally consider as part of your car. It’s easy to forget items like your jack and owner’s manual before can handing over your car. Many people think of these objects as if they were part of the car itself, but insurance companies won’t always cover the costs if they go missing, so make a note to take them out as well.

What should be clear is that the less things you have in your car before handing it over, the better. In some places in the world, car owners even have to dissemble and reassemble their cars for shipping! Luckily that’s not the case in the US. You’ll be safe shipping your car without removing any of its parts as long as it’s empty. Talk to a trustworthy, licensed auto transport company if you have any other questions regarding items in your car and insurance.

JonGCan You Pack Your Car When Shipping It?
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Tesla employees voiced concerns during Autopilot development

Did you know that self driving cars were in development? I’m sure by now you heard at least something about them. Tesla is on the cutting edge of this technology, but will it ever be perfected?

The report claims that individuals working for the automaker were told to bypass safety precautions to get new technology out at a rapid pace.
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JonGTesla employees voiced concerns during Autopilot development
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Here We Snow Again

Similarly as we take additional care dispatching your car in winter weather, the wellbeing and solace of our truck drivers is likewise top priority. Pulling cars from state to state each day, carefully stacking and emptying each auto, Suncoast Auto Transport ‘s qualified and experienced staff of truckers know the best traps for managing serious weather over every one of the roads and interstates of the mainland U.S. That is the reason we needed to impart to you some trucker tips, which can help any driver remain safe on the road, anyplace in the nation.

Begin Slow

Winter is wonderful season, however it can be unforgiving for the drivers.

Set aside opportunity to get the vibe of the road every day. Guide into the throttle to decide footing, and brake and turn delicately. Utilize your headlights, anytime of the daytime.

Ice On Your Windows – Ice On The Road

Ice shapes all the more rapidly and remains longer on scaffolds, bridges, and even shaded spots on the road after whatever is left of the road is clear. Off-ramps are not used as much of the time and can solidify quickly. You can likewise check by viewing the vehicle ahead; if there’s no tire shower, there’s most likely ice on the road.

Brakes Are The Great Equalizer

It doesn’t make a difference in case you’re in a little car or a major apparatus, no vehicle can stop or start better on ice. Keep in mind, the bigger the vehicle, the more drawn out the stopping.

No Cruising

Try not to utilize cruise control. In the event that your car hydroplanes or slides, the car can quicken and turn the wheels as it endeavors to keep up the consistent speed. Be additionally careful with people on foot.

The Cat’s Meow

Truckers utilize tire chains to give footing on the ice. When absolutely necessary, kitty litter has a comparable impact. Keeping a sack in your car can convey you from truly wasting your time on the off chance that you stall out.

Winterize Your Car

Did you know truck diesel gels when it gets truly cool? Temperatures change the way all vehicles work. The least demanding approach to abstain from being stranded with a car that won’t begin is by trying your battery before the deep freeze. Keep your gas tank as full as could be expected under the circumstances, to counteract buildup (water) in the tank and a fuel line freeze. Supplant your windshield liquid with one evaluated to the most reduced temperature you can discover and guarantee the wipers won’t streak by watching that they are not split or broken. It doesn’t hurt to carry an additional gallon of radiator fluid. Simply winterize your car!

Get ready For The Worst

If you wind up stuck, each cross country transport driver knows a little thinking ahead can keep you protected and warm, as well as more agreeable until you go ahead. Unquestionable requirements incorporate an emergency first aid kit, cover, water, non-perishable nourishment, imperative pharmaceuticals, electric lamp, batteries, sealed or water-proof matches (some lighters won’t work in cold), jumper cables, ice scraper and brush, and shovel.

Additional socks and gloves not just keep you warm, they can spare you from frostbite on the off chance that you get wet. To build comfort, additionally consider stacking up on some of these trucker staples: dispensable finger and toe warmers, resting pack, covering, flares, glow sticks, multipurpose instrument or kit, hand wrench radio, bathroom tissue, and additional boots or lined shoes.

Check For Road Conditions

Current road and weather conditions for the country are accessible online. Check your state’s Department of Transportation Web website for neighborhood roadway occurrence data. Discover national movement and road conclusion data on the U.S. Bureau of transportation Web website.

In the event that you accept away only one recommendation from our truck drivers, this is it. The main procedure for winter driving is being dependably alert. In particular, permit additional time to achieve your goal. On the off chance that there are four-wheelers spun out, the roads are awful. On the off chance that you begin seeing trucks and other transport vehicles pulled over, it’s completely time to get off the roadway.

Remain warm and safe on every one of your voyages!

JonGHere We Snow Again
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Five Essential Tips for Your Teen Driver

Do you have a teenager that will be driving soon? Or maybe you already have a driving teenager and want to know what you can do as a parent to keep them safe. This article covers some basic things to go over with your teenager before handing over the keys.

OMG. Your teenager just got a driver’s license. Now what? Stay calm, and check out these five tips that can help your teen drive safely (and help you put your worries to rest).
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JonGFive Essential Tips for Your Teen Driver
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Eight Things You Should Know About Tires

Are you ever worried about the state of your tires? How do you know when you need a new set, before you get into an accident. This article goes over simple tips and tricks you might now have know about your tires.

Any reputable tire retailer will have knowledgeable people behind the counter to help you when it’s time to choose new tires. They will look up your car in their database to check the wheel and tire size, then tell you what options they have in stock for your vehicle.
Click here to learn more about your tires.
JonGEight Things You Should Know About Tires
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