Hybrid Dreams at the Geneva Auto Show

As if recession was but a distant memory, the Geneva Motor Show began yesterday with a flurry of glitzy launches overwhelmingly dominated by green technology. Everyone who is anyone in the world of cars is showing off their hybrids – be they electric motors boosting a petrol engine, petrol engines extending the range of electric batteries, or any manner of gradations in between.

It might seem as if mainstream electric motoring is just around the next bend, given the crop being showcased in Geneva – ranging from jaw-dropping super cars from Ferrari (FIATY) and Porsche (PSEPF) to the workhorse Toyota (TM) Auris, with offers too from BMW (BAMXY) and Audi (VLKAY). But, so far, hybrids occupy only the tiniest niche in the global car market, and for all the hype there is a long way to go.

At present there are very few electric hybrids for sale in the UK; the Toyota Prius and the Honda (HMC) Insight are the obvious examples. But the next year or two will see a whole range of new entrants, with the Toyota Auris hybrid this year, the Nissan (NSANY) Leaf and the plug-in Prius next, and the Vauxhall Ampera from early 2012.

The Government firmly supports electric cars. Last week, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, confirmed that the Government will stump up 25 per cent of the sale price, or up to £5,000, for buyers of plug-in cars from the start of next year. And in an effort to confront the chicken-and-egg issue of re-charging infrastructure, the government is putting up £30m to fund the installation of 11,000 charging points in London, Milton Keynes and the North-east, with another round of “plugged-in places” to follow.

Read more here…

All of us in the Auto Transport industry are cheering on the development of Hybrid and Green vehicles.  Firstly, they are fantastic for the environment, and that’s something that everyone should be cheering for.  Secondly, Hybrid vehicles get terrible mile range!

The vehicles that require Auto Transport the most are large, low mpg vehicles like SUVs and Pickup Trucks.  The second largest group are Hybrid vehicles like Toyota Priuses.

While SUVs and Pickups are prime candidates for the service that AM Express Auto Transport provides because of their low mileage, Hybrid vehicles have a different reason.  As reported by various websites, the “electric-only” range of a Prius, for example, is only 13 miles.  While that’s great if you’re driving in the city, it becomes amazingly inconvenient for cross-country, or even state to state driving.

Additionally, Hybrids have two engines, an electric and a gas engine, which requires a whole lot of room.  Priuses are notorious for not having a lot of space.  Imagine driving from California to Florida with barely enough space to fit a couple of pieces of luggage.  Not a pretty sight.

So, here at AM Express Auto Transport, we have decided to offer a new discount program to all Hybrid and Fuel Efficient vehicles.  Please call our Toll-Free number, 1-866-662-5337, or fill out our contact form on the left side of the page.

But, thankfully, with the power of information that the internet provides, new markets have been created, such as this one.  A service that normally would only be provided to large dealerships is now being made accessible to the ordinary person.

Unfortunately, there also is a lot of risk in dealing with such a high stakes industry.  AM Express Auto Transport focuses on being the best.  We want to provide the best service we can for our customers, and we stand by our “A-” rating in the Better Business Bureau.  Which leads me to point 1…

1.  Check Your Auto Transporter’s Better Business Bureau Rating

This is the best way to check on your companies legitimacy.  If your company doesn’t belong to the Better Business Bureau, then you should definitely begin asking yourself, “why not?”

There are other “unbiased” rating companies, such as Transport Reviews, or others – but, a known secret is that Transport Reviews posts up reviews of paid customers and also will remove bad reviews of their gold and silver rated members.

Also, the power of the internet has drawn closer the information gap between companies.  AM Express recommends that you do your homework before choosing an Auto Transport company, and we have the confidence to know that you will see that we are a superior, and honest, company.

2.  Upfront Deposits

Unfortunately this little habit of bad Auto Transport companies is really putting a smear across the industry.

It would make sense for a company to ask money upfront to arrange vehicle transport, but some companies are using this as a scheme to get money before providing service, then ignoring customers.  If the Auto Transport company you are dealing with asks for an upfront deposit, then we urge you to do a simple search of the company in Google or with the Better Business Bureau.

Again, if you inform a company that you want to do your homework about them, and they use pressure tactics to get you to contract their company, this should raise a huge red flag.

AM Express Auto Transport never asks for upfront deposits until we have actually arranged a driver that will pick up your vehicle.

3.  Pressure Tactics

“I have a truck in your neighborhood right now!” or “If you don’t do this now, then you’ll lose out on a great deal!”  Are two common phrases among Auto Transport companies that will do whatever it takes to get your money, and deliver as little as possible.

Honest companies will be patient with customers and understanding if they need time to make a decision.  There’s a difference between informing you that there is a truck in your neighborhood that can pick up your vehicle, and pressuring you into making a decision on transportation.

4.  “Low Ballers”

My mother raised me to believe that any deal too good to be true, probably is.  AM Express loses a great deal of clients to Auto Transport companies that offer a “lower price”, only to have the customer call back a week later incensed that their vehicle was never picked up, and they can no longer get in touch with the other company.

To give a slight explanation to the Auto Transport business’ inner workings — most Auto Transport businesses compete with each other to contract a small amount of drivers.  It is rare that an Auto Transport company has their own trucks, and when they do, they don’t give outrageously low prices to ship your vehicle.

The low price is the same exact tactic of Bait and Switch scam artists.  The Auto Transport company will promise to be able to do the transport for an absurdly low amount and then call you a week or two later saying that to move the vehicle it will take an extra amount of money.

Typically, you’ll find, that extra amount of money will equal to the original quote that an honest company, like AM Express Auto Transport, gave you in the first place.

Except now you’re dealing with a company that not only lied to you, but also put you in a rushed position, and have no choice but to pay out money you may not necessarily have wanted to spend in the first place.

Don’t fall for this trap.  Again, check the Auto Transport companies’ Better Business Bureau rating to make sure that you have are dealing with a reputable company.

Additionally, there are reports that 2010 Toyota Camrys are having problems with their brake fluid pumps.  And if that’s not bad enough, Honda is going to have a recall due to air bag problems.

Phew!

Thankfully, you won’t have to drive your vehicles back to the dealerships worrying about the accelerator pedal, the brakes, or air bags.  With auto transport we can conveniently pick up your vehicle at your door and drop it off at the dealership.  You may even be able to get your dealer to cover the transport.

Most in-state deliveries are the most affordable and time effective service that an auto transport service can give.  If you are having your vehicle recalled, please fill out the email contact form to the left, and in the special instructions put “Recall Vehicle” and we’ll be able to offer a discounted rate.

Remember, AM Express Auto Transport is an Accredited A-Rated member of the Better Business Bureau.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at 1-866-662-5337.

This Oct 2008 Train Collision is attributed to texting.

With every little advancement of technology come unforeseen problems associated with them.  Cell phone technology, and the new super-cell phone mini computers, have led to a plague of text or phone related accidents.

Whether it was the October 2008 head-on collision of a Metrolink Commuter Train with a Union Pacific freight train, whose operator was texting and ran a stop light, to the many hundreds and thousands of yearly vehicle accidents associated to distracted driving, it was time for the Department of Transportation to put it’s foot down.

Many states already have passed legislation banning cell phone usage while driving, unless it’s with a hands-free set, but now there is a national ban of texting for commercial truck drivers.

This safety measure will carry a possible criminal or civil charge, and fines up to $2,750.

Visit the DOT’s new website Distraction.gov for more information.  There you can find State Law, Statistics, and any other number of information resources to inform you to the dangers and hazards of distracted driving.

Fuel Costs

I found this handy gas calculator online, AAA Fuel Costs Calculator.  Our supposed trip will be from Miami, Florida to Los Angeles, California, for a total of 2,736 miles — mostly highway driving too.

In a 2002 Ford Focus, the one way price, for just fuel is approximately $250 dollars.

Hotel Costs

Hotels are also vital in terms of expenses when doing a cross country trip.  If the average driver goes 70 mph, for 9 hours (straight), that is a distance of approximately 600 miles.  So a 2,700 miles trip takes approximately 5 days, which is 4 over night stays.

Even the cheapest of hotels are about $50 per night, so that is an additional $200 dollars.

Travel Costs

Unless you’re the best of packers, you probably won’t be packing enough food for a 5 day trip and will end up eating on the road.  For a family of 3 (parents and one child), over the course of 15 meals, with approximately $8 per person, per meal, the total costs end up being an additional $360.

Your Comfort

The total price is already over $800 for the trip, that almost matches the price of having your vehicle shipped.  But, don’t forget to take into account piece of mind, and comfort.  Unless you’re a road warrior, most people would not enjoy a 4 day trip cross country – unless if it were site seeing.  Additionally, take into account the wear and tear on your vehicle that you’ll be saving as well.

With all things considered, the question isn’t if shipping your car is a wise decision, but why would anyone NOT ship their car.  Financially, piece of mind, comfort, and ease shows why this is one of the fastest growing industries in the country.  That alone should make your decision easy to make, and we hope that you choose AM Express Auto Transport to be your transport provider.

Choosing A Safe And Reliable Car Transport Service

It doesn’t matter if your car is a sports car, an antique car, or even just a plain family car, if you want it safely delivered to you, you will have to find a reliable and affordable transport company that has a car transport package that suits your needs and your budget.

But, when choosing a car transport service you have to be aware of some issues regarding the transport and delivery of such. Transporting something as precious as your car would be suicide if you don’t take the proper precautions. 

Here are some things to look out for when considering a car transport service.

Insurance

Your car is a big investment. If you allow your car to be transported carelessly, you could end up with a badly banged-up car. To avoid this, you can have your transport service insure your car. While doing research on what transport service to hire, always look at the total price plus insurance. It may seem like a waste of money to some, but for those who have experienced having their cars shipped to them with dents, scratches, and – gasp – other major damages; insurance will seem like a welcome advice.

Know What Type of Transport You are Dealing With

There are quite a few options on how to have your car delivered. You can have door-to-door, enclosed, open, terminal-to-terminal, and rail service among others. Some of these options may have features that you do not need, or features that are more than what you need. Make sure you understand the details of each option and choose one according to your needs.

Read more here…

How Stuff Works is a site dedicated to diving into the little things in life, and explaining them so it can be better understood.

The article first introduces a lot of concepts:

Convenience and efficiency drive the automobile transport business. It’s somewhat ironic that automobiles are transported since they themselves are designed and built to provide transportation.

Then follows up by explaining convenience charges in new vehicle prices.

What we’re really interested in is their view of auto transport, the service that we provide. 

Today’s tractor-trailer auto transporters can carry up to 12 vehicles. The rigs are designed so that the tractor can support up to four vehicles and eight vehicles are placed on the double-deck trailer. The tractor-trailer rigs utilize hydraulically operated ramps.

Each year, millions of vehicles are transported to meet personal needs, such as:

• Families moving cross-country
• Students going to college a long distance from home
• “Snowbirds” moving to the Sun Belt for the winter
• Corporate relocation

Some of these situations are one-time needs and the car owner will hire an auto-transport company. Phone directories and the Internet are filled with advertisements promoting a variety of transport companies and transport brokers. Consumers need to be aware of the difference. A company handles the actual pickup and delivery of the vehicle. A broker does the legwork and sells the job to one or more transport carriers.

There are pros and cons to working with both. Transport companies have more control over delivery time and assume more responsibility in the event of damage or an accident. On the other hand, brokers have access to more options for a quicker delivery. Consumers should double-check all references to help avoid fraud or an unpleasant experience.

Transport companies are quick to stress that they can transport only the customer’s vehicle. Customers are not allowed to pack their cars with clothes, small appliances or even spare parts. The fuel tank cannot be completely full, and owners are usually required to be present when the vehicle is picked up or delivered to complete the inspection.

As you can see, there is a lot of information out there, and it would be best for you to do your homework.  Something like having your car transported cross-country has the potential to be highly worrisome, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from hiring Auto Transporters.

Make sure you check out their Better Business Bureau rating and visit TransportReviews.com.  A smart consumer is our favorite customer.

Shipping traffic came to a standstill Sunday and Monday as Coast Guard officials worked to battle an ice jam in the St. Clair River.

Four Coast Guard cutters traveled to the area to free vessels stuck in the ice.

“Freighter” Frank Frisk, a maritime consultant at the Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron, said 16 to 18 ships were delayed Sunday night because of the ice.

He said brash ice — which occurs when ice layers on top of itself — was to blame for jamming the river.

“It’s a mess down there,” Frisk said late Monday afternoon.

Vessels were stopped from Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron, he said. Cutters Penobscot Bay, Neah Bay, Bristol Bay — all 140 feet in length — and the 225-foot Hollyhock worked throughout the day to get the river flowing.

After 6 p.m., the Coast Guard cutters called it a night. The Bristol Bay headed back to Detroit for the night, while the Neah Bay and Penobscot Bay tied up in Algonac, Frisk said.

To read more…

Recently, many transporters were in a panic over the possible closings of many dealerships around the country.  Even more odd, Teamster drivers for General Motors have basically moved from Allied Systems to Jack Cooper Transport.  Same drivers, different company, higher pay.

Read the article from MLive.com:

Teamsters Local 332: Allied Systems Ltd. workers at David Street facility will transfer in February to Jack Cooper Transport Co. Inc.

By Melissa Burden | Flint Journal

January 08, 2010, 6:30PM
FLINT, Michigan — Eighty one Allied Systems Ltd. workers will lose their jobs in February and be rehired with a sizable raise by another company, according to a union official.

Allied Systems, a vehicle hauling company, is expected to close its facility David Street near the General Motors Flint Metal Center complex, according to a letter Allied Systems filed with the state last month.

Fred Ortiz, secretary/treasurer of Teamsters Local 332, said Allied Systems lost a bid to haul new trucks built at the GM Flint Truck Assembly Plant to dealerships.

But starting Feb. 1, the 81 Allied Systems workers will become employees of Jack Cooper Transport Co. Inc., which won the GM bid, Ortiz said. He said the union employees have transfer rights.

An Allied Automotive Group company representative in Georgia declined to comment Friday and The Journal could not reach Jack Cooper representatives in Kansas City, Mo., for comment.

“It’s just going to be a name change for them basically,” Ortiz said. “Everybody’s going to keep working basically and just drive a different color truck.”

In its letter to the state, Allied Systems Ltd. said on or around Feb. 1 it would lay off 45 drivers, 16 yard and dock workers, 16 mechanics, one van driver, one union clerk, one union casual worker and one union dispatcher.

“We’re not losing anybody,” Ortiz said.

Allied Systems Ltd. is a subsidiary of Allied Automotive Group. Jack Cooper is a large auto transport carrier that in part services GM plants.

Ortiz said that Allied Systems workers a few years agreed to 15 percent wage cuts. But now that the 80 or so workers are transferring companies, they’ll see an about 17 percent raise, Ortiz said.

“We’ve lost enough jobs in this area,” he said. “That’s kind of welcome that we’re going to keep these.”

Read the rest of the article here…

Personal Items: Do not leave or transport anything valuable in your vehicle. AM Express Auto Transport or its agents is not responsible for anything loose inside your car, including cell phones, radar detectors, removable radios, household goods. 

Clean Car: In order to expedite origin inspection by your carrier, please provide the vehicle in clean condition. This allows for quick and fair evaluation of the vehicle prior to shipment, and establishes the standard for condition of delivery. 

Antennas: Antennas should be lowered or removed. Temporary antennas for cell phones or CB radios should also be removed. 

Racks: Remove any luggage, bike, or ski rack that is not permanently attached to the car.  

Keys: U.S. Department of Transportation requires that one set of all keys for the vehicle is provided to the carrier, including the ignition, trunk, and glove box keys. 

Spoilers: Spoilers, fairing, air dams or other low hanging items should be removed, or sufficient clearance assured, to expedite loading on the rail and truck ramps. 

Canopies/Caps: Caps and canopies on pickup trucks must be properly bolted to the box of the truck to ensure safe delivery. 

Personal Items: Do not leave or transport anything valuable in your vehicle. AM Express Auto Transport or its agents is not responsible for anything loose inside your car, including cell phones, radar detectors, removable radios, household goods, sunglasses, 

Car Alarms: Alarms should be turned off for transport. If there are special instructions required to start a car in order to disarm the alarm, please inform your carrier picking up your car. AM Express is not responsible for drained batteries resulting from an alarm that has not been turned off. 

Cracked Glass: Should the vehicle glass have a nick, scratch, chip, crack, or other imperfection, AM Express Auto Transport or its agents will not be responsible for damage caused by any pre-existing condition 

Here is also a list of 10 Tips fo Preparation: