Auto Shipping FAQ: What if my Carrier Can’t Get to My Delivery Location?
With so many major cities across this vast nation of ours – many of which were built up prior to the invention of the automobile – it can be difficult for auto transportation drivers hauling around large trucks with ten cars on the back to get into some areas, particularly in downtown cores of said major metro areas. Cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and even more western cities like Kansas City, Detroit, Denver and Portland have narrow, tightly-packed streets in many downtown areas and even in outlying communities that were established before the adoption of the car as the country’s preferred method of personal travel. Today, this leads to cramped and often dangerous areas for auto transporters to drive and operate in, and many major cities have ordinances on the books restricting the movement of larger trucks through the downtown districts, which obviously makes it impossible for auto shippers to actually get into and out of those areas. So what are you to do?
Well, the main thing that car transport drivers will do is negotiate an alternative pickup or dropoff location for your vehicle. As most companies that ship cars today move vehicles door-to-door, this means that they’ll have to meet with you in an alternate location in order to pickup or deliver your vehicle. Usually they’ll do this in large parking lots (Walmart lots are common due to their size). The openness of the parking lot structure makes it easy for auto shippers to get into and out of them without too much hassle. If you’re shipping to a more suburban area pickup or delivery of your vehicle near your home is much easier to accommodate considering that the streets tend to be wider, easier to navigate, and there are less restrictions on vehicle size in the area.
You’ll definitely want to talk to your auto transport driver about your pickup or delivery location, and you can also suggest alternative areas to meet them if they are having trouble finding a suitable area. Bedroom cities near the city you’re looking to ship to can also help with price as well as with pickup or delivery services, so keep that in mind. For instance, if you’re shipping into Los Angeles – a popular area for shippers to move in and out of, but also a pain due to the many buildings squished into a tightly-packed area – you could suggest picking up your vehicle in a bedroom city such as San Bernardino or Glendale instead. These areas are easier to maneuver within due to their more spread-out nature, and while it does make you drive a bit more out of the way to get your vehicle or have your vehicle picked up, it does make it easier for the shipper – and will likely lower your cost too. If you’re looking for an auto transport quote, fill out our free online quote form; for questions about this post, any post on our site, or just general information questions, call our toll-free number at 800-930-7417 to speak to a live agent.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
- When to go with an Enclosed Transport - October 2, 2023
- Understanding California’s EV Mandate - August 1, 2023
- Top Reasons Auto Shippers Are Delayed - January 9, 2023
