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3 Interesting Facts About the Auto Transport Industry

Drawing of auto hauler carrying cars

The auto transport industry is not new. In fact, the first semi-truck was designed in 1898 to haul cars from a store to its customers. Now, thousands of people take advantage of its benefits on a daily basis, avoiding lengthy road trips by hopping on a plane and getting their vehicle sent to them.

Even if you’ve not had your automobile transported from place to place by an auto transport industry, you have likely seen vehicles being moved – either on the highway, down a city street, or near the row of beach houses on your last vacation in Florida.

Alternative transport options are more convenient to individual consumers, and, due to the ease at which auto transport services can be purchased: it makes sense that this auto transport industry would be so commonly recognized. In fact, the auto transport industry has become so widely known that many people take it for granted, or rather, don’t always consider the interesting facts or history associated with it. 

Sure, auto transport carriers get your car from A to B, but what are those vehicles called that move your car? Or who invented that type of contraption? 

Like any industry, the auto transport industry has a history of interesting facts, and there is not enough time (or space on the page) to list all of them. There are certainly some that are worth noting.

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What Vehicle is Used to Transport Cars?

While you might be hoping for some sort of fancy word, the vehicle used to transport cars is simply known as a car transporter or a car carrier trailer. And while the idea is relatively straightforward, it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of vehicle (in the same way that vehicles are not all the same).

Not only do auto transport businesses ship cars of different sizes, makes, and models, but some cars require different types of protection – whether because they are convertibles and need to be covered during transport, or because they are vintage and need additional support during travel. 

These factors aren’t based on the style of the vehicle only, but also on personal preference. If you want a certain type of car transporter for your vehicle, for whatever reason, there are options you have available to you so that your vehicle arrives safely and to your specifications. 

Who Invented the Car Transporter?

Snowy highway. Auto Transport Industry

Alexander Winton invented the auto hauler, but it went through a process before becoming the auto hauler that is common today. His work began in the late 1800s, and, essentially, he developed the semi-truck. Winton modified a traditional truck design with a flat cart attached to the back and discovered he could load a vehicle on the back and deliver it to customers.

In these early days, the flatbed could only transport a single car at a time. It took three people to load and unload a car from the cart. As you can imagine, the design began to quickly evolve and become capable of more vehicles and better loading and unloading capabilities. 

Even so, it is fair to say that the auto hauler was a hit from the get-go.

How Do Auto Transport Industry Work?

As you can imagine, there is a lot of logistics involved in transporting vehicles all across the country (or even the world). This means auto transport businesses have a great deal to think about. For instance, every auto transport carrier needs to have liability insurance to protect not only their business – but also the vehicles in which they are transporting. 

Additionally, drivers in the auto transport industry have to stay in good shape. This is not just an assumption or a common theme among these operators but, in fact, a requirement. While some auto transport industry companies have their own sorts of regulations in place for their drivers, there are also standards put forth by the Department of Transportation.  

Physical fitness in this job is important, since driving auto haulers requires a great deal of attention and even multi-tasking. It is a serious job and requires healthy and able-bodied workers to maneuver such equipment. These drivers also need to be ready for all sorts of different road conditions, from city driving to mountain highways to snow or rain. 

This variance in terrain and geographical conditions is why it is not always the same amount of time or money to ship a vehicle a specific distance, and why researching is always worth your time.

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If you are curious about shipping your car, for whatever reason, get a free quote today and see how efficient and cost-effective it can be for you.

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