What Auto Transport Drivers Wish Customers Knew
Shipping a car might look simple from the outside: a truck arrives, loads your vehicle, and delivers it to your new location. But for auto transport drivers, the job involves a lot more than just driving from point A to point B.
From navigating narrow streets to dealing with weather, regulations, and schedules, drivers face daily challenges that customers don’t always see.
What the Driver Wants You to Know
Here are a few things auto transport drivers wish customers understood and how small actions from you can make their job (and your delivery) smoother.
Tight Streets Aren’t Easy for Big Trucks
Most auto transport carriers are huge on up to 75 feet long and carrying multiple cars at once. Getting a truck that size into tight neighborhoods, cul-de-sacs, or streets with cars parked on both sides can be nearly impossible. Drivers often ask to meet at a nearby parking lot, shopping center, or wide street. This isn’t to inconvenience you but rather it’s to ensure your car can be loaded and unloaded safely without risking damage to other vehicles or property.
Delays Happen on the Road
Drivers work with unpredictable factors: traffic jams, road closures, bad weather, and even breakdowns. While they do their best to stick to schedules, exact pickup and delivery times can’t always be guaranteed. A little flexibility from customers goes a long way. Being available during the delivery window, rather than expecting a precise hour, helps reduce stress for both sides.
Paperwork Protects Everyone
The inspection report (also called the Bill of Lading) may feel like extra paperwork, but it’s critical. It documents the condition of your car before and after transport, protecting both you and the driver if damage claims arise. Taking a few minutes to carefully review and sign ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Communication Matters
Drivers often juggle multiple customers, dispatchers, and routes. A quick response to calls or texts helps them keep things moving. Likewise, letting the driver know about tricky directions, gate codes, or narrow streets ahead of time prevents delays and last-minute problems.
A Clean Car Makes Inspections Easier
You don’t need a showroom shine, but a reasonably clean car helps drivers inspect for scratches, dents, or marks before loading. Dirt and grime can hide damage, which makes the process harder and slows things down.
Respect Goes a Long Way
Transporting vehicles is demanding, and drivers spend long hours away from home to make sure cars arrive safely. A little patience and courtesy make the experience smoother on both ends.
Auto transport works best when customers and drivers understand each other’s roles. While drivers handle the heavy lifting, small actions from customers like choosing an accessible meeting spot, being flexible with timing, and reviewing paperwork carefully, make the entire process smoother. At the end of the day, these small steps help ensure your car gets where it needs to go safely and on time.
Helpful Pages
For reliable car shipping services, contact Viceroy Auto Transport now!
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