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Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
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Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
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Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
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Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
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Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
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Understanding Direct Auto Transport

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Open air transport
  2. Enclosed transport
  3. Flatbed transport
  4. Why the direct auto transport?
  5. When to use direct auto transport
Enclosed Shipping

Direct auto transport, also known as door to door service is a convenient method of having your car picked or delivered to your address. The opposite of this method is the terminal to terminal transport. Understanding this transportation method will help you make the right choice for your shipment. The door to door service has various benefits. But first, let’s see how it works. Basically, there are three options available for the direct auto transport.

Open air transport

This is an ideal option for shipping several cars at an affordable cost. Usually, cars are loaded on trailers and are visible from the outside while in transit. About 90% of cars in the United States are transported through this method. Generally, it is a safe method for both old and new vehicles. You may have your car transported through;

  • Bottom load: your car is transported at the lowest deck with other cars above it. The main concern for this transportation is that your car is prone to damages due to road debris and car leaks. However, your car will be fairly sheltered from the sun, heavy rain, the wind, and tree branches.
  • Top load: this is a preferred option for many new car owners. Your car is placed at the top most level on the trailer. If you are concerned about the road debris and car leaks, you may request for the top load option. This service usually comes at an extra cost as the trucker has to rearrange the trailer to accommodate your preferences. However, your car could still be affected by the snow, sun, tree branches or falling objects.
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Covered Car Transport

Enclosed transport

With the enclosed transport, your car is covered with a canvas, vinyl, or a container while in transit. Cars using this service are sheltered from the rain, the sun, road debris, and public eyes. This option is premium and mostly preferred for luxurious and high-end cars. Statistics show that there is an annual car theft amounting to half a million vehicles in the United States. You might want to offer your high-value car an extra protection.

Flatbed transport

Lastly, under the direct auto transport, you may use a flatbed truck. Here the trailer is flat without side walls or a roof. Cars are easily loaded and unloaded from the truck. This is an ideal method when you are transporting a small vehicle such as a motorbike or a car. It is also good for heavy loads.

Why the direct auto transport?

When your car is picked and delivered at your preferred location, you:

  • Enjoy the convenience. You do not have to drive the car to a terminal. As a result, you do not have to take another vehicle to deliver or pick your car.
  • Meet the driver who will be transporting your car. You will personally talk to your driver about your concerns and get their contacts. This is important for your peace of mind.
  • See how your car is loaded onto the carrier as well as see how our car will be transported.
  • Avoid transferring your car from one carrier to another. If you are concerned about your car being handled by multiple carriers, you will love the door to door service.
  • Track your car from the pickup to the delivery location
  • Can transport a wide range of vehicles. These automobiles can be small, large, standard, and luxurious vehicles.
National Car Movers

When to use direct auto transport

As we have seen the direct transport might be the ideal service you need. But is it for everyone? Here are the conditions best for the door to door transport:

  • Major cities. The door to door service is ideal in metropolitan towns for their large population and wide streets. Basically, a driver moves around picking or dropping vehicles. This service can only make sense if there are many clients shipping cars. And large cities are just the place with a high demand for car shipping. Secondly, the developed infrastructure in the metropolitan towns makes movement easy. As such, the driver does his job faster.
  • Cost. As you can guess, the convenience of the method comes at an extra cost. When your shipper comes to collect or drop your car, they use their fuel and time. This is billed to you.

The direct auto transport is convenient and offers your other benefits as listed above. If you would like to go with this option, visit our site and book today.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

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Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
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A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

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Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
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There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

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David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
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We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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