Where will the GM cars be hauled?

GM says it will try to close 2,100 dealerships as part of reorganization - San Jose Mercury News

Somebody said they needed cars to haul?

OK, so now they're talking about closing 2100 dealerships instead of the 1100 they were talking about last month. The question that springs to my mind is this: Where are all those cars going to go? Other dealers? Back to GM? Are they going to sink them off the coast of Florida and create valuable habitat for marine life?

It's rumored that the units will go back to GM, and then be re-distributed to the remaining dealers. Seems more likely that this would happen on paper, rather than at fifty cents a mile. Even if they apportion cars on paper, and then transfer [physically, not financially] dealer to dealer, it's still a huge logistical problem.

Who is going to broker out these loads? The Secretary of the Treasury?

I don't think so. If I had to bet, I'd lay money on your good old neighborhood delivery man: UPS. For years, UPS has sent their consultants into some of the largest manufacturers in the US to squeeze cost out of their inbound and outbound logistics chains. If I was looking to sell the services of my large fleet of auto transport trucks, I'd be calling 1-800-PICK-UPS and trying to find out how to get on their short list of service providers.

GM Bankruptcy

BBC NEWS | Business | GM enters bankruptcy protection
What this means for car haulers pulling GM product is anybody's guess.

GM bankruptcy a foregone conclusion?

Light & Medium Truck | Report: U.S. to Steer GM toward Bankruptcy

Report: U.S. to Steer GM toward Bankruptcy

By Light & Medium Truck

The Obama administration is preparing to send General Motors into bankruptcy as early as this week under a plan that would give the automaker tens of billions of dollars more in government loans as it works to restructure its operations and relieve its heavy debt load, The Washington Post reported

Beware the busted cylinder beast!

A busted cylinder can cost you time and money, usually at the time you can least afford it.

Unnecessary Tragedy

Boydstun Shuts Doors?

Our Store Is Closed

Our Store Is Closed
To all our valued customers, On behalf of our owner Rob Boydstun and the parts sales team we regret to inform you that after 20 years of business we are having to close our doors. Thank you for all your patronage and support. Boydstun Metal Works

Left a message at their main number yesterday and today, but nobody returned my phone call to comment on the text posted on the parts page on their website.

Fahrvergnügen = Farfrommoving?

Heard there are around 15,000 Volkswagens down in San Diego. The growth business in So Cal seems to involve trips to vacant lots.

Another car hauler plaintiff represented by Maag & Wendler.

Madison County Record | Car hauler claims he was released to work too soon

Car hauler claims he was released to work too soon

2/26/2009 10:41 AM
By Kelly Holleran

Timothy McNary has filed suit against a St. Clair County man, alleging the man released him to return to work as a car hauler even though he was not physically able to do so.

Looking for loads? Look before you leap.

If you are trolling Uship.com looking for loads, make sure you understand the bidding process. This site has some scary stories about Uship. For those of you who are noobies, U ship is a web-based platform that allow consumers and moving and auto transport service providers to conduct business via a bidding process. It's pretty interesting service, but those bids are binding, so be careful.

Hauling smart cars-- short video

Check out that trailer. Very unusual, at least to my eyes. Have to say-- enjoyed hearing Rihanna in the background.

Cars piling up on east coast

Vehicle glut at Baltimore port; state buys new lot - Examiner.com

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Maryland port officials are reporting a surge in the number of unsold automobiles waiting at the port of Baltimore to head to dealers around the country.

Toyota in crisis mode.

The latest, according to Forbes:
Toyota Motor's incoming president, Akio Toyoda, has promised to make aggressive changes. They're already happening.

Read the rest of the Forbes article here:

Toyota Seeks To Shed U.S. Workers - Forbes.com

The Car Hauler Angle?

Toyota is enacting "belt-tightening" measures across the board, and not just by throttling back production lines. On the west coast, looks like Toyota has decided to lengthen the average life of their car hauler fleet. They are holding on to their pre-emission '05 models for another couple years.

I'm hearing that there are four yards in So. Cal., each with 18k-20k unsold units. That amount of un-sold iron appears to be weighing heavily on the minds of the leadership of Toyota.

How wheel straps are made.

Just in case any car haulers out there want to see how wheel strap tie-down systems are made!

If you must use axle straps, this is the one to use.

This is the best sort of axle strap-- allows you to use T hook. This will help you avoid the annoying tendency most axle straps have of slipping off the hook when you're crawling around in the dark, trying not to to dislocate your shoulder. Plus, you can use that grab hook on the cluster chain to take up the slack. Very nice.