Allied labor trouble isn't going away soon.

According to Automotive News, the trouble at Allied stems from Chrysler refusing a fee increase to haul cars.  Representatives say the problem isn't going to be resolved any time soon.  See video here from Automotive News here.

Ford's Alan Mulally worth every penny of 33 million dollar pay package.

According to the Automotive News: "After taxes, Mulally received $33.4 million."  My opinion, he's earned it. 

"Ford earned $6.56 billion in 2010, the most since 1999. New models such as the Fiesta and redesigned Taurus sedan helped 2010 U.S. sales rise 17 percent, outpacing the industrywide gain of 11 percent"

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110317/RETAIL01/303179721/1254#ixzz1GyBp83Ro

Allied car haulers strike.

From the Winston-Salem Journal: 
Union workers at Allied Systems Ltd. in Walkertown are expected to go on strike this morning.
"They are planning to walk out at 6 a.m.," Ricky Stone, the manager of Allied Systems, said Wednesday, declining to say how many local employees work at Allied Systems, a division of Allied Systems Holdings that delivers new cars to dealerships.

For rest of article, click here. 

The word on the street is that management lowered effective pay by about 20% and said "take it or leave it."  Have not confirmed this, but something must be pissing off the teamsters, because I'm pretty sure those guys have bills to pay.

Wonder what would happen to load rates if everybody else joined the strike for a week or two?  It'll never happen, but it's fun to think about it.

UPDATE:  5PM Eastern DST

• Chrysler announced they have been affected by labor disruption as well.
• GM switching carriers

Japan vs The Mideast: what affects American car-buyers the most?

Looks like most Japanese auto makers are spinning up their parts and assembly factories this week or next.  Toyota to start shipping parts to auto assemblers in U.S. next Monday, according to Automotive News.  That's going to come in handy, I think, because as soon as gas gets above $4.00 per gallon, there aren't going to be enough Ford Focuses (Foci?) and Fiestas to go around.  The problems in Japan are compelling news, but the turmoil in the Mideast... and its knock-on effects on fuel price are the more compelling story for the car and transport industry.  The good news in this?  If you're hauling for Hyundai or Kia, you'll probably be getting some overtime this year!

Car hauler travels throught time, crashes.

In a surprising turn of events, a car hauler from 1959 crashes through a rift in the space-time continuum and ends up in 2011.  Scientists are baffled.  To see more footage of this event, go here.  The National Security Administration has impounded the unlucky carhauler's rig, pending further investigation.

Ford firing on all 8 cylinders.

Ford ups production, pays dealers for certain deliveries
Ford said it will increase first-quarter production by 13 percent to 550,000 vehicles in the United States vs. the year-earlier period.

Click the link to read the complete story at Automotive News

Accurate Auto Carriers Equipment Auction... big response!

Hilco Industrial Auction Exceeds Target by 25% In Sale Of Accurate Auto Carriers Inventory

Hilco Industrial, LLC, and joint venture partner, Maynards Industries, Ltd., announced the successful auction sale of 148 trucks, trailers and auto carriers on behalf of the bankruptcy estate and creditors of Romulus, Michigan-based Accurate Auto Carriers, LLC. The webcast auction, which attracted an international gathering of more than 400 online and on-site bidders, lasted two hours and generated revenues approximately 25% greater than anticipated.  Click on the link above for the complete article at Times Colonist

I talked to one salesman who bought some units at this auction.  He confirmed what they're saying in this article.  He said 2007 daycab strap units were going for $160,000; chain units for $120,000.  High price probably a function of the lack of daycabs on the market right now.  He said it looked to him like Hansen & Adkins were buying quite a bunch, and Waggoners were bidding them up, too.

Another car hauling GOTCHA! to watch out for.

Customer called up today and told me he had a vehicle with a leaking battery on the top deck.  Underneath this leaking battery was a nice new Mercedes.  So now he is on the hook for a paint job.  Anybody know of any good ways to prevent this sort of thing?

More wheel straps in your future.

Just heard from Rick at Western Automotive Transport that he's required to wheel strap Subarus and all GM cars when he transports rental cars.  Now we've got Hyundai/Kia going strap in some markets.  Nissan and Chrysler phasing them in this year. 

CJ&M Out of Business

Called up CJ&M today and the lady answered the phone Pacific Auto Transport.  She said CJ&M closed their doors on December 8th, 2010.  Called up Mike Jr. over at Pacific to see what the story was, but he wasn't available. 

Allied owner operators needing wheel straps for Toyotas

Been getting quite a few calls from Allied drivers finally making the switch over from chain to wheel straps.  Guess they were given a little bit longer grace period by Toyota to get all strapped up!  Anyway, if you're an Allied owner operator in need of ratchet wheel straps or chain-tightened wheel straps, this is the set-up most car haulers are getting.  

Fits the deck plate following trailer makes and models:

• Cottrell
• Boydstun
• Delavan
• Take 3
• Wally Mo 

Does NOT fit deck plates of these trailers:

• Sun Valley
• Miller 
• Sun Country

Ford rolls out electric Focus at Consumer Electronic Show in Vegas

Automotive News TV (1/7/11)

Ford's CEO says that in ten years, 25% of Ford's passenger car sales could be electric vehicles. Pretty interesting that they rolled this new vehicle out at the Consumer Electronics Show rather than the Detroit Auto Show. For an interesting video from Automotive News, click the link above.

More news on the electric Focus from the Huffington Post

Disclaimer: The publisher of Carhauler News owns Ford stock and thinks people should probably buy Fords.

Another Cottrell Lawsuit

Hylla denies summary judgment in Cottrell suit | Madison/St. Clair Record

Hylla denies summary judgment in Cottrell suit
1/7/2011 6:16 AM By Steve Korris

Two men who saw trucker Michael Mandeville fall from a car-hauling trailer swore he landed over there but now swear he landed over here.

Mark Mumaw and Andrew Swallom changed their deposition testimony about the accident in affidavits for Mandeville's suit against Georgia trailer maker Cottrell Inc.

Mandeville's lawyer, Brian Wendler of Edwardsville, filed the affidavits in December, along with a new one from Mandeville.

 Click link above to read the complete article from the original newspaper.

Dangerous customers for car haulers: Update

Update 03/9/11
Called up Antonio to see how he's doing, and he has shut down his car hauling business while he finishes physical therapy. He says there's no way to afford $1000 a month insurance while he's recuperating from the accident.  The customer who ran into him with her car after he unloaded is now being charged for a felony hit and run, because she wouldn't give him any insurance information.  According to Antonio, the lady claimed that her relationship was with the auto transport broker, so she felt it was unnecessary!


Just talked to a customer and was horrified to hear that he was bed-ridden after being run-over by a customer whose car he had just delivered!  He said he didn't remember much-- just hearing a noise and then falling and blacking out.  He was standing next to his truck when struck by the driver, who was an elderly lady.  I asked if he thought the lady stepped on the gas instead of the brake, but he can't remember what happened.  BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!  Don't assume people are going to do what they're supposed to do.  This guy was run over though no fault of his own, and now has to look forward to MRI scans, tests and therapy to try and get his life back in order.  There are worse things out there than brokers who don't pay you on time.