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.

Free money for car haulers*

Proposition 1B Funding: "Proposition 1B, the wide-reaching transportation bond voters approved in 2006, included one billion dollars to fund projects that reduce air pollution associated with freight movement along California’s trade corridors. The first $25 million of that funding was allocated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in February, 2008 to “early start” projects that are ready for quick implementation, and the AQMD received $13.8 million for truck projects."

*Sort of. Kim Foster of Pasha Group actually managed to finagle some of this money for his company, which is in the process of acquiring seven new Cottrell strap units.
Kim says that in return for $100,000 grant money per truck, recipients have to meet California's more stringent environmental regulations. He says it's an 8 year agreement with the state of California. Here are just a few of the requirements:

200 visits to the port per year, per truck
All trucks have to be California plated vehicles (all in-state)
98% of the miles have to be in the stated corridor (I 15 corridor from San Diego up to L.A. Mira Loma area.)
Company trucks are subject to GPS monitoring by state. There is also additional compliance reporting, viz.; fuel reports and drivers' logs (on top of regular reports)
They have to DESTROY the old trucks they are replacing.
And if anything changes in the eight years of the agreement, the company agrees to pay California ALL of the money back.


But in exchange for this, the Prop 1B funding is giving this particular company $700,000 to go toward new trucks. Only in California.

Pot calling kettle black?

Madison County Record | Maag accuses Cottrell of dirty tricks in removing suit to federal court

Maag accuses Cottrell of dirty tricks in removing suit to federal court

12/11/2008 8:18 AM
By Steve Korris

Maag
EAST ST. LOUIS - Georgia trailer maker Cottrell improperly removed a Tennessee man's injury suit from Madison County to federal court, according to attorney Thomas Maag of Wendler Law in Edwardsville.

Car hauler equipment below cost!

This is an unbelievable deal. The price includes F.E.T!! Anybody buying a truck in the next year or two will look back and wished they'd bought this one, NEW 2007 MODEL YEAR WESTERN STAR 4900FA, S60 Det 515 HP, 13 Spd OD, Eng Brake, a/r susp, 3.21 Ratio, 249" WB, 48" Star Light Slpr-Low Roof, 255/70R22.5s, Alum Whls, 14,600# FA,40,000# RA, 10 Cars, 2008 COTTRELL 3 car SL H/R, air wgt gauge, LED lights, slider deck over tandem, sliding 5th whl tlr., 2008 Cottrell 7510ST intraxx axle & susp., lift kit truck & tlr., alum flipper, tandem drop pockets, recessed L3 track, 7 night load lights, , air gauges, strobe lights RU, Stk #NEW Z23969/247901
..............................................$200,000
Click here for more info.
Quick lesson in Contrarian Economics. Most folks would agree that it's almost always a good idea to pay less for an asset than more. The folks who really need new trucks for their business... but delay... are missing a huge opportunity to do just that. I mean, this here is a chance to pay a lot less. The folks who wait are going to pay $20,000 more for equipment when times are good and the dealers have more customers competing for their equipment. (Anybody remember 2006-2007?) Can I get an Amen? Most of the people I know who've got more money than me have two things in common-- and not paying retail is one of them. Ok, sermon over.

Autohauler Shopper Newsletter December 2008

Autohauler Shopper Newsletter December 2008: There's a ton of info in this month's issue. Lowering kits. New Boydstun trailer video. Cottrell dealer selling below cost. Car hauling jobs for company drivers and owner operators. Some new repair shops you might not have hard of yet that specialize in car hauler trailer repair. Plus it's written in complete sentences, unlike this article!

Chain to strap car trailer retro-fit

If you are one of the car haulers that have been told that you have to strap cars down to the trailer, you might want to check out T&C Welding's new Flat Foot Safety System. They have figured out a way to modify C10, C12 and C14 trailers so you can load them flat on the ground. They will also convert your chain ratchet boxes to straps, if you want to get away from using hand ratchet wheel straps. They have done a bunch of them already and have been having good luck with them. Cost for the basic Flat Foot Safety System conversion is about $5,500. (the wheel strap kit is additional)

More Cottrell lawsuit news

Madison County Record | Cottrell claims plaintiff fraudulently joined Cassens' businesses in suit This is an interesting twist.

New Boydstun Cylinder Strap Truck

No, those aren't screw actuators... those are actual cylinders!

Car buying trip

The front end of my 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis started making some strange noises last week. A trip to my buddy the mechanic revealed about $1000 worth of repairs would be required. Hmm... I have a ten year old car with 125,000 miles on it... the auto industry is in crisis. I figured it might be a good time to go down to the local car dealer. I found a great little Ford Focus for $10,000. When I tried to buy the car, the salesman told me "they like to see 30% down". I asked what the interest rate was going to be. They had about three different people sit down with me and try to talk about payments. I insisted I wanted to know what the hell the interest rate was. Finally somebody told me what the interest rate was 10%. I walked out. One of the reasons why I have really good credit is because I try to avoid over-paying for stuff!

On my way home from the Ford dealer, I saw Toyota had 0% financing signs in the windows. I know I won't be able to get one of their cars for $10,000, but I'll get that back when I go to trade it in.

For those of you that are interested, I was offered $400 for my old Mercury!