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.

Child support, Florida and your non-existent CDL

Just talked to a driver who was bailing his brother out of jail.  Apparently in Florida when you get behind in your child support payments they suspend your driver's license.  He found this out when he got arrested at the weigh station for driving with an expired license.  OK I get that Florida is serious about getting people to honor their obligations to their kids, but this strikes me as heavy-handed and counter-productive.  For instance, if you wanted to get somebody's attention in a similar fashion, the court could issue a bench warrant for the guy's arrest for non-payment of child support.  It accomplishes the same thing-- gets the individual's full, undivided attention... without damaging his ability to earn an income and thus pay the child support.  Ridiculous.

Accurate Auto Transport Bankruptcy Auction

 

Accurate Auto Carriers equipment auction

Auction will be held Jan 20th, 2011 at 10AM in Romulus, MI and via webcast.  Click on link for more info.


Want the inside scoop on what truck you REALLY should buy?  Former maintenance director at Accurate Auto Carriers will tell you about the good, the bad and the ugly.  (For a modest fee.)  Dan is available at 567-220-0288

Car carrier rolls on Route 54

Car carrier rolls on Route 54

I'm wondering how that Escalade was tied down.  I'm guessing straps, because the vehicle in the back was tied down with lasso straps.  Double ratchet system on that big SUV might have helped keep it on the trailer.  Still would have had damage, but might have avoided turning the Cadillac into a 5000 lb projectile. Not saying this guy had worn straps, but if your straps are frayed or nicked beyond 1/4 inch, toss them.  This sort of wheel strap costs 8-9 bucks. Buy your clothes from Wal-Mart if you need to save money, but don't run with worn out tie-downs.  Just saying.

Buy now or pay Uncle Sam later.

Just a friendly reminder: if your car hauling business runs on the regular calendar year, you've got less than two weeks to make any business purchases that you can use as deductible expenses on your 2010 taxes! So if there's any thing you might need, better buy it now, or give it to Uncle Sam to transfer to needy bankers.

Car Hauler Equipment Wanted

Perry Morgan is looking for a decent 5 pack daycab. If you've got something fairly decent, call (925) 455-6666. Note: this is a TRUCK. Please don't call and try to sell him your old wedge trailer.

Rampzilla

Biggest single run car hauler ramp I've ever seen. Buy it now!

December  17th addendum
Gene from Pyramid left me a voice mail saying that he just received these ramps... thought they were so good-looking he wanted to hang them on the wall like a piece of art!

Accurate Auto Transport Bankruptcy News: Trucks for Sale Soon.

OK, so this isn't the newest news about the Accurate bankruptcy, since they went bankrupt last Tuesday at 2:45 PM. Spoke with Dan, the former director of maintenance, and he said they've got the trucks staged at Baggettown, PA; Peoria, IL; and Houston, TX. There is a pending Internet-only auction. Dan said there are a few '05 and '06 Petes that have been well-maintained, as well as some nice Freightliner daycabs. Most of the trucks are around 500,000 to 600,000 miles, so it's going to be tricky separating the wheat from the chaff in this remote-viewing auction. Dan says for a modest fee, he'll tell you which ones are goodies and which ones are dogs. His cell number is 567-220-0288.

According to Dan, there was a decent buy-out offer on the equipment from United Road Services, but Citizens Bank thought they could get more money at auction for the trucks. Guess we'll see about that.

Car hauling rates about to rise? (Part 2)

More evidence of rates "bouncing along the bottom" from a friend of mine hauling new Mercedes to Utah-- he actually gets more hauling junked cars OUT of Utah than he gets hauling new Mercedes IN to Utah. Don't know if this means rates are about to rise in this low demand lane, but hard to imagine they could go down any more than that.