ST. LOUIS -

When planning transport of pre-owned vehicles, a little planning can go a long way in saving you time and money. Just knowing about how various parts of the supply chain operate can give you the insights to help optimize vehicle transport.

The dispatchers and customer service reps at vehicle transport companies can be a wealth of information in this regard. Below are just a few of their suggestions that can help you save transportation costs and transit time.

Dealer-to-dealer trades

When planning a trade with another dealership, keep in mind their hours of operation. Some dealerships are not open on Sundays, and some don’t accept weekend deliveries even though they are open for business. You could lose up to two days when dealerships don’t have weekend pickup or drop-off times. Knowing that in advance can help you plan for optimal timing.  

Auction pick-ups

When requesting vehicles be picked up at an auction, make sure your transport provider has the vehicle gate pass/gate release. Auction companies will not release vehicles to a carrier without that documentation. Valuable time is lost when a driver has to wait for hours to get the gate pass. As many of them have other vehicles to pick up or deliver, they may not wait. Some transport providers will not dispatch a driver until they have a gate pass to issue.

Auction sales

Sale prices of pre-owned cars can change rather quickly. A little planning can help ensure that vehicles arrive at the auction in time for the sale. Capacity constraints also exist in the pre-owned car market, and rushing cars to an auction at the last minute can increase transport costs and the risk of not making the sale, causing vehicles to sit at the auction until the next sale.

Experienced dispatchers generally have a good overall view of road construction, traffic flow, weather conditions and other factors that can impact delivery times, and will provide you with their recommendations on the best ways to ensure timely delivery. 

Combined purchasing efforts

When possible, combine purchasing efforts for a group of dealerships in an area to save time and money. A driver would rather have a few stops in one day in a metropolitan area than have to drive empty miles between auctions and dealerships over a number of days.

Truckload rates are better than single-unit rates. Look for opportunities to partner with other nearby dealerships to share the load.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” says Alisha Bray, senior dispatcher with MetroGistics. “There are some special considerations depending on what time of year it is, and your transport company should be able to assist you in making the best decisions to get your vehicles to their destinations on time and in good condition.”

Martha Garcia-Perry is Director, Account Management with MetroGistics. More information can be found at www.metrogistics.com.