5 Major Benefits of Open Transport Car Shipping: What You Need to Know

The automotive industry is fast-paced, ever-changing and heavily dependent on technology. To keep up, manufacturers must quickly implement new processes to meet demand. With so many moving pieces, the process of transporting cars has become a logistical nightmare. With so much demand for new vehicles and such tight restrictions on space, there’s nothing more than a matter of time before car dealers start listing secondhand cars as Junkyards or Vanpools. To ensure that old cars don’t go to waste and that unsold inventory doesn’t take up precious space in storage yards, car dealers are turning to Open Transport Car Shipment.

What is Open Transport Car Shipping?

With the rise of online dealerships, the days of a car dealer physically transporting cars to a new location are quickly coming to an end. While this method is still relevant for larger dealerships looking to sell their excess inventory, it’s becoming more practical for mid-sized dealerships looking to expand their capacity as well. Open transport car shipment involves the shipment of all used vehicles by means of a company-owned or contracted truck. While the cars remain the property of the shipping company, the dealer has access to the vehicles via the trucking company. This allows dealers to move inventory without having to park extra vehicles or trucks on site.

The Benefits of Open Transport Car Shipping

- Keep Inventory on Hand: As open transport car shippers, you have the opportunity to sell cars while keeping them on hand. If a client is interested in purchasing a car, there’s no need to search for another one or pay for storage space. Just drive the car to the customer.

- Be Flexible: If inventory is down but you have space, you can move cars on a regular basis. If your client is interested in purchasing a new car later, there’s no need to search for one or pay for storage.

- Reduce Damage : Open transport car shippers are held to strict liability laws, so you can drive your car anywhere you go without worrying about damaging the vehicle. Damage not only costs you money, but it can delay the delivery of your inventory.

- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Since your company is driving the cars, you have the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint.

- Easy to Set Up: Most open transport car shippers have been setting up their business with ease, so there’s no reason you should have trouble setting up an open transport car shipper, either.

- Save Time: With less overhead and fewer employees needed, you can save time and effort.

- Reduce Operation Risk: Since there’s no risk of damaging the cars or people, you’re less likely to have accidents or make costly mistakes when setting up an open transport car shipper.

How Does Open Transport Car Shipping Work?

For dealerships that want to move cars via open transport car shipment, cars are often taken to a repair facility for an inspection, cleaning and/or to have damaged parts replaced before being towed to the shipping yard. After the cars are pulled from the repair facility, they’re sent to a shipping yard where they’re loaded onto a flatbed trailer and sent to their destination. Unlike many other modes of transportation, cars in open transport are not covered. Drivers must be careful to avoid hitting curbs, pedestrians and other cars. This can be dangerous, costly and frustrating for dealers.

Disadvantages of Open Transport Car Shipping

- No Insurance: You don’t have to worry about the high rates of accident cover or liability that are standard in many other modes of transportation. However, if you’re driving long distances, you can’t rely on the likelihood of someone else paying for the damage done to your car.

- Danger: Like any other mode of transportation, you are putting yourself in danger if you choose to drive in an open truck. If you get into an accident, you’re liable for the damage done.

- Limited Scope: While open transport car shipping services are a good fit for dealerships with excess inventory or those looking to move cars on a regular basis, it’s not great for mid-sized dealerships that need to transport one or two cars at a time.

- Lack of Ease: Compared to other methods of car transportation, open transport car shipping is hard to set up and manage. Using a shipping yard, you have to be there to load the cars onto the truck, make sure they’re loaded safely, and ensure they’re on time.

- Inventory is at Risk: When dealing with a car that could be damaged, it’s important to inspect the car for damage before you drive it. But with open transport car shipping, the risk of damage is higher than with other modes of transportation, so you have to be even more careful.

Conclusion

With the growth of online dealerships, the days of physically transporting cars are numbered. But even as the trend toward online sales increases, some dealers are finding that the best way to move cars is to use open transport car shipping. The benefits of open transport car shipping, such as keeping inventory on hand, being flexible and reducing damage, make it a good fit for mid-sized dealerships looking to expand their capacity and those with excess inventory. If you’re interested in turning to open transport car shipping to move cars, be sure to investigate the benefits and drawbacks of this method. You’ll be glad you did.