Auto Transport Makes Top 10 Complaints for BBB

Auto Transport Makes Top 10 Complaints for BBB SE Florida!
So why doesn’t it make Top 10 Inquiries?
Every month in the “New Trends @ BBB” you will see Automobile Transporting Services listed under the “Top Ten Complaints.” Rarely do you see it listed under the “Top Ten Inquiries.” Collectively we as consumers do a good job of policing industries. For the most part we can rationalize that a company can’t be 100% perfect but if a company has multiple complaints over and over we steer clear! What does it take to get consumers and businesses checking every vendor or company they are about to work with on the BBB first? I can’t answer that question but I can tell you why you should.
Auto transport has had its share of “bad apples:” brokers who have taken orders to move customer cars but never get the job done and carriers illegally brokering your transport to a “buddy” who never picks up the car. This can be financially devastating to a person who is moving and doesn’t have a vehicle, maybe starting a new job with no transportation etc. Also, if you just bought your car from a dealership or an online company you would like to receive it before you have to make your first payment! There are several ways to check out an auto transport company before you lose:
1. CHECK THE BBB! Make sure they have some type of “A” rating anything lower is not a good sign. They have not been verified as a legitimate company. They don’t respond, resolve or care about customer complaints or they just have so many complaints something is not right!
2. Ask for their “MC” number and verify it with www.fmcsa.dot.gov . If they are broker their broker status should say “Active.” If they are a carrier or a contract carrier their status should be “Active” and the truck picking up your car MUST have the same name and MC number on the side as the company you hired. No Exceptions No Excuses it’s a federal regulation period!
3. Google the name of the company! Just like employers Google new hires you should Google anyone you are about to do business with. Find their reviews, complaints and kudos all over the internet and make an educated decision. If something makes you uncomfortable ask them about it, sometimes the issue was a misunderstanding but you can judge by the auto transporters response.
4. Insurance – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration changed in 2011 and NO LONGER REQUIRE CARGO CARRIERS TO HAVE CARGO INSURANCE! Good brokers deal directly with the carriers’ insurance company to avoid fraud. The broker will provide you with an insurance certificate in their name for the carrier dispatched to pick up your car. If you are getting the insurance directly from the carrier you need to turn around and contact the insurance company and request the information from them directly. Insurance can lapse and since the FMCSA is no longer requiring cargo (your automobile is considered cargo) then you need to be on top of this issue.
When transporting a personally owned vehicle (POV) the toughest part is that consumers are entering into a very commercial transaction. This is not like moving your household goods (which have better consumer protections). Knowing the process is the key! Do your inspections with the carrier when the car is picked up and delivered and note any transport damage on the final inspection. Understand that you are not reserving an entire truck to yourself and there may be 2-9 other customers involved in the load. You will have pick- up and delivery windows and sometimes those change because of delays with cars before you, weather, traffic, weigh stations, DOT stops…..you see where this is going right! The only thing guaranteed in auto transport is that something will change!
Check out any company and understand the auto transport process and you will have a better and safer experience. It’s a green decision to transport your car. Every carrier you see on the road with 10 cars is 10 less cars on the road. It’s cheaper than driving it yourself, paying for fuel, hotels, tolls and giving up all of that time out of your wonderful life. Transport just transport smart!
Melissa Carbonell
Marketing Manager
High End Transport, Inc.
[email protected]

Brutally Honest about choosing an Auto Transport Company

5 Easy Honest steps on How to choose an Auto Transporter

When that first thought crossed your mind that you needed to ship your car, you probably thought I have no idea where to begin.  Little did you know there are thousands of auto transport companies.  There are brokers, carriers, carriers that pretend to be brokers and brokers that pretend to be carriers and then there is always the guy down the street with a tow dolly that will be more than happy to drag your car behind his truck to wherever the blue skies take him.  Where do you begin!

  1. NEVER get 10 auto transport quotes for free!  Unless you have self destructive behavior, enjoy Chinese water torture or are confined to a prison cell with a phone and nothing else to do, Don’t Do It!  The calls, emails and non-stop harassing are just not worth it in the end!  The time you spend dealing with 10 (really 12) different transport companies will cost you far more money in the end.  It’s probably the most embarrassing and unprofessional side of our business.  Many companies have several names so they can buy the same leads from the lead company’s and pull you which ever direction they wish.  For your own sanity please don’t “click here!”
  2. Carrier or Broker or carrier or broker or……  Any company trying to scare you from using either a carrier or a broker is a company you do not want to do business with CROSS THEM OFF THE LIST NOW they are fear mongering!  There are good brokers and good carriers in fact most manufacturers who need to move thousands of cars choose carriers and most dealerships that need to move hundreds of cars choose brokers, they just choose good ones.   Just follow Step 3 to check them all out.
  3. Check everyone out, it’s easy.
    • First – check the BBB.  Make sure they have some type of A rating   A+, A- or just A but nothing lower that’s not a good sign that means they do not respond and do not care if a customer complains.  http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=92003496&source=ctc
    • Second– check Transport Reviews.  This site only reviews Auto Transport Companies so that helps.  Try to look for companies that do not pay for reviews and do not participate in the mass quote program (remember Step No. 1).  5 out of 5 stars is the only acceptable rating.  If a company has a few bad reviews that is normal but they need to be able to offset those with more good ones.  http://www.transportreviews.com/company/high-end-transport-inc.asp
    • Third- check their license on FMCSA.  If they are a broker their broker status should say Active.  If they are a carrier their carrier status or contract status should be Active.  If they are a carrier or a contract carrier then the truck that shows up at your door should have their name and MC number on the side NO EXCEPTIONS NO EXCUSES it’s a federal regulation period.http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_getdetail?pv_apcant_id=484771
  4. Insurance –IS IT COVERED?   Disclaimer: I am not an insurance agent and your final decision should be made after speaking on the phone with one because every transaction is truly different.  After several years I can tell you what has happened in the past from experience.  INSPECTION REPORTS ARE EVERYTHING when you are trying to file a claim.  It is the consignee’s and Consignors (You and Yours) responsibility to note any damage except normal wear and tear on the bill of lading (inspection report).  Although it might have happened I have never witnessed a driver throwing rocks at the cars on his trailer trying to make nicks and dents, so the insurance company presumes these are road hazards or weather related damage and they are usually not covered.   Open transport is more cost effective but does require some risk on your part.  Most dealerships choose open because they can easily fix minor nicks and scratches .  There is a cost difference to go enclosed so if it’s an everyday car its your personal choice.    We always recommend checking with your own insurance to see what’s covered while the vehicle will be in transport.
  5. Understand the transport industry so you understand the process.  Although you are a VERY important customer please know that you are not reserving an entire truck to yourself and there will be 2-9 other customers involved in that load.   You will have pick up windows and delivery windows and sometimes those change because of delays with cars before you, weather, traffic, weigh stations… you can see where I’m going with this right!  The only thing absolute about transport is that something will change! Most companies can give you a very good idea of about how long the process will take and if you are paying a fair rate it usually happens that way.

I’m pretty sure I was as blunt and as honest as I could be without scaring you from transport.  It’s a green decision to transport your car.  Every carrier you see on the road with 10 cars is 10 less cars on the road.  It’s cheaper than driving it yourself, paying for fuel, paying for hotels and tolls and the time out of your wonderful life!  Transport just transport smart!

Updated profile on Transportreviews.com

Most people will go an entire lifetime without ever needing to transport a vehicle but Millions of vehicle transports take place each year! Once you need an auto transport company with one google search you are returned thousands of pages all ready and willing to give you as many quotes as your email can handle. It can all become very overwhelming and most people wind up wasting more “money” in the time spent taking phone calls and reading and answering emails that they never really save anything. There are brokers, carriers, contract carriers, open or enclosed transports, insurance, time frames and inspections.

Most individuals just want to pay a fair price for a reliable transport. We at High End Transport have refined our process to provide just that. Our dealership client base is unrivaled in the industry although we lack the benefit of getting multiple reviews we gain relationships that can last a lifetime. References from a dealer on or near your city can be provided upon request just call (954) 835-4686 ext. 4! Getting a quote (just one) is simple you can click on the website above or go to www.gohet.com, email to [email protected], call us at (954) 835-4686 ext. 4, or fax it in at 954-206-0595. You will be assigned a personal sales representative that will help with any questions and they are available in the office and on their cell phones 7 days a week. The order process is just as simple and we keep you updated during the transport. Once the spot is reserved on the truck we can provide you with your drivers cell phone number for your peace of mind. We have a transport blog on our website with useful information about packing your car, planning your timeframes etc., we also post alot on this blog for our dealerships but our individual customers also find the information useful.

You can find us on twitter, linkedin and facebook! High End Transport accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, cash, cashiers checks, money orders. There are many ways to pay to keep things as simple as possible during the process. Our experience has gained us the ability to run at a 99.3% on time pick up and delivery ratio! We are very proud of that number!!! We understand what it takes to get the job done because we are a broker and a carrier! Whether you are a dealership that needs to ship 100’s of cars at one time or a college student just trying to get back to school High End Transport will get the job done and make you a customer for life! Simple Simple Simple just call (954) 835-4686 ext. 4

Welcome to Miami for the new members of the Miami Heat

High End Transport Inc would like to formally welcome all the new members to the Miami Heat!!! We have transported a few vehicles for some of your new team members here to South Florida and are very excited about the upcoming NBA basketball season! We are also excited to see the new additions on the Miami streets, more exotic vehicles for an exotic and expressive city!