Recently, customers have been asking us why auto shipping prices have gone up drastically within the past couple of months. The simple explanation is that “freedom isn’t free.” Due to political instability in the Arab world from masses yearning for freedom and dignity, global oil supplies have been put under strain, and this has been reflected in higher fuel prices. Since fuel makes up such a big portion of an auto shippers fixed cost, it’s no small wonder that carriers have been hit hard by the recent price jump, and have little choice but to increase their own prices as well.
ShipAuto.com’s Mike Price has written an article where he explains the new math and calculates the increase in the cost of an average auto shipping job, the impact of this increase on the shipper’s margin, and the ultimate consequences of this for the customer. Visit ShipAuto.com to read this useful and informative article.
Yesterday, it was announced the recession has officially been over for a year – with four consecutive quarters of growth as the deciding factor. The recession also seems to be over for General Motors, a company hit hard during the economic crisis of the past years.
An article on Detroit Free Press announces GM’s return to political arena, citing donations given to candidates from both parties. The amount is meager compared to the last time a donation was made by GM’s political action committee, but is a strive forward nonetheless. In 2008, $710,008 was given for the elections – this year, $91,500 is being contributed. Greg Martin, a spokesperson for General Motors, says, “Emerging as a new company, we are participating in the political process,” said Greg Martin, a GM spokesman. “We will not sit on the sidelines while our competitors in other industries have their voices heard.” States benefitting from these donations include Maryland and Virginia.
Auto Shippers applauds the community and political effort made by General Motors, and looks forward to other companies being able to return to where they were before the nation’s economic crisis.
Despite a record year in 2007, Suzuki may be on its way off of American soil. There is no official announcement of this move, but various signs in the industry point to the eventual end of Suzuki sales in the United States.
Leftlanenews.com reports similar. According to one article on the website by Mark Kleis, Suzuki dealers are either disappearing or being sold to other dealers. From 486 franchises to 300 in the past three years, some of these stores have been sold to other dealerships.
Kleis claims some dealers were willing to swallow Suzuki into their showrooms because of the decreased competition, creating an almost specialized offer to those who chose to take advantage of this offer. Apparently, those lucky enough to have “high” sales of the Suzukis are only selling about five a month – the average about two models every thirty days.
Suzuki claims in consolidating dealerships, they are giving themselves a fighting chance. Some experts say this is simply a tidy way to begin the end of Suzuki sales. Either way, Auto Shippers wishes Suzuki good luck in whatever the future holds for the company.
Not every safety precaution results in numbers, as California is rapidly finding out.
Red light cameras, installed by cities in the hopes of reducing collisions and law breakage have only amounted in the former. According to an article published on thetruthaboutcars.com, collisions have not gone down due to the installation of these cameras. In fact, the only change seen in records is the $13.8 million dollars as a result of tickets delivered after recorded traffic violations. There is also evidence pointing to the fact that if violations seem to be going down, it is only because drivers are avoiding lights that are known to have the cameras, not because people are abiding to traffic laws.
In a plan that was supposedly to keep drivers safe on the road, it seems as if the city really adapted this plan as a way to gain revenue. We at Auto Shippers hope the discrepancy is resolved soon, for California drivers and all the drivers in the other states implementing the camera light strategy.
For those of us who experience frozen winters, we know how important it is weatherproof our cars. We at Auto Shippers want to supply you with a quick list of reminders – cold weather is approaching faster than most of us want to admit.
Carjunky.com offers a great list of things to remember as winter approaches. Some of these include the following:
1. Engine problems – If you’re having them now, they will only get worse as the temperature drops. Have them fixed now before the small glitches grow into larger problems.
2. Windshield Wipers – Worn out wipers only promote scratching from weather grit.
3. Tires – Get them filled, and check the rubber. If they are worn, we recommend getting a new set as soon as possible.
4. In Case of Emergency – Always carry gloves, a flashlight, jumper cables, a winter coat, an ice scraper, a shovel if possible and tire chains. Even if you don’t run into car trouble, you may encounter others who are. These will help you be prepared in any situation.
Happy winter-proofing!
Drivers know how important oil changes and tire rotation to the safety of a car. But how many consider properly inflated tires as a factor in their spending, as well a key in environmental preservation?
According to an article on carjunky.com, the tires are undeniably linked to both of these. Besides saving the environment, keeping tires properly inflated can save you a few dollars. The article states, “one study showed that if gas costs $3 per gallon, proper tire pressure can save you up to $432 at the pump each year.” And the monetary rewards are only a portion of the benefits to reap from full tires.
The article also claims that if tires remain fully inflated, a car’s carbon footprint (its affects on the environment) will be reduced by over 300 pounds.
Car experts recommend when checking the pressure on your car’s tires to follow the prescriptions in your car’s manuals, not the pounds on your tire’s sidewall.
Auto Shipper encourages all of our customers to make tire observation a key strategy in your car’s care.
In the wake of a disastrous year for Toyota, it seems the problems are not completely over for the car company.
After a massive recall of over 10 million automobiles around the world due to safety problems (brake failure, floor mats that pressed onto accelerators, and defective gas pedals), Toyota is familiar with crisis control. Now, it seems the problem lies in “improper coating on circuit boards and a crack in the surface of a glass coating,” according to the Detroit Free Press. This flaw is resulting in the engine stalling in vehicles like the Toyota Corolla and the Matrix hatch back.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a full investigation of the cars, the affected years between 2005 and 2007. Toyota is hoping to avoid another massive recall of their vehicles. The investigation will determine whether a recall due to safety concerns will be necessary or not.
Auto Shippers wishes Toyota good luck in the investigation, and hopes the problem is pinned down and solved quickly.
Tensions are building in South Korea, so Hyundai is making it a point to keep their building in America.
Hyundai is experiencing a boom in sales of their Sonata vehicle. Working the maximum overtime to produce the vehicles in Alabama is still not enough time with the plant producing the Santa Fe model as well. To solve this problem, the Santa Fe production will be moved to the Kia Motors plant in West Point, Georgia. The West Point plant has hired enough new employees to create a second line in order to keep up production demand on the Santa Fe.
Hyundai has decided on this course of action in order to keep production of the Sonata on American soil, without having to outsource work to a plant in South Korea. The Alabama plant is confident it will now have the manpower and time to produce the amount of Sonatas needed by dealers.
Auto Shippers is excited for Hyundai’s success and problem-solving, as well as the creation of new jobs in our economy.
As the days cool and shorten, drivers can look forward to one thing: lower gas prices. With prices falling lower earlier than usual due to the recession, drivers experienced gas prices in late August not usually seen until the week after Labor Day.
According to an article on USA Today’s blog, prices began to drop as early as the third week of August. Summer is known as the peak driving season, with families to visiting the nation’s top getaway destinations and professionals taking advantage of their vacation time. In better economic times, gas prices may not have been as big of a factor while planning a summer trip – thrifty Americans have realized the value of saving a penny per gallon, and gas sales have suffered due to this, causing prices to drop. This is why the gas price fell earlier than usual during this “shoulder season” (the time between the summer air-conditioning season and the winter heating season).
Auto Shippers is encouraged by this news for our endeavors as well as our customers’. Cheaper gas prices mean we can give our clients the best deal possible on their transportation needs. Cheers.
Apparently, it’s been done. Autoweek reports discovery of a car called the Davis Divan, a three-wheeled vehicle created in 1948.
Acoording to a blog on USA Today’s website, the car is part of a collection in Monterey, California that holds some of the worst cars ever built.
The vehicle was made by Glenn Gordon Davis, and was paid for by wealthy Indianapolis 500 driver Joel Thorne. Literally on three wheels, the car was created in order to be sold to World War II veterans – upon arrival of the returning soldiers, the new car industry was booming. Davis is said to have traveled the country, attempting to sell his invention. Little interest ever came of the odd-looking mobile, and only thirteen vehicles in this model were produced.
The three wheels held up a forty-seven horsepower engine and featured a removable hardtop and custom “hideaway lights”. Auto Shippers admires the ingenuity in this car, but wonders if there if there is such a thing as too unique.
