Fiat to return to US market

American automaker Chrysler plans to sell 50,000 Fiat 500 minicars in the United States in 2011, a source told AFP on Monday, as the Italian brand returns to the US market.

Fiat, Italy's biggest car maker which controls 20 percent of Chrysler, aims at unveiling the minicar at the Los Angeles auto show in November, the source said.
In a meeting with 400 of its car dealers on Monday, Chrysler said it wants to open Fiat dealerships in 165 locations across the United States with the biggest small-car markets.

"Our dealers will be able to interact with a group of individuals that are not part of their current customer base. These are individuals interested in Italian automotive design coupled with fuel efficient technology," said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat Brand North America.

"The new Fiat retail network will begin selling the US version of the Fiat 500 late this year, and the Fiat 500 Cabrio model in 2011," the statement said.

The Fiat 500 will be built in Toluca, Mexico, while its engine will be manufactured in the United States, Chrylser said.

The North American version of the Fiat 500 will be equipped with Fiat's 1.4-liter and an in-line four-cylinder engine.

Mumbai to get India's first multi-level automated car parks

India's first robot-assisted multi-level car parks that can collectively accommodate over 1,100 vehicles will come up at two private commercial building projects in the city, a company official said here Monday.

The fully automatic, multi-level underground parking system covering an area of over 1.5 lakh square feet at the new upcoming projects Ackruti Star and Ackruti Solari, being developed by Ackruti City in Andheri east, according to its chairman Hemant Shah.

While Ackruti Star with a capacity of over 350 vehicles will be completed by mid-September, the second complex Ackruti Solaris with a capacity of over 750 vehicles, will be completed in phases starting March 2011 and ending March 2012, Shah told media persons here.

"With this new system, parking or retrieval will be very quick. It would take less than a minute, compared to the existing around five minutes," he said.

Explaining the system, Shah said that all car owners would be given security swipe cards which would ensure absolutely safety from thefts or damages.

The entire system would be fully automated, a state-of-the-art facility with no human interference and have two sub-stations for 100 percent round-the-clock power back-up.

The system would provide parking space to thousands of visitors in the recently-developed business hubs of Andheri east where space is a major issue.

The Andheri east area also leads to the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport's international terminal, and traffic congestion is a major area of concern.

Shah said that the company plans to install such parking systems in its other forthcoming projects around the country

Auto sector happy over lower tax rate, MAT

The auto industry has largely welcomed the Direct Taxes Code (DTC), in the current form discussed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
A lower effective Corporate Tax rate at 30 per cent, from the current 33 per cent, is seen as a welcome step, though the draft DTC had proposed an even lower 25 per cent corporate tax rate.

Also, the change in Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) to 20 per cent of book profits, lower from the proposed 25 per cent, has found favour with the industry. This is because in its current form MAT with the addition of surcharge and cess, anyway adds up to 19.33 per cent.

The Maruti Suzuki Chief Financial Officer, Mr Ajay Seth, said there will be no major impact on the auto industry, as it will mostly be paying lower corporate taxes.

“Overall, the DTC is a welcome step. It is more simplified and has fewer exemptions. There's also the indirect advantage from individual tax rates, since more money in the hands of the public may translate into increased sales,” he said.

However, he added that clarity is needed on deductions provided for investments on R&D as proposed in the last Budget. “The Budget had allowed deductions of 200 per cent for investments on R&D, but the DTC mentions a 150-per-ent deduction. This has to be figured out.”

Industry analyst Ms Vaishali Jajoo of Angel Broking and Mr P. Balendran, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, General Motors, said that the DTC in the current form is good for industry.
"If implemented in the current form, it will surely be beneficial. Lower corporate taxes and MAT on book profits are both welcome steps,” said Mr Balendran.

20 grandmothers knit car tea cosy, aim for Guinness record

Zurich Twenty grannies have spent two months knitting nearly 70lbs of wool into a trendy tea cosy for a Smart car.

The project was the brainwave of Zurich-based company the Swiss Senior Design Factory and had the aim of bringing young designers in touch with older crafts people.

The giant car cover depicts a lace-up trainer and exposes the car’s wheels, making it into a roller skate.

The designers have contacted the Guinness Book of Records to claim the world record for the biggest hand-knitted car cover.

DC to look into auto parking issue- Mangalore

Ongoing road widening and concreting works undertaken by Mangalore City Corporation has taken its toll on auto rickshaw parks dotting the city. But authorised auto rickshaw parks making way for parking lot of a mall located on M G Road, purportedly on the orders of the deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj did not come as a surprise to the DC, who was chairing the meeting of regional transport authority here on Saturday.

Auto rickshaw drivers informed the DC that the owners of the mall through their security guards were not allowing the auto rickshaws to operate from the authorised auto rickshaw park. "The guards informed us that this park has been derecognised on the orders of the deputy commissioner," Mohan Shetty informed the DC, who observed that so many things go on with or without his notice and that he could not keep tabs on everything.

The mall owners have used the defunct auto rickshaw park as parking lot for two-wheelers and around six to seven auto rickshaws that operated from there earlier had no official park to operate from. The DC however assured the auto rickshaw drivers that this auto rickshaw park adjacent to the lane leading in to residential area would be restored and added that he had issued no such order cancelling the auto rickshaw park there.

Auto rickshaw union leader and advocate Ivan D' Souza urged the DC to settle the issue of auto rickshaw parks forthwith given that a majority of the auto rickshaws did not have an authorised auto rickshaw park to operate from. Earlier joint surveys carried out by the police, MCC officials and auto rickshaw unions have indicated the need for 354 such parks, he said. The DC assured to address the issue once the roadwork was complete.

How are auto-part makers gearing up with surging demand?

The Indian auto industry is seeing unprecedented growth. The auto component industry too is expected to grow five times to USD 110 billion by 2020. The industry expects investments to the tune of USD 35 billion will come in and they will be able to create over one million new jobs.

But how are auto component makers gearing up to meet the surge in demand?


Auto component maker Sona Koyo is eyeing a 15-20% growth in revenues this year. The company expects the automotive industry to grow 15% overall. The company has an investment plan of Rs 80 crore in terms of capacity expansion.


The company's biggest challenge at the moment is its sub-supply chain. In an interview with CNBC-TV18's Swati Khandelwal-Jain, Sunjay Kapur, VC & MD, Sona Koyo said, "Our sub suppliers or our tier II and tier III vendors did not invest in capacity during the downturn. With a sudden growth in the automotive industry, it has put a big strain on the automotive industry as a whole. So, we are working on increasing capacity in the sub-supply chain and hopefully that is coming on track and it'll work out well."


Meanwhile, Ajinkya Firodia MD of Kinetic Engineering, says, "Transmissions business is the most expensive machinery. And, we have already invested about Rs 100 crore in the current orders but ever year another Rs 20-25 crore will need to be invested."

Toyota recalls 1.13 mn cars in US for engine problem

Japanese auto maker Toyota has called back a staggering 1.13 million compact cars in the US due to engine problems, pushing the total number of recalls by the company in the last 10 months to nearly 11 million vehicles worldwide.

The US arm of the group, Toyota Motor Sales Inc has recalled about 1.13 million Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles (Model Year 2005-2009) sold in the US.
 
The recall has been made "to address some Engine Control Modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured", the company said in a statement.
Toyota has been facing public ire related to quality and reliability of its vehicles in the past several months.

This is the 15th recall made this year by the company, which has called back about 11 million vehicles worldwide since November.
Out of the total vehicles recalled by Toyota, 8 million were in connection with complaints about accelerator pedals and floor mats.

"This recall is an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers. Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles," Toyota Chief Quality Officer for North America Steve St Angelo said.
As part of the recall, the ECM on involved vehicles will be replaced at no charge to the owner.

Beginning in mid-September 2010, Toyota would mail an interim notification to advise owners of this recall and a future notice when parts become available to complete the repairs, the statement said.
Owners, who have previously paid for replacement of the ECM to address this specific condition should refer to the owner letter for reimbursement consideration instructions, it added.

Auto fares too steep? Why not try pooling

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Auto pooling, a system which allows multiple passengers to take an auto, may provide a cheaper trave l solution for commuters who do not want to use public transport like buses and others for whom the minimum fare is a deterrent.

This concept, if explored by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), followed in many parts of the country, will not be economical for commuters as well as auto drivers. It could also reduce pollution and save commuters who have to increasingly contend with auto drivers who are rude and unwilling to oblige.

This practice mostly prevalent in North and Central India, allows multiple passengers to take an auto, not exceeding capacity, which allows the auto driver to realize his full fare for the final distance by dividing the fare amount among the passengers. In case a passenger wants to get down half way, a reasonable amount is worked out, which is almost half of the minimum fare.

L T Suvarna, district general secretary of the Federation of Karnataka Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union, said they were in support for auto pooling (sharing) as it works out both ways. He says for example, polling will allow a passenger to pay a rupee or 50 paise more than the bus fare from Lady Goschen Hospital to Attavar. "This will make autos more attractive to passengers who consider the minimum fare as a deterrent," he said.

Suvarna said the federation was also willing for an alternative of Rs 10 per km minimum fare. The present minimum fare of Rs 13 is for a 1.5 km distance.

Rekha Moily, who was in Nashik, said this practice in the grape city was win-win for both and she never paid more than Rs 6 for her travel in and around the city due to this pooling. "There was a move to remove that system by the RTO as the autos were taking more passengers. But there was resitance from public and the system still continues," she added.

Rekha said her travel in ordinary circumstances to her office, a distance of 7 km, cost Rs 65, but pooling allowed her to cover the distance with just Rs 12, with two auto pools.

Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi president Hanumanth Kamath also strongly supports this idea saying it will work out to the advantage of both passengers and drivers.

Deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj told TOI it was an interesting idea and he may explore it at the RTA meeting on auto fare which will be held on Saturday.

Can new Ambassador take HM out of the woods?

The days when products like Hindustan Motors Ambassador used to rule the Indian passenger car market is still afresh in many Indian minds. However, the inability to change with times has taken its own toll from the company but last week the company has announced a major overhaul of the iconic Ambassador car.
While on the one end, many auto analysts and brand experts see it as a last shot at redemption for the car that ruled the pot-holed Indian roads for decades, some of them are still least interested.

Murad Ali Baig, one of the country's best-known auto analysts said it is surely a very spacious car but the technology used the product is more or less obsolete.
It may be recalled that the problems started for the company when players like Maruti Suzuki and then others such as Hyundai Motors and Tata Motors followed to take the share out of HM's big cake.

However, it will be very interesting to note whether the product will be able to pull it off in its last innings or will it once again will not be able to meet the fancy of the Indian consumer.

Hippie's dream car: EV made from hemp

Motive Industries, an automotive design firm in Canada, is developing the most literal of green vehicles--an electric car with a chassis made from cannabis.
The body of the Kestrel, a four-seat electric vehicle, is engineered using impact-resistant biocomposite derived from Canadian grown and manufactured hemp mats.

Its construction takes enviromentally friendly engineering one step further--the hemp fibers in the composite keep the body weight low, which reduces the energy needed to propel the vehicle while offering a renewable alternative to composites derived from petrochemicals. Aptera, a California-based EV start-up, uses silica-based fabric for its composite material that is impossible to dent with a sledgehammer, according to the manufacturer.

Prototyping and testing on the Kestrel will take place later this month. Motive's goal is to achieve a reduction in weight while maintaining the same mechanical properties as the car's glass-based counterpart. More information about the zero-emission Kestrel will be released in September at the 2010 VE Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver.
 

Transport helpline nets dept R 25,000 in fines MUMBAI

The state transport department’s helpline number 1800-22-0110, that entertains citizens’ complaints against errant taxi and auto rickshaw drivers, has helped bring in a cool Rs 25,300 in fines. The department says the number of complaints since the helpline was launched on June 25, has reached  3,311.
           
 

“We have managed to dispose off more than 60 per cent of the complaints since the helpline was launched. We have also collected a fine of Rs 25,300 from errant drivers,” Transport Commissioner Dilip Jadhav said.

Until August 16 – when the figure was last updated – 665 permits and 380 licences had been suspended until further interrogation. Nearly 1,139 taxi and auto drivers have been served show-cause notices and have been asked to reply within a week. Meanwhile, 1,127 complaints are yet to be taken care of. The transport department has even sent letters to the drivers, whose licences have expired, at their respective postal addresses.

If we don’t receive a reply along with the necessary documents, we will suspend the licences,” an RTO official said. Nearly 70 per cent of the calls received on the helpline was regarding refusal to ply short distances.
This 24x7 helpline is manned by three officers from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) who work in three shifts at the Mumbai Central office. They make a note of the kind of complaint, details of the complainant, and details of the taxi or auto rickshaw.

However, people have been complaining that that one cannot connect to the helpline using a mobile phone.

So, the transport department has now started an electronic helpline system where calls after a certain waiting time will get diverted. This, they claim, will reduce the chances of failed calls, which happen in a manual system.
Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil will be convening a meeting in a couple of days to determine the success of this helpline that was launched after the rapid rise in the number of complaints by citizens against taxi and auto drivers.

Maruti Suzuki to focus on R&D, domestic market

                With Indian passenger car market set to double in the next 5-6 years, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) has not only decided to boost its research and design capabilities to meet the growing demand and come out with new products, but has also asked its vendors and suppliers to do the same.
India's largest carmaker has also decided to focus more on domestic market and limit exports to take on growing competition.

“We need to rapidly develop our own capacity to develop and design products. This is an area of priority for us and with the help from Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation, we are investing heavily in R&D,” MSIL Chairman R. C. Bhargava said in the company's annual report for 2009-10.
                 As part of the efforts to build R&D capability, MSIL is coming up with a world-class R&D centre at Rohtak (Haryana).

It invested Rs.173.30-crore in R&D in 2009-10 against Rs.91-crore in 2008-09.
To further consolidate its position in the Indian market, MSIL is also considering limiting exports to 15 per cent of its total output to meet its growing domestic requirements.
 
“Maruti Suzuki, as a company, should perhaps deliberately not attempt to export a large part of its production, but keep its exports at about 15 per cent of output,” Mr. Bhargava said.

“We should concentrate more on the domestic market. To keep our market share, not only should we adequately increase manufacturing capacity, but also remain very aware of the changing customer tastes and demands and be flexible in making quick adjustments,” he added.
MSIL is concerned as its market share has dropped below 50 per cent as it has failed to meet the demand of fast growing car market where other carmakers are now making inroads.
Exports

During April-July this year, the company's car exports stood at 50,558 units out of a total of 3.35 lakh units produced, which is about 15 per cent of the total output.
It has an installed capacity of producing 10-lakh units annually. For 2009-10, the company exported a total of 1.48-lakh units. The Indian passenger car market stood at 19.5-lakh units last fiscal, while it is projected to touch 22-lakh units this fiscal

Now, share an auto to BKC-Mumbai

The daily hassle of standing in a line to get an autorickshaw to take you to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) or arguing with autorickshaw drivers who refuse to ply will soon end. From September 1, the state transport department will start 11 new routes — including BKC, the new business hub — for
share-a-rickshaw and will take measures to ensure that the existing 75 share-a-rickshaw stands in the city operate properly.
"We are aiming to start new routes for share-a-rickshaw from September," said Transport Commissioner Dilip Jadhav.



On Friday, the transport department gave clearance to 11 share-a-rickshaw stands in Bandra (East).
It is now formulating tariffs for the routes which is being done by the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).
For instance, a commuter pays Rs 5 in a share-a-rickshaw from Bandra station (West) to Linking Road, otherwise one pays the minimum fare of Rs 11.

The move will help commuters who are at the mercy of autorickshaw drivers while trying to reach their offices in the morning and scurrying home in the evening rush hour.
"The BKC has developed as a business hub over the years. So we are starting new routes for share-a-rickshaw scheme here," said an RTO officer.
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) staff will monitor the share-a-rickshaw service and ensure that drivers follow the rules.

"The RTOs should ensure that the drivers follow the share-a-rickshaw service even if it means for short distances," said Rohan Singh, a resident of Kandivli.
The drivers are expected to maintain discipline, proper queue, drive out of the station area without obstructing movements of passer-bys and avoid traffic snarls.

This would increase the carrying capacity to three people from only one passenger.

The RTOs are expected to maintain vigil over these drivers for running this service, along with their campaign against drivers refusing to ply.
The proposal to start shuttle service on the western and central suburbs for long-distance travel on Western and Eastern Express Highways is also on the cards but it is not feasible.

We found that such shuttle services aren’t feasible as rarely does a commuter travel such long distances especially during morning or evening peak hours," said a RTO officer.

The transport department has planned 100 new share-a-rickshaw routes across the eastern and western suburbs which would begin in phases.

Small-car for India is big draw for GM-Shanghai Auto

General Motors' move to develop small engines and transmissions with China's SAIC Motor Corp could have tremendous implications for India, industry sources said.

This follows the news of the American automaker going in for its IPO where its long-standing Chinese ally could pick up a stake in the process.
GM and SAIC have formed a 50:50 joint venture for their Indian innings which will first see the rollout of light trucks from GM India's plant in Halol, Gujarat.
“The bigger play, though, could be small cars which account for a lion's share of India's automobile sales and this is where the small engines alliance will play a key role,” sources said.

GM and SAIC plan to make fuel-efficient engines ranging from 1 to 1.5 litres which are intended to be used in China and other parts of the world. It is here that the two could look at fitting them in low-cost cars for India, which would ideally be priced in the Rs 2-lakh range to take on the Tata Nano.

The GM-SAIC combine plans to launch three cars and two light trucks by end-2012 and it remains to be seen if a ‘people's car' will be part of this product line-up. GM already has offerings in the form of the Chevrolet Spark and Beat, but these are in the Rs 3 – 4 lakh price range. “An option in the Rs 2-lakh bracket will be a big attraction to customers with limited budgets,” sources said.
Reports have been doing the rounds that market leader, Maruti Suzuki, is planning a stripped-down version of its top selling model, Alto, which will be priced at Rs 2.5 lakh.

Closest rival Hyundai is working on a similarly priced car which will hit the roads next year.

Mercedes bets big on market for pre-owned cars

Mercedes Benz India Limited, the market leader in the luxury car market in India is betting big on the pre-owned premium car business in the country.

The luxury car maker, which has already launched its used car business under the brand name 'Proven Exclusivity' in four cities- New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai, is now looking to expand this business further and expects the segment to contribute 15-20 per cent of its overall turnover of passenger car business in the country over the next three years.
"We have launched 'Proven Exclusivity', our pre-owned car venture, in four cities- New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai and the response has been overwhelming as we have been able to achieve a transaction of over 200 cars in less than two months.

The market for pre-owned premium cars in the country is gathering steam and we expect this segment to contribute 15-20 per cent to our sales in the passenger car business in the country in the next three years", said Debashis Mitra, director (sales & marketing) and member of the board of management, Mercedes Benz India.

Mercedes aims to extend its used car business to Chandigarh, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune by September 30 this year.
Mercedes Benz clocked a turnover of Rs 1400 crore from its passenger car operations in India in 2009 and the turnover for 2010 is projected at Rs 2000 crore.

The company has achieved a sales volume of around 3000 cars (as on July 31 this year) and has recorded a year-on-year growth of 75 per cent in the country.
The size of the luxury car market in India is estimated at around 8500 units and is expected to go up to 13000 units by the end of this year.
Mercedes Benz has regained its numero uno status in the premium car market with a share of 43 per cent, upstaging BMW whose share currently stands at 36 per cent.

The C-class which is the entry level segment for Mercedes cars has been the biggest driver of sales for the auto major.
While the C-class has witnessed a jump of 75 per cent in the January-July period of 2010, the E-class has posted a growth of 25 per cent, followed by S-class at 25 per cent.

All these three classes of cars are assembled at Mercedes Benz's manufacturing facility in the country located at Chakan near Pune.
Buoyed by the robust demand of these cars, Mercedes Benz has now decided to ramp up production by kick starting second shift operations.

"We are going to start second shift operations at our Chakan plant within 2-3 months. Presently, we are manufacturing around 5000 cars through single shift operations", said Mitra. Mercedes Benz is also planning to introduce new models in the India market this year.

"We have already introduced 16 new products in India in the past seven months.
In the remaining five months of this year, we would be rolling out a few new models and our focus would be on the SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) segment", Mitra stated.

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Car travel sees slight boost with skies a little quieter

Americans are flying less, but they are driving more, according to the latest monthly reports.

Overall travel has been relatively flat, but the number of people taking to the skies fell slightly in July — the first time since February — while traffic climbed somewhat along the nation’s roads in June.

The difference, in part, reflects Americans’ growing desire to save money, analysts say.

Nearly 1 percent fewer people flew last month than last July, according to the Air Transport Association, following several months of modest year-over-year gains in passengers.

Meanwhile, airfares have increased steadily this year compared with last year, with prices rising 12 percent in March, 14 percent in April, 17 percent in May, and 20 percent in June.

July’s price increases were not quite as high as they were in June, but by that time leisure travelers were probably suffering from a high-price hangover, said Brian Hoyt of the travel website Orbitz.

“They were spooked by some of the higher ticket prices they saw,’’ he said.

Gasoline prices, on the other hand, have barely budged. The average price of gas in Massachusetts was $2.68 a gallon this week, according to AAA, a nickel more than this time last year. Car travel increased by just over 1 percent in June compared with last June, the latest data available from the Federal Highway Administration. Year-over-year car travel numbers have been up slightly over the last few months — 2 percent in March, 1 percent in April, and 0.1 percent in May

“Driving is a very attractive option for travelers right now because of the fact that gasoline prices have been so moderate over the past few months,’’ said AAA spokeswoman Mary Maguire. “You could do an entire vacation on a tank of gas.’’

But an increase in traffic does not necessarily mean people are choosing driving over other forms of transportation. It could reflect the fact that more 16-year-olds are getting their driver’s licenses, more older drivers are getting behind the wheel, or people are driving farther than they used to, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Similarly, officials at the Air Transport Association cautioned against reading too much into the July passenger numbers, pointing out that the airlines have had seven consecutive months of revenue growth.

“I would need to see at least three months’ decline in a row before I say something’s amok here,’’ said chief economist John Heimlich.

Soon, all taxi, auto drivers must display photo ID

            It will now be compulsory for all taxi and auto drivers in Mumbai to carry a photo ID-bearing their names, mobile numbers, residential address and a recent photograph-and paste a copy of it inside the vehicle so that it is visible to passengers.

The decision was taken at a meeting of RTOs held at the transport commissioner's office in Bandra (E) on Friday. Transport commissioner Dilip Jadhav told TOI, "I have decided that there should be some kind of driver identification which will help passengers note down his name, number and other details in case of rude behaviour, excess fare or refusal to ply. Passengers can provide these details to us when they register complaints on our toll-free helpline (1800-22-0110).''

He said drivers will be instructed to paste a photocopy of the ID behind the front seat of the vehicle or on the dashboard of the taxi/front panel of the auto. "We have begun the process of informing drivers outside railway stations to get their IDs prepared and stamped by an RTO,'' Jadhav said. The RTO will also contact taxi and auto unions so the message is conveyed to all drivers and they get their IDs done within a month.

Jadhav said he has also decided to introduce a refresher course for taxi and auto drivers.

The course will begin from September and auto/taxi drivers will be trained in batches. The course will be compulsory for those applying for fresh licence/badges.

In the same course, the RTO will also incorporate etiquette lessons on how to behave with passengers, and tips on road safety.

Car Transport – Steps to Do Before Pickup

                      Once you have hired a professional car transporter, certain preparations should be done before your vehicle is being shipped. You may be transporting your car in enclosed or open trailers, but still it is important to wash your vehicle thoroughly. By doing so, you will be able to notice any chips, dings or scratches on the vehicle accurately. There may be many personal items in the car and for the safety of such items, it is better to remove them. Moreover, the vehicle transport company would not be licensed to legally carry the personal items on board. The personal items on the car would not be covered under the insurance too.

                       Most of the vehicles would be equipped with the burglar alarm and it is impossible to be well versed in all of the alarm systems available today. People handling the car delivery may not want to waste their time disabling the alarm if it goes off during the transit. So better shut off or disable the alarm before the automobile is transported. The weight of the car can be reduced if the gas tank is kept low. The auto transport company would appreciate it if the gas tank is kept in between 1/8th to 1/4th of a tank.

             It is always wise to secure or remove the loose parts or specialty items from your car like the spoilers, fog light, ground effects etc. The wide mirrors should be folded back and lowered. Also remember to remove or retract the antenna if possible. Ship the convertibles with the top and secured properly if possible. If air or moisture enters, it can cause damage. Hence seal any holes or open seams in the top and make it air tight. Sometimes you may not be able to raise the tops; then you should attempt to cover it with a secure fitting tarp which is capable of resisting high winds.

                         The battery should be charged and the tires should have proper inflation before the car is transported. The fluids on the vehicle should be checked and do let the car delivery people know if there are any leaks. If your car has oil leakage especially brake or transmission fluid leakage, make sure that your vehicle is not on the top part of a two deck carrier. Thus you can prevent the leaks from falling on the vehicle below. You are the one who is most acquainted with your car. So you need to let the auto transport company people know of any operational problems or steps necessary to start, stop or drive the vehicle on and of the trailer.

                       Before the vehicle transporters pick up your vehicle, make a complete report of any pre existing damage that your vehicle may have. This would help to ensure that any claims of vehicle damage are accurate and enforceable. You can even go to the extent of taking photos of the car before it is shipped. This can be considered as proof of the car’s condition prior to shipping.
Abigael Madison is presently working on the site courier services. He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about car transporters visit our site motorcycle transport.

TTDI to make truck drivers computer literate

From Lungi to Laptops, truck drivers and transport workers will be groomed not just in matters of automobiles but also soft skills, English and computers, online operations, Google map reading etc.

Now truck drivers are hit with the computer bugs. They will be soon transformed from lungi to laptops wielding professionals clads. “Transport Training & Development Institute (TTDI)”, a first of its kind of initiative—a state-of-the-art truck drivers and transport employees training school cum grooming center comes up in outskirts of Hyderabad at the hub of transport activity at Autonagar. This 9000 square foot two storied building is ready for its formal inauguration. This is the first ever such a kind of centre dedicated to train the personnel of transport sector who include truck drivers, cleaners, hamalis (transport labours), staff of transporters. They will be trained to enhance skills and knowledge to meet the present requirement of highly automated vehicles and changing phase of high-tech express highway roads and developing economy. It is a brain child of 39years old Hyderabad Goods Transport Association (HGTA). Conceptualised several years back, but, it took shape now thanks to the dedicated efforts of some members of the transport industry. A nation which does not take care of it’s farmers and soldiers is doomed!” goes a saying. As a logistics professionals we should take care of drivers or the supply chain is going to be doomed. We have approx. 50 lakh truck drivers in India . In goods transportation, the drivers play a vital role who moves the wheel of the economy. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the TVs we watch, the books we read and the laptops we use are all transported by these unsung heroes. Roads have more than 70% share of the goods and freight traffic in India . “Human error is found to be the sole cause in 57% of all road accidents in India.    Yet the condition of the road drivers is pathetic. They do not have decent places to rest, perform their ablutions, have to tolerate long queues at checkpoints, frequent stoppages by the RTOs and police and wait for loading and unloading. The incidence of AIDs among drivers is 3 times higher than the average for the others. We as corporates do a lot of service and Corporate Social Responsibility activities. However, not too many CSR activities get focussed towards drivers. We at HGTA want to payback to the industry on which we depend on for our survival.    We have also received good support from auto manufactures, tyre manufactures, lubricant companies, who have come forward with open mind to support us with lab equipments\ cut sections, exploded charts and manuals. “The objective of Transport Training & Development Institute (TTDI) is to empower commercial vehicle drivers with all the essential safety practices so that they face the roads with a much greater responsibility”. Citing improper driving as the cause of nearly 80% of the road accidents in India , it was pointed out that emphasis on safe driving is the need of the hour.    Better driving practices and improving fuel efficiency is paramount importance. Fleet drivers will be trained in improved driving skills, basic mechanics, fuel saving techniques and safe practices. While skills such as safe driving, fuel conservation, repairs and maintenance are taught, other aspects of life on the road are also highlighted – trouble shooting, fire-fighting, and first aid. The importance of good health is stressed, with special emphasis on prevention of HIV – the most prevalent disease among truckers. Driver will be taught to be a goodwill ambassador on road. They will be exposed to economical driving practices and other social aspects of their profession. They will also be guided on Preventive Maintenance. Orientation on special vehicles such as Volvo and other will also be arranged from time to time. Similarly transport staff, cleaners, hamalis also have equal responsibility. So they are also groomed.    This professional training makes a huge difference. Drivers who are trained systematically and scientifically have a significant advantage over those without proper skills. The result? Fewer accidents, lower operational costs and a happy workforce who are an asset to the organisation. Refresher courses is offered to drivers of the individual fleet owners and drivers of even the unorganised sector who will appreciate that, a professionally trained driver, can make a huge difference in profits and service for his businesses/clients. TTDI plans to offer both Technical as well as soft skills programmes. There are four programmes which are offered as Vocational Certificate Courses. These are six month full time programmes. Three months of theoretical training and three months of practical training in service centers of well known automobile companies of reputation will be provided. Placement assurance is offered to right candidates. A nominal fee of Rs 600/- is charged, which they can recover as they will be paid a stipend while undergoing three months practical training. These training programmes include: 01. Auto Mechanical Skills Course(AMSC); 02. Auto Electrical Skill Course(AESC); 03. Transport Operation Skills Course(TOSC); 04. Motoring Skill Course(MSC).   Besides the hardcore technical skills, soft skills are also offered. These include 01. Computer Course Basics; 02. Personality Development And Life Skills Development; 03. Spoken English; 04. Meditation & Yoga. The lungi clad drivers today have challenge. Challenge to meet the present requirements of highly automated vehicles. They need to have knowledge of online transactions, tracking software, Google map reading ability as some of sophisticated trucks have them. Thus the TTDI has a dream to transform lungi clads to laptop wielding drivers. Even learning basic English has become a must as most of boards of high-tech roads, express highways are written in English. Truck Drivers should have basic knowledge of English.    Today the goods transport sector is also facing the shortage of good quality truck drivers who not only can drive vehicles efficiently but also understand their role for the betterment of the industry. The industry also has scarcity of efficient mechanics and technicians. Through TTDI we hope to bridge this widening gap. HGTA's vision is to impart training in sound human values, updated business practices on sustained basis. And also to develop second generation quality technicians for the workshops /service centers for the truck manufacturers and fleet owner's in Andhra Pradesh. We will be targeting such students who scored moderately in SSC and who have lost opportunity. In EAMCET and other competitive exam. The basic qualification required to get into the programme is 10th or Intermediate. In case of Motoring Skills Course, one should be above 18years of age. The institute is developed passionately by its members. Modern and updated mechanical and electrical labs are set up for on the job training (OJT). It also has modern computer lab for teaching computer basics. The class rooms are equipped with audio visual equipment. The center is equipped with library with latest books, periodicals on current affairs, magazines connected to industry for reference to increase the knowledge base of its students. And that is not all. It has a spacious auditorium with seating capacity of 300 people to enable to conduct in house seminars, health camps, big meetings and inspiring lectures. For open air programmes like Yoga and all it has open roof top facility which not many organisations can boast off. TTDI is open to conduct any sponsored short term courses for any transport organisations and others. TTDI is conceived in such a way that it will be self sustainable.

We're Driven to Distraction When Fido is Co-Pilot, Study Finds

First it was talking on the phone while driving. Then it was texting while driving. Now, it seems, you can't even drive safely when Fido's bouncing along in the backseat.

According to an AAA study, if your pet is riding in the car while you're behind the wheel, chances are you are just as distracted as you would be if you were texting. Looking away from the road for only 2 seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash, the study found, and driving with a pet in the car is the third worst driving distraction, behind talking on the phone and texting.

The study found that 80 percent of drivers admit to bringing their pets along for car rides, but less than a quarter keep them restrained. And two-thirds of the dog owners who were surveyed routinely drive while petting or playing with their pooches, sometimes even giving them food or water. The study found that more than half of owners pet their dogs while driving, and one in five allowed their dogs to sit in their lap.

And while that may be a prescription for a car crash, there are very few states that have any laws to regulate driving with a pet in the car. And most of those that do deal only with dogs and carry such lightweight fines that they are hardly a deterrent.

And the AAA study found that if a 10-pound dog is loose in a car and it crashes at 50 miles per hour, the pet could exert 500 pounds of pressure – endangering both the pet and anyone in its path.

At least eight states -- Connecticut, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington -- require drivers to secure their animals when they are in an open area of a vehicle, such as the back of a pickup truck. But none of them require restraining or securing the animals when they are in an enclosed part of the vehicle, and most of those laws apply only to dogs.

Connecticut's "Laws on Securing Animals Being Transported in a Vehicle” say they are meant to “prevent [the animal] from being thrown, falling, or jumping from the truck.” But the deterrent is hardly a stiff one: The maximum fine is $50.

In New Hampshire, the first violation is a misdemeanor, and a subsequent violation is a class B felony, meaning the dog can be confiscated and the owner may have to cough up $2,000 for its care. A violation in Oregon is a class D traffic violation punishable by a fine of $90. In Rhode Island a violation will run you a fine of up to $50 for the first offense and up to $200 for each subsequent offense.

In Nevada it is a misdemeanor to transport an animal in a vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner, punishable by imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Further, the animal may be impounded, and the owner must pay for its care while in custody.
In Washington, it is illegal to jeopardize the safety of the animal or the public, punishable by a fine of up to $150, imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days, or both, and the driver must pay the costs of the prosecution.

Prior to the release of the AAA study, other incidents involving drivers being distracted by their pets increased public awareness of the problem, and legislation is starting to address it.

Trussville, Ala., could vote this month on an ordinance that would prohibit not only texting while driving, but also interacting with pets while driving, driving while reading, eating and personal grooming.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill in 2008 that some critics called the “Paris Hilton Bill.” It would have fined drivers $35 for sharing the driver’s seat with an animal co-pilot. Assemblyman Bill Maze, a Republican, proposed the bill after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap. "If you've got a live animal, which you're not able to control, and that thing gets between you and the steering wheel or underneath your brake pedal, you've got a problem," Maze told the U.K.’s Telegraph at the time.

In an extreme case of driving with animals, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled, in August 2009, that an officer was right to impound 15 cats found in a woman's car, but it did not place a limit on how many cats you can have.

The owner, Patricia Edwards, said she drove with the cats from Texas to South Dakota and had plans to continue driving with a carload of felines.

The court expressed "concern with the visibility and safety issues" with transporting her cats, pointing out that the view out the back window was "obstructed by numerous cats climbing on the seat backs and rear dashboard."

Thomas Conroy, retired police chief and nationally recognized K-9 police trainer, pointed out that having your pet unrestrained in the car is "worse than texting, because the driver has control over the keyboard, but does not have control over a loose animal." He explained that police protocol for transporting K-9 dogs is to keep the animal restrained. "Police primarily use a metal and fiberglass crate."

Many pet supply stores sell crates and barriers that can help prevent a dangerous situation when driving with an animal in the car.

DMVanswers.com lists the following precautions when DWA (Driving With Animals): 

-- Never allow your cat to roam freely. They like to sit on your lap or repose on the dashboard -

- making them as distracting as cell phones. Always transport felines in a travel crate designed specifically for cats.

-- Use a pet-designed harness or seat belt to tether your dog. If not, a sudden stop could send it hurtling forward, placing itself and other passengers in danger. Plus, a harness will prevent your dog from distracting driving-attention with licks to the ear, or, depending on size, curling around your feet near the brake and gas pedals.

-- Never leave your pet in a parked car during the summer.

-- Don't let your dog hang its head out a side window. Although amusing, it becomes a driver distraction, and depending on which window, a hindrance to seeing the traffic around you. Plus, it's not safe for the dog.

-- Never attach a restraining device to your pet's collar while inside a vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz launches Cabriolet

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday launched the new E-Class in India, Cabriolet, a four-seater convertible with soft top, priced at Rs. 64.50 lakh. This is Mercedes-Benz's seventh offering within its E-Class range aimed at fast-growing Indian luxury car market.

Cabriolet comes with a 3.5-litre engine that delivers 272 hp of power. It is equipped with ‘Aircap', an automatic wind deflector that can be deployed at the touch of a button to significantly reduce turbulence in the vehicle's interior.

The luxury sedan also offers optimum safety with ‘Attention Assist' drowsiness detection system and ‘Pre-safe' predictive occupant protection and intelligent light system among others.

“The E-Class Cabriolet heralds a new era of open top motoring. The E-Class now offers the Cabriolet in addition to the already present E-Class Saloon and the E-Class Coupe,” said Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Wilfried Aulbur after unveiling the sedan.

He pointed out that the E-Class had always been a runaway success in the Indian market since it first rolled out in 1995. Till date, the E-Class has sold over 12,700 units, thereby establishing itself as the most popular luxury car in the Indian market. The existing E-Class range in India is priced between Rs. 42 lakh and Rs. 50 lakh. “The new E-Class has broken all records and has already sold 1,268 vehicles between January and July this year.

Mazda, BMW and Volvo In Top 11 Cars for Dog Owners

AAA

releases eleven cars in six lifestyle categories that dog owners prefer when transporting their pets.

According to AAA more than 80 percent of dog owners take their best friend with them when they run errands or drive their cars for leisure. Thus, they do take into consideration the safety of their pet when they decide what type of car they want to buy. Pet safety in cars has become a major factor in vehicle purchasing decision.

AAA estimates that 45 million households in the United States have a dog. These people love to take their pets for a ride and they want their car not only to meet their needs, but also the safety need of their dog. The statistics will probably slowly influence the way car makers build their vehicles to appeal to this demographics. AAA sheds light on this demographics by releasing its top vehicle picks for dog owners. These cars are divided into 6 categories according to the lifestyle of the vehicle owner.

Eleven Cars Dog Owners Like The Most

BMW 3 Series Wagon tops the preferences of those dog owners who follow the luxury lifestyle. Not only it rivals with other sports car with comfort, but also gives pet owners several accessories to make the vehicle more suitable for dog transportation. The second in this category comes Volvo XC60. This car has a roomy cargo area and is the first car in USA with "City Safe." It will automatically apply breaks in response to driver inattention.
Subaru Forester and Hyundai Santa Fe lead the preferences of those who like active lifestyle.

Those who like to travel with kids, dogs and everything else prefer Honda Element and Toyota Venza. Honda features a spill-resistant water dish and Toyota offers a ramp that eases getting in and out through the rear tailgate.
Those dog owners who like efficiency and fun prefer Mazda3 5-Door and Mini Clubman. Green lifestyle lowers like Ford Escape Hybrid

Electric car charging network expected to survive cuts

A G Wiz electric car charging from a City of Westminster recharging station. Plans to roll out such points across the UK look likely to survive the coalition's spending cuts. 

The government's upcoming spending review is expected to save the high-profile Plugged-in Places scheme, paving the way for the accelerated rollout of electric car recharging networks in British cities.

Whitehall insiders told BusinessGreen.com that the government has approved the plans "in principle", although details of funding and logistics have yet to be confirmed.

"It's almost been given the nod," said one government source. "The government supports the scheme in principle, but in terms of funding and how it would work, that is to be decided in the spending review."

The Department for Transport has this year awarded £8.8m in match funding to the first three "plugged-in places", financing the rollout of recharging points in London, Milton Keynes and the North East. Under the scheme, the three regions plan to install a total of 2,500 additional charging points in the first year of the rollout and about 11,000 over the next three years.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) said the scheme has already proven highly popular and as a result the West Midlands, Cornwall, Sheffield, the Lake District, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland are all preparing to bid for the second round of funding if it is approved.

The government is under pressure to protect the scheme after last month taking the unusual step of pre-empting the spending review and confirming that it would retain a proposed incentive scheme offering motorists £5,000 off the price of a new electric car.

Manufacturers that had decided to locate new electric car plants in the UK warned that they could reverse their decision if the government withdrew support designed to boost demand for the technology.

Industry insiders are now warning that while they are reluctant to force the government's hand any further, the effectiveness of the electric car incentives could be undermined if there is not a similar investment in recharging infrastructure through the Plugged-in Places scheme.

A recent report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that currently there are just 100 charging points around the UK, although some of those points offer multiple charging hubs. "Thanks to the Plugged-in Places scheme, the number of electric vehicle charging points is due to significantly increase over the next few years," the report predicted

For Women Who Drive, the Stereotypes Die Hard

Consider these hypothetical situations and identify the driver: mom or dad?

1. You need to get somewhere fast, and have few inhibitions about scattering pedestrians like pigeons, honking and playing chicken with anyone who dares challenge your ownership of the road.

2. You need to get somewhere in a reasonable period of time, without scaring the daylights out of anyone inside or outside the car, and without making the kids throw up in the back seat.

If you answered Dad to No. 1 and Mom to No. 2, you have bought into a stereotype, the kind of overgeneralization that makes open-minded people squirm. And yet, statistically speaking, you might have a point.
Among the many findings of a city traffic study released on Monday was that 80 percent of all crashes in a five-year period in which pedestrians were seriously injured or killed involved men who were driving. The imbalance is far too great to be explained away by the predominance of men among bus, livery, taxi and delivery drivers, said Seth Solomonow, a spokesman for the city’s Transportation Department.

The statistic would seem to put to rest, for good, the Mars versus Venus question of who is better behind the wheel, and to confirm what auto insurance companies — and at least half the city (women, that is) — knew all along.
“It has to do with our motherly instincts,” said Amy Forgione, 35, a driver for 19 years. Men, she said, feel above the rules. “They feel like they control the road, that they own the road.”

When she drives with her husband, Ms. Forgione said, she buckles her seat belt and holds her breath.
Social scientists and traffic safety experts say that male drivers around the world get into more than their share of bad car crashes, and that the male propensity for aggression and risk taking, fueled by testosterone, is to blame. Men, experts say, are more likely to drink and take drugs while driving, to avoid wearing seat belts, to speed and even to choose a smaller gap to turn through across oncoming traffic.

Yet while it would appear that New York City’s finding destroys the old stereotype of inept women drivers, under all that recklessness, men may still know more about cars and how to handle them, suggested Anne T. McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The high crash rate for men may be skewed because men account for about 61 percent of the miles driven in the country, though the gap is narrowing, federal highway statistics show. Increased driving adds to both the proficiency of the driver and the risk of getting into an accident, Ms. McCartt said.
“Part of what gets muddled when you talk about gender differences is the skill of driving and risk-taking,” Ms. McCartt said. The bottom line, she said, is that “aggressive driving behavior is a bigger piece of the pie than skill” when it comes to serious crashes. “The evidence is really incontrovertible that men as drivers take more risks,” she said.

The males of the species are not only more dangerous as drivers, they are more likely to be hurt while walking, the city’s study found. More men than women were killed or injured as pedestrians in every age group except among those over 64 (perhaps because women live longer and were overrepresented). Boys 5 to 17 years old ranked first in the absolute number of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries, with 785, more than twice the number of girls in that age range, though elderly people were more vulnerable as a share of the population.
“These patterns are set sort of early,” said Tom Vanderbilt, the author of “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us).”
“You see a lot more boys killed running into traffic,” he said. This is partly because boys are given more “freedom to roam,” and the culture expects them to take more risks, Mr. Vanderbilt said. “That pattern is set early but continues through every sort of life stage, including driving,” he said.

While the experts seem to consider aggression a bad thing, many male drivers thought it was a strength. “On the road, I think the most important things are intuition and aggressiveness,” said Mark Volinsky, 24, who has been driving for six years. “It’s hard even for me to conjure those up driving around the city, so I can’t imagine someone like my 45-year-old mom being able to function in that kind of dog-eat-dog environment.”

Rose Pinto, 34, a certified driving instructor at Sharkey’s Auto Driving School, was not surprised at the city’s findings. Men are overconfident, and it is their downfall, Ms. Pinto said. “Even if a guy doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s more inclined to say he does,” she said.

Your Guide To Successful Auto Transport And Car Shipping

Whether you are relocating to a new home, for your job or even purchasing a vehicle online, auto transport and car shipping companies offer you numerous benefits. Using auto transport services helps you avoid putting additional miles on your vehicle and helps you avoid the need for additional irregular maintenance. It also helps you move that vehicle more effectively and affordable than if you were to do it on your own.

For consumers with more than one vehicle that must be moved, driving one and having the other shipped through a car shipping company is a viable option, offering great convenience and helping reduce and save you valuable time.

Auto transport can be an excellent choice for those who purchased a vehicle online, through an out-of-state dealer or other seller or who have purchased a restored or vintage vehicles from a specialty company.
Additionally, car shipping can provide a wide range of shipping options for your convenience, safety and peace of mind. For instance, if you were to ship a rare, customized, vintage or restored car, you could choose an enclosed car carrier. This prevents outside debris, rain, snow, dust and other vandals from having their way with the vehicle.

Your first step towards successfully transporting your car will be to obtain a price quote from a transport company. In order to do this effectively, you will need to have several pieces of information on hand, prior to making the first phone call or email.

You will need:         

* To provide the exact location of pickup and delivery. This can be your current and new home.
* To provide the date of departure (pickup) and the date you desire the driver to pick up the vehicle at the new location.
* To provide the year, make and model of the car, as well as any special information, such as exterior accessories that make the vehicle take up more room than stock models and if the vehicle is operational or not.
* To provide any information about specific requirements, such as the need for an enclosed car carrier or open.

Once you have your quote, the rest of your dealings with the auto transport company will be all about the pickup and delivery dates.

You may also wish to negotiate several items into the contract. For instance, if the transport company fails to deliver your vehicle on time, you can ask for a rental or a discount on the total cost if you have specific clauses added to your contract with the shipping company. Please note: it is very hard for drivers to guarantee the exact date and time due to traffic, weather conditions or other delays due to load pickup/drop off. You will also need to determine what the company considers a reasonable delivery time. This is usually about a week if you are shipping coast to coast, though additional factors may add a few days.

Additionally, you will need to ensure that the transportation company has sufficient insurance coverage. In fact, you should ask to see a copy of their insurance information, in order to ensure this. All shipping companies are required by federal law to provide insurance protecting the book value of your vehicle. However, some companies do not have this insurance, while others charge very steep deductibles for this coverage.

As a note, only your vehicle and its factory equipment will be covered by the insurance. This means that any accessories you have added, any personal items left in the vehicle or any other additional items will not be covered and will be replaced at your expense if damaged or stolen. Removing these items prior to shipping is an excellent idea; in fact, many car-shipping companies actually recommend that you do so.
In addition, you must do your homework on any auto carrier, prior to contracting their services. This means checking their references, asking questions of previous customers and visiting the Internet for any consumer feedback regarding the company’s performance.

Before you drop off or pick up your vehicle, make sure that you perform a full inspection. The transport company will also inspect the vehicle and provide you with a Bill Of Lading. Make sure to walk around the car with the driver and notates any damages, scratches, dents upon pickup of your vehicle. This is crucial at the delivery point when the driver drops off your car with no new scratches or damages. Note any damage on the Bill of Lading provided by the driver, prior to signing for the vehicle. If damage is noted after drop off, you will need to file a claim with the auto transport company .

Helpful Hints and Tips

* Avoid using companies who use terminals. Usually, you will have to drop off the vehicle about a week ahead of time and pickup the vehicle at the drop location. Door-to-door service will have different time requirements and makes it very convenient for the customer since the driver picks up the vehicle at your door or as close as possible to your location .
* Make sure that your fuel tank is no more than 1/4 full. However, it will need some fuel to drive onto and off the truck, as well as to the parking location. You will also need to make sure you have enough fuel to make it to a gas station. That said, do not exceed 1/4 tank, due to the added weight of the fuel.
* Avoid low price quotes. Most of the time companies who quote cheap auto transport rates have numerous complaints, use terminals to load and unload your vehicle, have poor customer service and run by 1 or 2 employees.