Although it is not recommended, car transport businesses may allow you to transport personal items with your car whilst it is in transit. If you choose to transport personal items with your car, we have collated some tips and to-do’s to make sure you have packaged all of your items appropriately according to the guidelines. Please note 'goods in car' is often an additional service so may incur extra costs.
Items must be under the windows
There are two main reasons why the personal items you pack need to be under the height of the car windows.
If your transporter shows up and your vehicle is packed to the brim with personal items that are beyond the window line, they may refuse to take your vehicle for liability and safety reasons. They may also charge you additional fees if this is a breach of their quote terms or any contracts you may have signed after booking regarding the transport of personal items within your vehicle.
Think about any potential damages
When transporting your car on a truck, it may sit above or below other vehicles, experiencing vibrations and shifts along the way. Make sure that any items inside are packed securely to prevent them from moving around and potentially causing damage to your vehicle's interior. Keep in mind that damage caused by unsecured items, or from the added weight, is often not covered by insurance. Any personal belongings you pack are at your own risk, not the responsibility of the transport provider.
If you do choose to pack items in your car, perhaps opt for non-valuable, easily replaceable items. If something is highly valuable or sentimental and would be difficult to replace, it’s strongly recommended that you don’t ship it with your vehicle. You can instead get it transported separately and purchase goods in transit insurance for the item.
A recommended way of making sure all personal items are secure and not going to cause internal damage to your car is by packing all of the items in suitcases, duffle bags, or boxes.
Common items that are typically not permitted in the vehicle include:
Other usual stipulations regarding goods in the car include:
While it is understood that sometimes there is no choice but to ship personal items with your vehicle, it is important to know why it is discouraged by many companies, and the risks involved.
While many online businesses are legitimate, it can be easier to fall for an online scam due to the anonymous nature of the internet. Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites, email receipts, and text messages that look like genuine online stores and responses.
Online scams are sophisticated messages which often use professional-looking brands and logos to look like they come from a business you know. At first glance, the level of sophistication can make it difficult to determine if it is real, or fake.
It is common that scams involve asking you for upfront payments in times of an ‘emergency’, or to pay for products or services. Scammers might even go as far as impersonating a friend, family member, or business that you frequently communicate with online, to try and convince you of their ‘story’.
While many online businesses are legitimate, it can be easier to fall for an online scam due to the anonymous nature of the internet. Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites, email receipts, and text messages that look like genuine online stores and responses.
Online marketplaces are one of the most popular platforms for scammers to conduct their activities. Below are some of the tactics they use to cover their tracks (according to besedo.com):
Scammers look for accounts that have a good reputation and buy them to publish fraudulent ads.
2. Ad modification
Scammers submit mundane ads with real photos, prices, and reliable data. But once the ads are accepted, they change them - lowering prices and deleting/adding photos.
3. Trojan ads
Scammers create accounts and begin publishing conventional ads. Once a reliable precedent is set, they begin posting fraudulent ads instead.
4. Change IP addresses
This is when scammers continually change IP addresses to avoid being tracked.
5. Multiple ad publication
Scammers submit multiple ads in big quantities; to disguise their fraudulent ones.
If you think you have encountered a scam, talk through your situation with a friend, family member, or trusted colleague as a quick sanity check because some scams are so sophisticated that they can effectively play with your emotions. Asking for an outsider’s view can help you reframe your thoughts and put you on the right track to remedying the situation. Then, contact the retailer that the scammer is claiming to be through the official website to make them aware of the situation. If you are not satisfied with the response from the retailer or more action is required, you may be able to contact your bank to arrange a charge-back through them, or your credit union if you have paid by card.
For further assistance, you can file a complaint through your state government website, and it is highly recommended to make a complaint to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Queensland Government Consumer Complaints: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/your-rights/consumer-rights-complaints-and-scams/make-a-consumer-complaint/use-the-contact-list
ACCC: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
Once you have completed these reporting processes, spread the word to friends and family to make sure they are aware and protected.
To arm yourself in the future, you can use online resources like Scam Adviser. Scam Adviser asks for details about the potential business scam and produces a trust score based on what they find by scanning the details across the internet.
Scam Adviser: https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/truckit.net
Have you ever wondered why your freight and shipping costs cost you so much? Now you don’t have to. We researched some of the most common reasons as to why your freight shipping is costing you an arm and a leg. Keep in mind that these costs also fluctuate depending on dynamic costs associated with freight delivery.
Fuel
Regardless of the type of delivery service a retailer chooses for their operation, all modes of transportation rely on fuel. As the price of fuel fluctuates, it is common for shipping costs to fluctuate alongside this. Therefore, if fuel prices fall, trucks become cheaper to operate and the price of transport goes down. These savings or losses are passed on to consumers either indirectly or through a fuel cost component that is built into a carrier’s pricing model or invoice.
Fuel costs will be based on the distance that must be covered from the sender of the consignment or the package to the person receiving it at the end. Unfortunately, just like the rest of the markets around the world, retailers can’t do much to keep fuel prices down.
Demand of Freight
Some freight shipping will depend on the demand for products. This depends on the volume of products being shipped by operators and if capacity is limited, operators may be induced to sell limited space at a premium.
Giant retailers like Amazon, for example, offer 2-day shipping. As Amazon is an eCommerce giant, they can easily handle these delivery costs and timeframes, however, this isn’t the case for all retailers. Same-day or overnight shipping options are possible, but come at a higher cost to the consumer.
Labour Market
As the demand for freight recently reached a new high, increasing wages and competition among carriers for truck drivers has had an upward impact on transportation costs. As the trucking industry is typically an older demographic with older drivers retiring, carriers may struggle to find operators for their vehicles. Recruiting new drivers is not easy; it is a tough gig and typically requires a different class of driver license. Additionally, some of the courses to certify new drivers can take anywhere between weeks or months to complete!
Vehicle Capacity
Some trucking companies operate an older, smaller fleet. While these trucks are entirely adequate, newer trucks are designed to maximise storage space, allowing a truck to split space even further. To determine the weight class of your delivery, the service provider will ask for the weight of your shipment, the size of the package and then come to a conclusion on the difficulty of shipping your item. With this comes considerations to see whether or not loading equipment or additional loaders are needed to load or unload the cargo, and also if the products that are being shipped are labelled as fragile. If your package falls under any of these considerations, the freight cost may increase.
All of this is significant as the weight and size are fundamental to knowing how much space is required in the vehicle that is transporting your goods. In the case that your shipment is larger in scale and requires a fleet of trucks, the charges will obviously increase for more drivers and the more space you need.
To combat the high pricing, retailers can be smart with their packaging and branding, which can cut significant costs. Perfectly fitted packaging materials are not only cost-effective, but can also keep your product more safe!
Government Regulation
Some governments may regulate the amount of emissions that their drivers emit every day by reducing their driving hours. For example, New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme has been estimated to increase freight costs by several dollars for every thousand kilometers travelled.
Weather
Contrary to popular belief, the weather does affect shipping costs and logistics. Either at the pick-up or drop-off location, incoming weather can cause significant delays and other unforeseen issues with orders. This is because ports and transportation hubs will still charge the retailer regardless of the delay due to unforeseen weather circumstances. This is the same for airlines, container ships, and trucking services.
Distance
Distance is one of the most important factors affecting a retailer’s shipping costs. The farther away the product’s origin is from the destination, the more expensive it is to ship a package.
Delivery Surcharges
The most challenging costs to account for are miscellaneous delivery surcharges. These surcharges come in many forms with the most common being:
- Area specific charges for rural, hard-to-access, or remote locations not included in your carrier’s range
- Handling fees for shipments above a set weight, size, or dimensions
- Residential surcharges for any businesses using a home address
- Fuel surcharges
- Weekend or Saturday surcharges for overtime shipping
Consumer Product Insurance
Merchants are not required to purchase shipping insurance, however, offering insurance is a great way to entice consumers to purchase their products. Insurance costs are typically used for items that are of high-value and one-of-a-kind. This is so it provides a level of security to the customers.
Have you ever thought of these reasons behind why your shipping costs are so high? Let us know your thoughts below!
There is no denying that freight drivers spend significant periods of time on the road. In 2020, Budget Direct recorded an estimate of 23,499 million kilometres travelled by all freight vehicles. With such a high estimate, we did some digging to see what these incredible drivers get up to, to keep themselves entertained whilst on the road.
Podcasts & Audio Books
Without the company of family and friends on the road, finding quality podcasts or audiobooks are an engaging way to stay alert on the road, but also to learn new topics like historical periods, have a laugh and keep yourself informed. In 2021, some podcasts that made it into Australia’s top 10 were Casefile True Crime, Hamish & Andy, The Update, Triple M Rocks Footy AFL and She’s on the Money.
Music Streaming
Music streaming, not unlike podcasts and audio books, can be utilised whilst driving or during breaks. This is a great hands free option for de-stressing, boosting your mood and also creating a more positive and engaging environment to drive in, especially for those who don’t like sitting in silence with their own thoughts, or prefer to choose their own curated music playlists over the radio.
Self-Reflection
Very few people take time out of their day to practice self-reflection & gratitude. Truck Drivers on the other hand have ample time to do just this, and can be a different way of keeping the mind occupied whilst keeping their full attention on the road.
Mobile Games
After travelling long distances, it’s nice to take a break and take your mind off of work. Although many might say that staring at a screen for too long can be detrimental to your health, it also is known to have health benefits such as stress relief, reducing depression and improving your mood. Furthermore, if you play an online mobile game, it allows you to connect with people and collaborate in problem solving - increasing your creative output. As drivers spend so much time on the road and not on their phones, I think it’s safe to say that the positive impacts of mobile games outweigh the negative!
Social Media & Vlogging
In recent years, more truck drivers are becoming social media influencers. More times than not the decision to become an influencer stems from wanting to share industry advice, industry news, provide humorous entertainment, and to create a community. Using their voices, backed by their following and community, these influencers have a common goal of educating, motivating and empowering truckers so they can stand up for their rights all whilst bringing public awareness to these issues in an attempt to bring about change.
Photography
Taking a break between trips is vital when driving long distances. During these breaks, some drivers take a moment to stretch their legs and take in their surrounds. Dependent on how far and where they have travelled, the landscapes or wildlife they may encounter can vary from town to town & state to state. This is a great chance to not only capture a momento of the moment, but to hone those photography skills through shooting different climates & angles!
Exercise
Sitting down for long periods of time can affect a person's health. As truck drivers require rest periods as a part of their trip, some have taken to hiking as for their break as an alternative to the typical gym session. Hiking and walking trails can be very common in rural areas so they should be easy to find, and the fresh air will allow for a fresh mind once the driving starts again. Before your next trip, research some hiking trails along your route to see where you can take your next break!
Novel Writing
Quite possibly through self reflection, some drivers have taken to writing novels during their breaks on the road. New apps have been developed where drivers can speak to their phone whilst keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, and the app transcribes speech to text. So if you’re on the road and think of a fantastic story idea, be sure to check out Transcribe, Dictation & Otter (to name a few).
Collecting Souvenirs
Collective souvenirs like fridge magnets, town maps or postcards can keep a long-distance driver occupied as they can look forward to each town they drive through. Souvenirs like these are typically held in the local information buildings, therefore subliminally educating anyone who walks through those doors. Not only are they collecting proof of these towns' existence, but also learning the story of its making to take home to share with friends and family whenever they point out the collection.
We'd love to know what you get up to during your time on the road - feel free to reach out to marketing@truckit.net and let us know!
Digital marketplaces, including online auctions, are sprouting in almost every category of goods and services that you can think of these days.
This is no different when it comes to procuring transport for the online auction space as online freight marketplaces provide an easy facility for online bidders and customers to conveniently list their items for transport and choose their providers, all within one platform.
Gone are the days where the auctioneer would provide a piece of paper with suggested locally based transport companies to the customer and expect them to do the very inconvenient ring around.
These days, in our new normal, the way of organising transport by auction customers has taken a decidedly digital twist, not surprisingly so, in line with so many other recently acquired shopping behaviours, accelerated, of course, by the ongoing pandemic.
As Loren Padelford, Vice President at Shopify Inc says:”Covid has acted like a time machine: it brought 2030 to 2020,”
For the auction customer, being provided with a simple online facility to organise their transport is required, now more than ever.
Auction customers tend to be located further afield too, particularly for those high consideration larger items, so having access to a wider choice of transport providers who can deliver the items anywhere nationwide is preferable.
The actual process of carrying out a transport booking via an online freight marketplace is also so much easier, and more streamlined too. Secure and contact-less transactions, transit insurance and more add to their reliability too.
1. The customer lists their item details that needs delivering for FREE
2. They receive competitive Quotes through the Truckit platform
3. The customer then compares and chooses a Provider
They can also compare ratings and feedback of providers to choose the best fit for your job
They then simply need to click 'accept' to confirm their preferred quote and that's it, job booked!
4. Manage, Receive and Rate
The customer can then keep in touch with their chosen provider through the booking and delivery process using the different status changes and private messaging.
Once the item is delivered the customer is required to rate the provider's performance based on their level of service. This is another big reason for the emergence of online freight marketplaces, as per many other digital marketplaces such as eBay, Airbnb hosts etc., ratings and reviews.
Remember those locally based transport providers mentioned earlier? Well, these Local transport Providers can also still deliver goods within the local community for locally based auction customers, via an online freight marketplace. In this way, today's online freight marketplaces can assist local customers, and satisfy the needs of those distant online auction customers too, making them a natural fit for online auctioneers’ needs.
At market or below market prices
Online freight marketplaces also tend to generate competitive transport prices, by virtue of the fact that transport providers can compete to secure the customer’s listing. This can result in transport rates at market or below market rates, often comparable or even better than those ongoing contractual freight arrangements negotiated by businesses.
For the online auctioneer, by making it so much easier for auction bidders to organise their transport needs via an online freight marketplace, this improved overall experience will logically lead to fewer abandoned carts and more repeat business.
There are operational benefits too, such as faster clearing of items offsite, in line with a more efficient transport procurement process as provided via the online platform.
Bottom line, just as auctions are trending online to answer customers’ needs and buying behaviours, the procurement of transport via online freight marketplaces is taking a very similar route, and they are a natural fit for the online auction environment.
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Truckit currently enjoys a Trustpilot score of 4.9 out of 5 and making an easy listing on the platform is FREE.
To all our transport Providers,
TruckIt is sincerely grateful for the hardwork of all our Provider's during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown. Throughout this period, TruckIt has seen a significant increase in customer enquiries and demand, which has only been exceeded by the effort and attitude from all of our Providers.
To say thanks, TruckIt is giving away 3 x $150 Super Retail Gift Cards to Provider's who are willing to share their feedback and TruckIt success stories with us.
Winners will be chosen from the Providers who complete our survey and may be featured on our website or other upcoming marketing materials. You will be kept anonymous or identified on a first name basis only.
With more vehicles back on the roads as COVID-19 restrictions ease, shocking new figures have been released today showing for the first time in 20 years, there’s been an increase in the number of truck driver deaths on Australian roads.
NTI’s National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) has today published its latest national report into the cause of major crashes involving trucks.
The NTARC report discovered there were almost 100 more serious incidents in 2019 compared with two years prior, and the number of truck drivers who died last year was 2.5 times higher than in 2017.
Importantly, the report found in 80 per cent of all serious crashes involving cars and trucks, the car driver was at fault – a startling figure as many Australians begin to use their vehicles again following weeks of driving restrictions.
NTI’s CEO, Tony Clark said it was an important reminder for us all to do the right thing on our roads.
“We had been on a downward trend of heavy vehicle-related deaths and had hoped to hit zero within the next decade, but tragically, last year we saw more loss of life, not just for truckies but all road users.”
While the exact reason for the increase in deaths was unknown, the 2020 NTARC report found two of every three crashes were the result of fatigue and distraction.
“The report found the number of truck driver deaths caused by distraction more than doubled in the past two years,” Mr Clark said.
“Another worrying trend we saw was that 82% of the crashes involving truck drivers aged 25 years and under were caused by distraction.”
When you are looking to move your car, it is important to understand what goes into determining the cost. Truckit.net receives thousands of enquiries a month for car transport quotes so we have developed a handy guide on things you should consider.
Difference between Depot to Depot and Door to Door transport
A Depot to Depot service requires you to drop off and pick up your car from the transporters depot. Transporters usually have depots in major cities and towns. Depot to Depot is often the cheapest option but requires a little bit of work on your behalf.
A Door to Door service is where the transporter will pickup your car from your house or business and deliver directly to another house or business. This can sometimes be more expensive then Depot to Depot and take a little bit longer.
Do you need open or enclosed transport?
There are different vehicle and trailer types that transporters use to move your car. Enclosed transport will keep your car safe and clean from road grime but tends to cost a bit more. Open transport varies from small car trailers to large car carriers and is often cheaper than enclosed.
Is your car drivable or a non-runner?
If your car is a non-runner or does not drive it will usually require a special truck or trailer. This can sometimes cost more than a standard car carrier. Luckily Truckit.net has a network of transporters who can provide services for runners and non-runners.
Would you consider a driven service?
A driven service is where a driver will turn up and drive your car from point A to B. A driven service can often be quicker than a trucked service but you should consider things like the cost and maintenance requirements of your car.
How to save money on your car transport
Book in advance. Being flexible and giving yourself plenty of time will allow you to get the best quotes from transporters.
Use Truckit.net to compare a number of quotes. Truckit.net provides instant quotes for eligible cars on most major routes, as well as giving you access to our network of 5,000+ transport companies who can help move your car.
Truckit.net is a vibrant marketplace, connecting freight owners with transport providers.
Set up a professional profile
Your Truckit profile will be the first place customers look when deciding which transport provider is best suited to handle their delivery. The best profiles will include a concise but clear statement outlining your history
Smile for the camera
It's amazing what difference a profile picture can make to
Communication is key
It seems an obvious point, but it can not be stressed enough. The nature of an online marketplace and the need for trust means communication is the and a lack of communication can be a barrier to success.
Most customers will understand a delay or two, but simply want to be told so beforehand, otherwise they can feel left out of the loop and worried about their goods.
Focus on the jobs that are right for you
Truckit.net provides extensive search filters on the Search for Jobs page which allow transport providers to narrow down available loads by area, state or along an existing route. You can then filter by freight category to make sure you are only viewing the jobs most relevant to you. This saves time and ultimately money in scrolling through irrelevant loads.
Build a base of positive feedback
Every completed job gives you the opportunity to receive feedback from the customer. This feedback will be displayed on your Truckit profile to help future customers see the good work that you do. This is why it is essential to treat every job with the same level of professionalism as the last.
Getting an interstate car transport quote to move your car anywhere in Australia is now easier than ever with Australia’s number one freight marketplace – TruckIt.net.
TruckIt.net is Australia’s top freight marketplace and provides interstate car transport quotes from hundreds of car transport operators and can save you hundreds of dollars when you want to move your car interstate.
Regardless of when and where you want to move your car, you can create a free, no obligation listing which is sent to our database of operators. Many of these operators have specialist car transport equipment that protects your vehicle and vastly reduces the risk of damage.
Once the car transport listing has been posted on TruckIt.net, the user simply waits for interstate car transport quotes to begin to arrive. Quotes can differ vastly because of the availability of space on trucks and the availability of existing routes. If you’re more flexible with timing you may be able to get a cheaper freight quote.
If your job is urgent, and the operator needs to make a specific journey, your quote may be more expensive. You may be lucky and be able to secure an operator that is returning home from an existing trip. This is called a backload.
Selecting the right freight operator to move your car interstate is simple with up-to-date profiles on each operator including reviews by previous customers. This gives you the confidence that your operator is experienced and trustworthy.
Once you have selected your preferred interstate car transport quote you simply pay a small deposit fee online and your details are emailed to the operator. Liaising directly with your successful operator you can finalise pick up and drop off times. Users can keep in touch with their provider through the booking and delivery process using the different status changes and private messaging.
TruckIt.net’s simple and easy to use car transport quoting system is just one of the reasons to use TruckIt.net to get your quote. Here are some more.
You can move anything, anywhere with a freight quote from TruckIt.net. To complete your quote today visit here.
