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Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

What Does Top Load Placement Only Mean?

Published by Joe Webster.

What Does Top Load Placement Only Mean?

Top load only refers to transport goods that cannot be stored underneath any items during transit. Transport companies might designate goods as a top load only if they are fragile or contain a shape that's not conducive to sitting below other items.

Top-load only consignment indeed presents a challenge for transport companies. The challenge is that the transport company must find cargo that's suitable to place below the top load only items. It's essential that a transport company designates cargo as a top load only if it's 100% necessary.

Auto transport companies commonly utilize top load only organizations to safely transport specific types of vehicles.

What Is Top Load Only in the Auto Transport Industry?

Top load placement within an auto transport service refers to the act of having a car secured on the upper deck of the vehicle carrier. It's not uncommon for an auto transport company to sell a top-load placement spot for an extra fee since its elevation will help the vehicle avoid potential damage from road debris. The trucker might also have to re-arrange the trailer to accommodate your vehicle.

If you're going to pay extra money for top load only placement, do your best to ensure that you're getting the service that you pay for. Less reputable companies might charge a customer a fee for top load, only transport and shipping it in standard fashion without the customer's knowledge. If you do your research and thoroughly screen an auto transport company, chances are you'll get what you pay for.

While your car will be shielded from road debris, top load placement won't protect your vehicle from natural elements. Your vehicle will be more susceptible to potential damage from instances like inclement weather. Damage from tree branches is another worry among vehicle owners considering top load shipping. Cars on the bottom rack aren't entirely safe either. Vehicles stored on lower racks of auto transport trailers can have vehicles above them leak or drip things like oil onto them. Older cars are especially prone to fluid leakage.

If you're stuck trying to figure out whether top load or bottom load shipping is right for your vehicle, you might be interested in taking a look at some other vehicle transport services.

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How Does Top Load Only Transport Compare to Other Vehicle Shipping Services?

Enclosed auto transport is a vehicle shipping method that offers maximum vehicle protection during travel. People who choose open carrier transport have to worry about leakage if their vehicle is placed on the lower rack of the transport trailer. At the same time, top load placement can make the car more prone to damage from outdoor elements like tree branches. Enclosed auto transport protects your car from potentially harmful outdoor elements and even leakage.

Your car is completely covered during transit leads to thorough protection when incidents like bad weather hit during the travel route. While many enclosed auto transport trailers feature an upper and lower level like open-carrier trailers—the cars within enclosed trailers tend to be in better condition since the service is more expensive. A car that's in better shape is less prone to instances like fluid leakage.

If you're seeking a superior level of protection within the enclosed auto transport domain that offers expedited service, consider looking into a single-car carrier service. Utilizing a single-car carrier service will involve your car being loaded into a single enclosed trailer containing any other vehicles. Car owners that select a single-car carrier service are often shipping high-value vehicles like modern exotic cars or classics. The limited demand for a single-car carrier service means that you'll have to book ahead to avoid the service's risk of not being available.

Our car transportation page features a breakdown of all the services we offer. Reading up on these different services and consulting with us can help point you toward a vehicle transport option that's right for you.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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Testimonial
Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★
...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.
Testimonial
Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★
A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!
Testimonial
Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★
There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.
Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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