What Is Open-Air Transport?

Open-Air Transport

Shifting to a new place of work or relocating overseas comes with difficulties. Household goods and other valuables may not be a problem. However, getting your car to the other side could pose a challenge. It is either you are worried about the mode of transport or the cost involved. Perhaps you could drive all the way and save some cash, you ponder. Yet even as you do, have you thought carefully about the gas price?

You could spend twice what it would have cost you to hire a professional auto hauler.

What does this shipment type entail?

Open-air transport involves the use of trucks that are not enclosed. An open-air lorry is easy to identify. The truck’s length is about 80 feet and has a two-tier trailer. One can see cars neatly arranged on the lower and upper decks if one passes nearby. The trailer has no roof and is not enclosed on the sides, hence the term “open-air.”

Why is this type of auto-shifting a favorite?

When they use an open trailer, relocators can haul between 8-10 cars in one trip. Owing to the size of these trucks, they can only pass through certain roads. The route must be determined in advance to avoid places with low-clearance bridges, power cables, and tree branches. Car importers and retailers love these trailers because of their ability to shift many cars at a low cost. Having your vehicle ferried in an open trailer will cost less than if it was in an enclosed trailer.

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Open-air truck downside

The main disadvantage of open-air auto transport is that it exposes your vehicle to the sun, snow, heat, and other harsh weather elements. Failure to protect your car from rain or sunlight can lead to its paint coming off. Also, heat swings could cause cracks in the windshield. Then there is the security problem: how do you keep these cars away from prying fingers? Car stereos are a favorite among thieves. Someone could steal your highly-prized auto stereo and save you many months.

Dispelling the fears

While you may think that safety is a big issue with open-air auto transportation, you could be wrong. First, the shipment personnel carefully drive the cars up the ramps. They then fasten each securely to hooks on the ramp floor. When it comes to exposure to weather elements and their effects, this is no different from when you drive your car along any road. Then keep in mind that this mode of shipping is very affordable.

Open-air trailers have a higher cargo capacity than other truck auto shipment techniques. Ten cars in one haulage is a good number. Exposure to weather and security threats are some of the shortcomings. However, the risk is the same even if you decide to drive the car yourself rather than giving it to a shipper. More importantly, an open-air trailer service is less pricey than the closed trailers.