If you’re wondering about auto transportation during COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on car shipping companies, read on.
The novel coronavirus has heavily hit countries all over the world, the US included. Not only are people becoming infected and falling ill, but America’s economy has been railroaded as well. In the latter half of March 2020, 3.28 million Americans filed for unemployment, which is a record-breaking number.
Considering so many people have filed for unemployment, this signifies a big effect COVID-19’s had on economy, meaning practically every single industry has felt some sort of repercussion.
Are you wondering what impact COVID-19 is having on car transportation companies? Then keep reading. We’ll explore how this industry’s been affected.
The Auto Industry Itself
As expected, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the closure of several auto plants across the world, including North America, Latin America, and Europe. All these plants are key to producing cars for the global market, which means we can expect a significant decrease in vehicle productions in 2020.
In fact, IHS Markit has predicted that production will drop by 1.4 million units this year, which is a decrease of 15.3% from 2019. And they think the global market will decrease more than 12% from 2019.
Compare these numbers to the Great Recession in 2008, where numbers only dropped by 8%.
Needless to say, the auto industry will feel a great blow this year, especially considering it wasn’t standing on very stable foundations to begin with. Considering the demand for vehicles will fall and many plants will be forced to stay closed for a long period of time, this may cause the closure of many plants and maybe even some motor companies.
The Effect On Auto Transportation During COVID-19
Because people are under “stay at home” orders and self-isolating, this has had a ripple effect on many industries. Not only auto industries shutting down their plants, but many people are delaying moves or auto purchases, as they’re facing financial uncertainty and also want to keep their families safe.
As a result, many car shipping companies are going through their own hardships. Auto transportation during COVID-19 is rife with its own set of unique challenges. Truckers now don’t have enough cars to transport, which is causing the closure of many carrier companies.
As a result, prices are dropping to all-time lows in the market, which means this is actually beneficial to consumers who need these services. A lot of car transportation companies may be lowering their prices in an attempt to drum up business before having to finally close their doors. That’s just the nature of auto transportation during COVID-19 .
Should You Try and Make the Drive Yourself?
Considering how intimidating the pandemic is, you might be considering making the drive yourself to ensure you get your vehicle where it needs to be. After all, if you take the proper precautions, you shouldn’t be too exposed to the virus, right?
But once you break it down, you’ll soon realize you’ll go through a lot of unnecessary exposure to move your own car from point A to point B.
YOU MIGHT CATCH THE CORONAVIRUS DURING YOUR TRIP
For example, you’re probably driving all on your own, due to lockdown or social distancing measures. Because of this, you’ll have to take driver duties for the entire journey, which means you’ll have to make a lot of pit stops.
Even if you’re driving with others and taking shifts, you’ll inevitably have to stop multiple times. And this scenario is even worse, as there’s not just one of you, but anywhere from 2 to 8 of you.
Every single time you stop to fill up, grab a snack or meal, go to the restroom, stretch your legs, or stop at a hotel for the night (if you’re lucky), you’re upping your exposure more and more. And you’d be lucky to even find a hotel that’s open for you to stay at, since many are closed due to COVID-19 measures. So you might have to sleep in potentially unsafe conditions in your car and then drive after inadequate sleep.
Auto transportation during COVID-19 definitely seems like the safest bet.
YOU MIGHT SPREAD THE CORONAVIRUS YOURSELF
In addition, if you’re already infected but aren’t exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, you might spread the virus to various areas on your trip. It just takes one cough or sneeze, after all.
Not to mention that also, more and more restrictions are being put into place every day. You might embark on a long road trip, only to find out that you can’t make half the journey because they’ve put further restrictions on travel.
This is especially true since your drive will most likely be considered “non-essential.” As a result, not only will you be turned away, but you may even be fined or jailed for driving through some high-risk areas.
Why You Should Go With a Vehicle Transportation Company Still
As you can see from the above section, making the drive yourself isn’t the best idea. But neither is postponing your purchase or move.
A delay doesn’t just inconvenience you; it may also cost you to lose out on a great purchase or to miss the window to coordinate a move so you can get settled in with your vehicle right after you get there.
Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t postpone your big day, but rather, go with a car transportation company instead. Although the industry is going through some changes to accommodate the pandemic, you can count on them to still be there for you. Auto transportation during COVID-19 doesn’t come with a new set of customer service rules.
IT’S A LOT SAFER
The biggest benefit of using a car transportation company is that you minimize risks and will be safer. By having someone else take care of the logistics, you can remain at home and only step outside when absolutely necessary. Not only will you have a lower risk of infection, but you’ll also have a lower chance of infecting others if you’re a carrier or symptomless at that moment in time.
In addition, auto transportation companies use drivers who are very reliable and skilled. For example, Nexus Auto Transport only uses drivers who have a positive overall score from previous jobs and hold current cargo insurance policies as well. This means they’ll take good care of your car while it’s under their care.
YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO GET THE TIME SLOTS YOU NEED
In normal times, car shipping times will vary depending on the time of the year or season, as well as how far the vehicle’s being shipped. For instance, if you’re trying to transport your car during the spring or summer when most people like to move, it’ll be harder to get the time slots you need. You’ll probably have to wait for an auto shipper to become available at some point.
However, as we mentioned above, the vehicle transportation industry is feeling the effects of COVID-19 pretty hard, which means they’re getting fewer customers than usual. This is the perfect time to snag the time slots you want and get your vehicle delivered at the exact times you want.
THEY’LL GET YOUR CAR FROM POINT A TO POINT B
Remember how we said earlier that if you try to drive your vehicle on your own, you’d most likely get stopped, fined, and/or jailed because your travel would be deemed “non-essential”? That won’t happen with a vehicle transportation company.
Because they use commercially licensed drivers, they’ll have the clearance to go through high-risk areas where you’d otherwise be unable to access.
IT’S CHEAPER
Again, the industry is going through tough times right now. Many companies are lowering their prices in an effort to attract more business to make up for lost profits.
If you need your car transported, there’s no better time than now to utilize these services for cheap. Since there’s a lower demand for these services, you can bet that most (if not all) car shipping companies have decreased their normal prices.
Transportation Companies Are Working Hard to Still Serve You
The coronavirus pandemic has hit all industries hard, including auto transportation companies. However, this doesn’t mean you need to put your life on hold.
Nexus Auto Transport is here to help you with your vehicle transportation needs. Whether you’re moving across the country, to the next state, or getting a new vehicle brought in, our agents are standing by, ready to help you.
COVID-19’s already done so much to devastate the world, and we all need to do our part in flattening the curve. But you shouldn’t have to put your life’s milestones off for the foreseeable future either. By choosing us, you’ll be able to get important logistics taken care of so you don’t have to keep waiting.
Do you need car transportation services soon? Then use our cost calculator now. We’ll get you a quote in just seconds!
Auto transportation during COVID-19 doesn’t have to be stressful. Let Nexus Auto Transport ease your car shipping worries.
