Technology is ever-changing, and though you may not think it, it even affects the vehicle shipping industry. Granted, technology doesn\u2019t move the goalposts much when it comes to shipping cars \u2013 we still use the same methods they used in the fifties!
But technology has changed how we approach that job \u2013 how we interact with customers, how we load and secure cargo, etc. Even in the 21st century we\u2019ve seen major strides in long-haul trucking tech \u2013 fuel efficiency is higher, loads are safer, communication is instantaneous.
All of these have an impact on the vehicle shipping industry and your shipment. But there\u2019s even more new tech coming just around the corner, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about today. What new tech is coming to the vehicle shipping industry We\u2019ve talked about things like autonomous auto transport trucks , electric trucks, the coming electronic logging device for truckers, and more. All those technologies are either coming to the industry or have already arrived, notably the ELD mandate. Electric trucks and autonomous trucks could very well revolutionize the industry once they are ready to hit the open road. The ELD mandate is helping truckers to better follow hours of service regulations, which should help keep them fresh and safe while on the road. How new tech can impact the vehicle shipping industry Things move slow in the car shipping world, but that\u2019s not surprising in an industry that uses big vehicles to haul small vehicles. Why fix what isn\u2019t broken? But there\u2019s always room to improve, and that\u2019s what this blog post is about.
Several new companies have unveiled plans to bring out an all-electric transport truck. Tesla, Nikola, Thor, the list goes on. The idea is that if we make the physical act of driving more efficient, fleets save money and customers get better service. More importantly, perhaps. is the impact on the environment. A move away from fossil fuels could means that one of the largest polluting industries \u2013 long-haul trucking \u2013 could be more eco-friendly. Would prices be lower with electric or autonomous trucks? This is the million-dollar question. Logic would dictate that trucks that don\u2019t need to spend money on fuel for their trucks would be cheaper to ship with. But electric trucks are expensive \u2013 and will be expensive \u2013 at least in the immediate future. Fleets will likely have only one or two electric trucks to start, and recouping the initial cost may be difficult in mixed fleets. so it may take time to see real price drops.
But they should drop over time. As electric trucks become more common, prices will inevitably drop. Competition will go up as more carriers get on board, and over time we\u2019re likely going to see legislation actively punishing older, more polluting trucks. And we do see that now, but it will likely be even more pronounced as electric technology becomes more commonplace. How common will electric auto transport trucks be? Something that we don\u2019t think about, though, is maintenance. Maintenance for fleets right now is pretty straightforward, and any diesel mechanic should be able to handle the task. But with electric trucks, maintenance is a lot different. This could actually inhibit the implementation of electric trucks, as not all fleets will be able to afford an electric truck mechanic.
Because of this, electric trucks could see delays in actually hitting the road. Trucks in the vehicle shipping industry tend to operate on pretty thin profit margins, and many of them can\u2019t afford to hire a brand-new, specialized mechanic for just one vehicle. More likely, drivers will rely on dealership mechanics to handle that, but that comes with its own set of problems.
I think that, over time, we\u2019re going to see electric trucks slowly phase out older, diesel-guzzling transport trucks. But it\u2019s going to take time, longer than it\u2019s taken electric cars to make an impact. We see more and more on the roads today, but there are plenty of gas guzzlers out there still. For how long electric cars have been out, implementation has been slow, and it\u2019ll likely be even lower for the vehicle shipping industry. Looking to ship a car? If you\u2019re searching for a quality company that can help you ship your vehicle, look no further. Here at American Auto Shipping, we have almost 20 years of experience helping customers ship their vehicles. Use our free quote request form to get started. If you do, you can see a price to ship your vehicle to or from anywhere in the U.S. immediately. You can also give us a call toll-free at 800-930-7417. Speak to a live agent who can answer your questions, give you a free quote right over the phone, and more. No matter what you need, what you\u2019re shipping, or what you\u2019re looking for, we can help.