May I Load My Vehicle With Household And Personal Items When Using Auto Transport

By Bob Frost


This question requires an answer based upon several facts and situations and many different answers are given by many different people. Although, truthfully, there is only one real answer

That real answer is determined by the FMCSA (The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) which is the D.O.T. and of course by the carriers own insurance company.

1. The insurance coverage that your carrier has will not cover items loaded inside your car. This "cargo" insurance is for his cargo... not yours. So, if that lamp you place in your car bounces around and breaks your car radio you lose, as it is not insured ..

2. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The FMCSA) has a rule saying that no household goods may be transported inside your vehicle. Licensing is their prime motive. Your Carrier has a license enabling him to move and transport automobiles and vehicles. It does not give him the authority to transport household goods and personal property. In order to do this he would have to apply for an additional license.

Doing this would require paying proper fees, filing the necessary forms, and obtaining bonding and insurance.

3. Another reason not to load your vehicle with household goods when shipping by an auto transport carrier is weight.

Your auto shipper will have to cross the scales many times while in transit to your destination. Although the common thought would be "my stuff only weighs a couple of hundred pounds" remember, your car is one of up to 10 on his truck .. A couple of hundred pounds multiplied by 10 turns into a couple of thousand pounds. This becomes a fuel burner and a "scales buster". When a carrier exceeds his allowable weight on the scales, he pays a major fine and penalty.

With the above listed reasons, the answer must be emphatically no.

Some auto transport brokers might tell you that it is all right for you to load "just a few items", or "up to 100 pounds" or maybe "not over 200 pounds in the trunk" or some other figure.

They can't change the law. In spite of their attempts to be agreeable in order to capture your business.

When you are advised to break the law, the advisor quickly goes into hiding when you get caught.

Your should use only those top-notch Brokers and Carriers who want your business and want it done safe, fairly, and in a completely legal manner.

When you are ready to select a Broker/Carrier simply go to the websites offering to provide quotes and share the information that they require. They will deliver to you the quotes from several recommended trucking companies. You do not incur an obligation in doing this, you can select one or don't select any. You will be a much better and more educated shopper with quotes in hand.

If you want some really good advice, be smart, be safe, pick a reputable Broker/Carrier.




About the Author:



Grab The Post URL

URL:
HTML link code:
BB (forum) link code:

2 Responses to "May I Load My Vehicle With Household And Personal Items When Using Auto Transport"