NEWS BLOG

ariff uncertainty has been the big story of this year, and unfortunately for many businesses in the automotive sector, it’s no joke.

Unprecedented American tariffs or custom duties of 25% on all finished vehicles and vehicle parts imported into the USA has created the conditions for a boom in used or classic cars among American drivers. Vehicles manufactured 25 years or more before the date of import – so, June 2000 at the time of writing – are considered ‘classic cars’ under US law and are therefore exempt from the 25% tariff, being charged the standard 2.5% import duty instead.

If you think that wild weather, vicious storms, and churning waves will stop large container ships from putting to sea, think again. And if you want to picture exactly what a transcontinental sea voyage can look like, check out these stomach-churning videos. However, what happens to the precious items inside the containers, including - in the case of finished vehicle logistics – a wide range of containerised cars? It very much depends upon how they are packed and secured. Read on to find out.

The adoption of container shipping for finished vehicle logistics is expected to grow in 2025, despite a steady parallel growth in uptake of the Ro-Ro shipping market. As a competitive alternative to roll on roll off shipments, there are several reasons to consider moving to container shipping for your vehicles. Read on to discover the main ones.

EL-RAKs and R-RAKs are two of our most popular solutions for the safe and efficient transportation of vehicles inside Any size of shipping containers. There are many similarities between the two, and each can do most of the tasks of the other. However, each has its own unique characteristics, and is useful for different applications.

Originally invented in 1850, the roll-on-roll-off ferry has never quite gone out of fashion. However, neither has it ever been a favourite form of transport. Notoriously slow, vulnerable to extreme weather, and expensive, RoRos were never ideal for mass, commercialised international shipping. As such, to remain competitive RoRo transport has been forced to embrace new technologies in an effort to realise its 5.2% forecast growth.

In the scheme of things, the lithium-ion batteries used by electric vehicles (EVs) are not large components. A typical 6 to 12 kWh battery used by a small EV weighs between 100 and 150 kg, and even the largest 60-100 kWh EV batteries rarely weigh more than 600 kg.

Misdeclared cargo is a serious issue in the global shipping industry, affecting not only the safety of the vessel and crew but also disrupting supply chains and, in some cases, leading to significant financial losses.

According to the International Maritime Organisation, shipping emits approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, constituting 3 per cent of global CO² emissions - a figure that is expected to rise by up to 50 per cent by 2050 unless strict countermeasures are taken. Optimising the use of container space when transporting vehicles is a positive way to reduce emissions and, at Trans-Rak, we are committed to helping your business to improve its reputation for sustainable practices.

With the climate crisis showing no signs of abating, sustainability has become a prime concern across many global industries, particularly where the transportation of goods between countries and continents is concerned.