NEWS BLOG

Running an automotive logistics business means shipping vehicles from various locations, often from multiple locations over the world. However, shipping vehicles by RoRo – still the industry standard – can be a risky business with the possibility of numerous people moving your car at different times during the trip. In addition, to arrive at the required destination there may be several modes of transport utilised during the long journey to reach you. These factors significantly increase your risk of damage or theft, as well as the potential for delay.

Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, especially in key industries such as vehicle logistics. Consumers and providers want to know that every effort is being made to make environmental considerations, but what’s the truth about sustainability? Porsche recently asked the team at Trans-Rak to find out – here are the results!

Non-Operating Reefers have specially designed metal floors with a "T-section" shape to control airflow when the refrigeration unit is in use. However, due to the delicate floor and reduced internal dimensions, they are often returned to source empty or only partially used. Until now, it has been very difficult to load vehicles into a NOR due to the reduced internal width making opening vehicle doors an impossibility. As the DL-RAK allows for loading vehicles without opening doors, cars could now be loaded utilising NORs, meaning that they would no longer be shipping thin air. This is not only beneficial for shippers as more containers can be used, but better for the environment as energy isn't wasted moving empty containers around the world.

Shipping is a major global contributor to climate change. As with other sectors, there is an increasing realisation that urgent action is required to lower greenhouse gas emissions from ocean-going vessels and the logistics infrastructure that supports the sector. Accordingly, in 2018 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) announced its aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions from shipping.

RoRo, using specialist ocean going vehicle carriers, is the cheapest method for sending cars long trans-global distances when available. It is perfect when time is not a critical factor and when it suits the sender to unload the cargo in one of the specialist port facilities that handle these vessels.

Transporting electric vehicles internationally by shipping container is difficult enough, without worrying about fires and accidents due to improperly handled lithium batteries. But after a spate of aircraft fires caused by lithium batteries igniting on board, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) brought in a series of rules in 2009, and the United Nations classified lithium batteries as Class 9A dangerous goods. Unfortunately, the interpretation of these safety guidelines is a topic rife with misconception. So, let's discuss legal compliance for companies that transport electric cars by container.

Classic, race, high-performance, and veteran cars are hot commodities in the field of international car transport. So, shipping them across the world in containers has its risks and challenges. As they are vehicles of historical interest and high technological or nostalgic value, customers often worry that they're not suitable for container shipping. Thankfully, Trans-Rak has developed a range of racking solutions to address these concerns.

As the automotive industry makes the great shift to electric vehicles - or so the meteoric rise of Tesla and NIO in 2020 would have us believe - logistics businesses are finding themselves with a transportation headache. Traditional RoRo shipping simply doesn’t work for these vehicles, but why? And will it ever change?

An unsecured car in a shipping container risks being thrown about like a glass jar inside a shoebox, with similarly damaging results. This is why it is so important to use efficient, robust, and secure car racking when transporting your vehicles by shipping container.  

When transporting rally cars from one location to another, safety, cost effectiveness, and speed are top priorities. Rally cars can be transported by road, air, or sea, and each method has its pros and cons. Road transport may be cost effective, but it’s time consuming and entails added risks for the vehicle. Air freight can get rally cars from A to B safely and in a record amount of time, but the costs are high and in most cases, it’s only an option if you’re moving one vehicle at the time.