Car Hauling

Do we have any current or former car haulers here?

So I have talked to a few at truck stops and other areas and I am interested in it. I would like to learn more about it through testimonials here if there are any car haulers here. My understanding is that most companies require 1-2 years of OTR experience and I currently have 6 months. I will complete my first year before actively pursuing the switch from flat bed to car hauling.

If so, give me a shout please because I have a lot of questions! Thanks

I personally have no experience with this. But I have a suggestion;

Visit a couple of dealerships, let them know you intentions and ask when they expect their next shipment. That way you can observe and possibly talk with the driver unloading the auto rack.

Good luck!

Most car hauling companies that I know of, require several years of flatbed/securement experience, before they'll consider you.. especially companies that haul exotics and such in specialized enclosed car hauling trailers.

Definitely keep up the flatbed work because that experience is a must.

The suggestion to ask to observe one loading/unloading in action at a manufacturing plant or a local car dealership is an excellent one.

This is completely off topic but at one time didn't Swift actually have a car hauling division? If I remember correctly they had them cool looking enclosed carriers.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice. I know that I need the OTR and flatbed experience in order to be considered for a position. Most companies I have researched are 1-2 years but you are correct in that enclosed and exotic will require several years of car hauling experience.

I am currently parked at the TA Morris in Illinois and am sitting next to a day cab car hauler. The company is United Roads out of Michigan. I did a quick search and they hire drivers after 6 months experience. I would have loved to chat the driver up but I'm not going to search for him in the hotel lol.

I've got a good thing going here at Melton in terms of gaining experience and being compensated quite well for it. I love flatbed also but, I do not see myself throwing these tarps around forever. I am also looking to get home more often while still earning great pay. So far every car hauler I have talked to has those things and wouldn't do anything else but haul cars.

I am in research mode for now but in a short 6 months I will begin aggressively pursuing this. Thanks again for the replies.

I personally have no experience with this. But I have a suggestion;

Visit a couple of dealerships, let them know you intentions and ask when they expect their next shipment. That way you can observe and possibly talk with the driver unloading the auto rack.

Good luck!

I think I will do this the next time I am on home time. There are quite a few dealers within 10 miles of my house. I will be on the market for purchasing a new vehicle soon as well, so I can kill two birds lol.

I took a gig driving for an auto auction house before going to CDL school. I would drive the vehicles from the dealerships to the auction house and then to their new owners after the auction. There were also two CDL drivers who drove car haulers there. I asked them a lot of questions about driving while I was there. I remember three things they told me:

1. Car haulers are very low with minimal ground clearance. You have to be very careful or you can get stuck on railroad tracks, curbs or anything that isn't flat, level road.

2. Car dealers pack their lots with cars so there's usually no room to drive your truck onto the lot to load/unload. Most of the time you'll be unloading on the center lane of the road in front of the dealership as cars whiz by on either side of you.

3. You're responsible to all damage to the vehicles. Fair enough, but if a salesperson or lot attendant at the dealership has a fender bender after you've delivered the car in perfect condition they don't always do the right thing. Given the choice between admitting a mistake and possibly losing their job or claiming, "It came that way off the truck" many will have no problem blaming the driver. To protect yourself you MUST take pictures of every car you deliver on all sides.

Cold War

You made some great points. I see those car haulers all over. I wonder about being able to get them off the trailer with no scratches. I mean, it always looks like the car doors open on a pillar or something on the trailer blocking the door from opening very far. Not to be critical, but I imagine you have to be fairly thin in order to squeeze in the cars, and such. I think at my size of 5'10 200 lbs would be challenged.

Safe Travels