Convert your chain truck to a strap truck

We got some pics from one of our friends down in Jacksonville, Florida... T&C Welding is now offering a pretty snazzy solution for guys who want to convert their chain trucks over to strap. Here is a a few pics of their quick release strap box:




They also can modify your hauler so you can lower the top deck almost all the way down... allowing you to strap the cars down with your feet flat on the ground. If you're tiring of lugging around a bunch of hand ratchets, this could be a good investment for you. Junior has been building these systems for the past couple years for a local Jacksonville hauler, so he's had time to get the kinks out of the system. If you're interested in saving some weight (and saving your back), you should look into this system. It's a lot more affordable then selling your chain truck and buying a strap unit. Cost is about $1500 per deck, i.e., per auto. Lowering kit runs about $5,500 to $6,000 to do.
For more information on this system, give T & C Welding a call at (904) 778-7711

Auto Transport Business Software

Found an interesting company that has developed software customized for the auto transport business. Fellow to talk to is Aaron: (561) 244-2577

Should you buy parts for your car hauler sooner rather than later?

Inflation is right around the corner... literally. Southeast Asian economies are seeing higher cost inputs for metals and energy. China's annualized GDP grew at almost 12% in the first quarter this year... and their industrial production grew over 18%! In America, anecdotal evidence on the producer side suggests that prices are going to go up in the near to mid-term. And let's not forget fuel-- it's been creeping up all year, and Memorial Day is in six weeks.

I know two major steel chain manufacturing companies that have absorbed 12% increases in steel rod, the main component in welded chain.

A friend of mine who buys steel says his per foot cost on what he buys has gone up twice in the last four months.

Friends overseas say prices are starting to jump.

So I know I'm kind of biased, but I'm thinking that if you have some deferred maintenance on your car carrier... old aluminum cylinders that are puking oil... rusty, worn out cluster chains... bent and cracked ramps... frayed auto tie-down straps.... that sort of thing... you probably should buy sooner rather than later.... before diesel jumps up to $6 a gallon!

How to make money hauling cars?

Well I sure can't tell you the best way to make money hauling cars, but there is a pretty interesting calculator on this website that can aggregate some of the costs and put that up against the money you make hauling hotshot loads... I think this should be pretty adaptable to the carhauling business. So for those of you thinking of jumping into car hauling with thoughts of getting rich quick, play with his calculator a little bit before you buy a truck!

Hotshot Profit Calculator

This is why you should use 4 straps or chains per car.

Car hauler dumps fuel and cars, closes I-70 for 9 hours | zanesvilletimesrecorder.com | Zanesville Times Recorder
NEW CONCORD -- A nearly nine-hour closure of Interstate 70's westbound lanes on Tuesday was caused by a the rollover of a car hauler that dumped fuel and cars.

The accident happened around 8 a.m. and closed lanes until just before 5 p.m.

Lt. Mike Forshey, of the Ohio Highway Patrol Zanesville post, said Ronald H. Young Jr., 41, of East Greenville, Pa., was traveling west when he looked down at his GPS unit, and the hauler carrying nine vehicles slid into the guardrail, carrying the cab of the car hauler with it.

Three cars were ejected and rolled into the field, Forshey said, while the cab containing Young rolled over and landed on its roof.

The driver also was not wearing his seat belt... so he did have to go to the hospital for injuries. Moral of the story-- strap yourself AND your cars. You just never know.

Toyota Bends the Curve Upward; US Jobs Report favorable

Toyota Discounts Spur March U.S. Sales; Nissan Up 43% (Update3) - Bloomberg.com

April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s incentive push after record recalls helped the automaker post a March U.S. sales increase following two months of declines, while Nissan Motor Co. led gains among the largest Asia-based brands.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday that the economy added 162,000 non-farm jobs in March... and no, they weren't all Census Takers!

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/ajQyc6