Auto Shipping Help and FAQ – TCI Logistics
We do not charge upfront fees like some auto transporters do prior to pick-up. We have our own fleet of trucks and we also work with professional agents to guarantee a timely shipping service. Plus, you can count on our team to support you 24/7 during the whole process. We are ready to help in case an issue occur. TCI Logistics work with professional drivers who have proved themselves to be reliable and experienced to complete even the most complex job. We will never omit details regarding price rates, dates, and other important. And we have long lasting relationships with our carriers who have 5-star review ratings. Lastly, we are 100% committed to our customers and partners. Whenever you need professional shipping services, TCI Logistics is here to help. We offer 24/7 phone, e-mail, live chat and message assistance.
To place an order with us, you can use оur cost calculator online. You will receive a prompt call from our representative to discuss further your job details and confirm dates. You can also get a personalized auto transport quote over the phone. Kindly reach one of our professional agents at (312) 224-8460.
It is strongly suggested that you place your order at least one week before your desired pick-up date so that TCI Logistics has the time to arrange the best auto transport for your vehicle. Though we have experience with short notice and urgent requests, plan ahead of time.
The main factor affecting pick-up time is location. If your vehicle has to be picked up from a big metropolitan area, your auto will usually be picked up on the exact date you need it to be picked up. Keep in mind that sometimes delays might occur due to weather, traffic, and road conditions. If your vehicle has to be picked up from a more rural area, it might take 2 or 3 days to be picked up.
Once we have confirmed your dates with your driver, you can expect your vehicle to arrive on time. Sometimes, there might be delays that are caused by unfortunate weather conditions, unexpected truck break downs, or other force majeure that the driver might encounter en route. Coast-to-coast shipping usually takes between 7 and 10 days. Shipping a vehicle from north to south and vice versa take from 5 to 7 days. Auto transport under 500 miles should take less than 2 or 3 days, once the vehicle has been picked up.
TCI Logistics promises that your vehicle will be picked up from your residence or business address at no additional charge. However, many of the trucks are over 75 ft. long and if road is too narrow, or trucks are not allowed in your area, your driver will kindly ask you to meet him at the nearest and safest location.
Absolutely not. TCI Logistics makes sure that your vehicle is delivered on the same truck that it has been loaded on. The only time your vehicle might be delivered by another truck is if the truck that had picked up your vehicle has broken down en route and TCI Logistics finds a replacement to complete your job on time.
If you think that your street is too narrow or there are a lot of trees that might cause a problem, please let the driver know ahead of time. TCI Logistics will arrange a pick-up/drop-off nearby your address, at a convenient and safe location.
You can arrange to have a family member, a friend or a co-worker to be present on pick-up or delivery date. However, it is crucial that they are well informed about the inspection that is performed upon loading/unloading. The person who is shipping the vehicle must sign the bill of lading, where the condition of your vehicle is noted. If another person is receiving your vehicle, then they must be informed that they need to do a thorough inspection on delivery and confirm that vehicle has been delivered at same condition as it has been loaded. If there are any damages, the person receiving the car must note them on the same bill of lading.
There are a few factors that affect the auto transport cost: route distance, vehicle size and condition (running or non-operable), the type of trailer that would be used (open or enclosed) and the season. For example if you want to ship your vehicle down to Florida, in fall, the cost will be higher due to the tremendous amount of traffic caused by snowbirds moving south to Florida. Get Your Free Online Shipping Quote Now!
We offer different methods of payment. The most common way to pay includes credit or debit card. Upon pick-up, clients pay a partial fee that varies from 10% to 20% of the whole bill. The due balance is paid in full upon delivery. You can also pay the whole bill with a credit/debit card once your vehicle has been picked up. That way you won’t have to worry about the payment on delivery. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. You can also pay via PayPal.
Drivers are not allowed to accept credit cards or person checks on delivery. If you have an outstanding balance that is due on delivery, please make sure that you cash, cashier’s check, or money order.
Open auto transport is the most common method used to transport a vehicle. Nearly 90% of the vehicles are transported via an open transport. As there is $250.000 insurance coverage on the open transport, there is no need to worry that something might happen to your vehicle. Open transport usually costs about $300 or $400 less than the enclosed transportation. Most clients that are using enclosed transport have exotic vehicles that need the extra level of protection. As the insurance coverage for enclosed transport is higher than for open transport, it is recommended for more expensive super cars.
The Department Of Transportation prohibits the transport of household items with a vehicle while the vehicle is in transit. Personal belongings left in the vehicle are shipped strictly at the owner's risk. If the driver arrives at the pick-up location and sees that your vehicle is slammed to the ground because of the extra weight, he might ask you to remove your belongings, or charge you additionally. Truck drivers will take no responsibility for damages that arise from household items being kept inside your vehicle.
Yes, but the exact condition must be noted at the time you place your order. If your vehicle is not operable, an inoperable fee of $200 will be added to the transport cost. Please, make sure that you inform us ahead of time if your vehicle is inoperable, so that we can assign the right driver to ship your vehicle.
TCI Logistics is licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Our MC# is 947471 and our DOT# is 2833433.
Your vehicle is fully insured during transit, as carriers have cargo insurance of $250K - $1 million. However, please keep in mind that damages caused by Acts of God (hail, floods, hurricanes, avalanches, etc), along with damages by road debris are not covered. However, if this is of a great concern to you, we are can arrange for your vehicle to be transported in an enclosed car carrier for an additional fee.
If you receive your vehicle and notice that there is a damage, you must immediately note it on the bill of lading. Next, call TCI Logistics to report the damage. It will be very helpful for us to be aware of this new damage right away, so that we could resolve the issues as fast as possible. Make sure that driver does not leave without you reporting the damage on the bill of lading and the driver signing it.
We will ask you to submit both, bills of lading along with three estimates from an authorized repair shop. We will facilitate the arbitration with our carrier.
You only need to provide the keys to the driver. Your title and insurance are not needed. You only need to sign off your vehicle that it has been picked up on the bill of lading, and then your vehicle will be on the way to its drop-off destination.
TCI Logistics will provide you with the name and phone number of the driver as soon as a driver has been assigned. The driver will contact you 24 hours prior to the pickup, and again one hour before the pick-up on the move day. Once the driver arrives at your location, he will do an inspection on your vehicle and you will need to sign the bill of lading. Finally, the driver loads your vehicle and then, he leaves your place.
The most efficient way to track your vehicle is to give the driver a call directly. If he is busy and he is not able to answer, please give TCI Logistics a call at (312) 224-8460 and we will be able to assist you as well.
Most drivers will load your vehicle wherever they think it is safe. Truckers have to deal with multiple factors when it comes down to loading your vehicle. They have to make sure that they fit all cars properly, so that they don’t exceed the permitted length of the truck, and they also need to make sure that they follow all federal laws, and there is no overweight on any of the axles.
TCI Logistics is a licensed broker, and so we can provide the best auto transport service. We have a network of hundreds of professional car carriers. Our network has been growing and evolving over the years, so that we could promise you a safe and timely pick-up, and prompt and transparent communication at all times. In the unlikely event of a damage, TCI Logistics is takes responsibility to make sure that the driver’s insurance covers the damage in a timely manner.
Yes we do. We have our own trucks that are based in Illinois, Georgia and California. Trans Cargo Inc based out of Illinois and running under MC 878044 is our car carrier brand. We actually started in the industry as a car carrier company. Unlike other brokers, we know the business from top the bottom. As we relate to all issues that might occur en route, we are prepared to provide the best and most efficient solutions in time.