Using false identities, defrauding financing companies, vehilce insurers and even local dealerships it seems that these smugglers where ready to use any means necessary to get their hands on a list of 20 some high-end vehicles and get them overseas.

This is not a script for the highly anticipated sequel to “Gone in 60 seconds” featuring Nicolas Cage. This was the setting of our nation’s largest import and export harbor, the Los Angeles/Long Beach Sea Port early April where authorities seized the exotics that where boxed up in containers and labeled as used exercise equipment. Totaling in over $1.5 million, a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia, a limited production 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and a handful of late model BMW’s, Audi’s and Mercedes where just some of the high-price tag cars intercepted at the port on their way to Vietnam. Authorities say that another ship that left just days before containing similar type of illegal cargo was turned out mid-transit in efforts to recover more stolen automobiles.

It is believed the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers executed the raid after being tipped of by the Ferrari dealership who tracked their missing prancing stallion to the port using a GPS device installed in the car for this specific reason. These exclusive rides were being shipped to a country where there is an overwhelming demand in luxury and performance vehicles and buyers are willing to pay two to three times their cost in the states. Such lucrative opportunity has driven these individuals to collaborate efforts and falsify documents and even identities. Investigators assume that a sophisticated smuggling ring is in play to ship cars overseas, no arrests have yet been made on what surely sound like a plot to a familiar Hollywood thriller.

Source: U.S. Customs & Border Protection

In the great recession of 2008 many trucking companies, auto transport companies, and car haulers were put out of commission. As car sales dropped dramatically there was simply not enough cars to haul and the market became over saturated with too many car haulers. The disequilibrium in the car shipping market had too many suppliers and not enough demand for their service. Weak demand caused prices for car transport to drop drastically,  combined with fewer overall shipments and all time high diesel prices nearing $4.77 a gallon forced many companies to shut down and liquidate their assets. Trucking companies started disappearing one by one abandoning their car haulers and putting many out of work.

2012 is total different situation, NADA economist predict 13.9 million new car sales in US. Read more »

Mankato, MN – A car hauler catches on fire and is quickly engulfed in flames. Local news reports that there were no injuries and the fire department was quickly on scene to extinguish the semi truck.

The owners of the truck apparently were in a nearby hotel and it wasn’t clear at the time what the cause of the fire was. The car hauler, which is a total loss, delivered a number of vehicles the previous night but did not have any cargo on board at the time of the fire. Read more »

On a recent trip to Southern California, I paid a quick visit to Galpin Auto Sports. Anyone who is even remotely interested in custom cars has heard of Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) and their outrageous creations. Besides being affiliated with the biggest Ford dealer in the world they are famous for being featured on the now discontinued TV show MTV’s Pimp My Ride, creating unique concept vehicles, cars for movie sets, and custom builds for variety of promotions and charity events.

Showroom

I couldn’t walk by without stopping to admire a Ford sedan with an immaculate flat green paint job only to then notice a shiny black widebody Ford Mustang GT. You can see cars from the early 1900’s and as recent as 2010’s. Read more »

Working in the transportation industry you have surely heard of comcheks. But just starting out it may be a bit confusing to figure out how a comchek works and why companies use them. A comchek is a form of payment most frequently used by freight brokers to pay contract carriers, and they work in a similar way to a regular check but with some differences.

Express Codes

A payer (shipper or a broker) that has an account with Comdata, issues Comcheks to drivers for services rendered or as a fuel advance and they do so in a form of an express code for a predetermined amount. The express codes vary in length, usually from 14 to 18 digits in length, but will always be just numbers not letters. Read more »

Another year is over and we would like to thank to our customers that continue to trust us with their vehicle shipping needs. 2011 was the year of recovery for the automotive industry as well as the car shipping industry. Demand for car shipping services rose sharply as new car sales increased and recreational travel resumed to historical levels.

RCG Logistics moved 3,787 cars in 2011 for over $2.5 Million in revenue. The average shipping price for a vehicle was $684. We shipped cars coast-to-coast, locally, regionally and all over United States, for car dealers, businesses and individuals.

Challenges

The number vehicles being shipped in 2011 often overwhelmed the available capacity. In some regions there was simply not enough car carriers to move all of the vehicles. This often led to increased lead times as well as higher prices. The price of diesel, as high $4.46/gallon last summer, Read more »

RCG Logistics headed to Vegas for SEMA 2011, and we brought tons of pictures from the show floor, outside events, outrageous concept cars and priceless exotics. This year’s SEMA show took place on October 1st through the 4th with thousands of people in attendance. Attendees had a chance to see new automotive products, attend educational seminars, product demonstrations and of course networking opportunities.

Many of the vehicles on display were shipped in enclosed trailers because they are so low on the ground. Another advantage to enclosed car shipping is the added insurance coverage to protect the high value vehicles, which normally would not be possible on an open car trailer. Our favorite car on display was definitely the green RWB Porsche; which car did you like the most ?
Read more »

In an effort to deal with rising cost of oil and increased emissions regulations, Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd announced plans to build a car carrier that will use liquefied natural gas as its primary fuel source. The ship is expected to transport about 2000 vehicles at one time and is set to start operating in 2015.

As natural gas prices continue to fall, the ships higher initial cost is expected to be offset by lower operating costs. Another advantage Read more »

A bill introduced in congress, HR 2357, is an attempt to bring order and increase effectiveness of  the Federal Government in overseeing the transportation industry.  The bill addresses several pressing issues that will change the way shipments of cargo like automobiles, produce and general freight are transported. This bill is primary targeted toward freight brokers and freight forwarders, with the intent to protect shippers and carriers. While the bill reaffirms the important role brokers serve in the transportation business, it makes drastic changes to the status quo.

The first provision will restrict motor carriers Read more »

Nissan commercial featuring car haulers delivering cars to dealerships across the country. The commercial is touting the fact that Nissan recovered quicker from the disastrous earthquake than its Japanese rivals. The commercial features several two-level multiple car haulers, as well as wedge trailer hauling 4 cars. Majority of cars are delivered this way to the dealers.