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By Ben Leffler of uship.com
Selecting an Shipper
for Your ATV
Whether you bought a new ATV online for a
loved one, are taking the family hunting in
Wyoming, camping in Alaska or exploring in the
Appalachians, there are plenty of reasons why
you may be faced with shipping an ATV this
holiday season. Whatever reason you may have for
contracting the services of a shipping company,
the last thing that you want is for your ATV to
be lost, damaged or stolen while in route, so it
is important that you take certain precautions
when making your selection. By confirming that
the company is licensed, insured and has a
history of good service you can minimize any
risks that arise when shipping an all terrain
vehicle.
As you are making a decision on which carrier
to hire, the first thing to check is the
company’s licensing and insurance. In order for
a shipping company to legally transport ATV’s
they have to be licensed with the Department of
Transportation to do so. You can look up their
DOT number at
www.safersys.org which will tell you what
you need to know. While on the site you can also
confirm that the company is insured. Most ATV
shipping companies carry a minimum amount of
insurance in case an accident does occur, and
they will be able to present you with a
certificate that proves this upon request. Using
the information on the certificate you will be
able to verify their coverage on the website or
contact their insurance provider.
Once you have established that a prospective
company is both legally authorized and
sufficiently insured to transport your ATV you
should inquire about customer references. These
will provide further proof of a carrier’s
competence and reliability though actual past
experiences. Many companies post several
references on their website, but if not they
will be able to produce some for you. More
information on a company’s history can also be
accessed through the Better Business Bureau.
If everything has checked out so far you may
want to ask whether the company allows you to
track the shipment while it is in tow. This is
an increasingly popular option that provides you
with the added peace of mind of being able to
verify that your shipment is on track each step
of the way. Some companies offer this online and
others on the phone, but either way it is
something you should consider before signing on
with a carrier.
You now have a good foundation of knowledge
to help you choose a safe and reliable carrier
to handle your all terrain vehicle shipment.
However, it is always advisable to use your
intuition in this process. If a particular
company meets each criterion but rubs you the
wrong way, you may want to look elsewhere for
service. There are enough service providers out
there that you should never feel pressured to go
against your better judgment.
Written by Ben Leffler of uship.com, an
online marketplace for
ATV
Shipping.
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