How Do Cars Get From The Factory Floor To The Showroom

When you make the decision to purchase a new vehicle, it can be a thrilling trip to the showroom. The vehicle might have traveled a long way to arrive at the dealership's sales floor.

Many new vehicles travel via multiple transport modes, going through many hands to get from the place they were made to you. This allows you to keep your car in good condition and not have any auto damage.

European and Asian vehicles were able to travel the oceans to get to your local showroom. Sometimes, giant "roll on-roll away" cargo ships can transport more than 8,000 vehicles simultaneously. These seagoing leviathans are nearly three football fields long and have nine or more cargo decks. They can be easily identified by their box-like, tall shape, which allows them to move new vehicles around the globe. These seafarers also work close to home, transporting vehicles made in Mexico to U.S. ports.

Rail transport - This is another major player in getting your vehicle to the showroom. Three out of four new cars or light trucks sold in America took a freight train ride to their new owners. Over 70 North American automotive manufacturing plants are served by railroads. Each freight train transports an average of 750 vehicles from production to the sellers. The American railroads transported 1.6 million carloads of new cars and parts by rail. These "auto parts" are also a critical factor in getting new cars into showrooms. Railroads transport many heavy vehicle components to auto factories so that new vehicles can be built.

However, only a few of America's 17,000 franchised auto dealers have a freight rail terminal. Semi-trucks are the final step in getting new vehicles to market. They pick up new cars and trucks from dealers at rail yards, factories, or other locations and deliver them to the showroom. Some of America's 3.5 million truckers are paid the most for hauling new vehicles. They have to pay for not only a semi-tractor, but also a highly-specialized trailer, which can cost up to $270,000, and possibly ten cars. A load of new cars can be valued at between a quarter and a half million dollars, compared to a load containing pipe or lumber. Auto-hauling drivers often need special training and insurance; just safely loading ten new cars onto the complex, hydraulically-operated trailers requires specialized knowledge.

When you see your vehicle invoice, you will notice the line item for the "Destination Fee". While you might not feel the ocean breeze or hear the thundering diesel engines of passing freight trains or hear the backup alarm of the semi-truck that hauled your car the last few miles, they may be there. You should enjoy your new car. Many people worked hard in many industries to get it!