Some day soon I hope to write a guide on how well things go with transporting a car. My previous guide dealt with some things to watch for. This time around I decided to go with a 'big name' transporter to haul a car from the East coast: Dependable Auto Shippers. The price was roughly the same as a few others and these folks advertised 'real time satellite tracking' which I though would do much to ease my mind during the shipping. The car was going from PA to MN. It was picked up roughly on time and then my daily checks showed it going further East for a couple days. I figured they were just filling up a load. Finally it showed them heading back West and I started getting enthused.

Next thing I notice is the transport is in Northern IL and suddenly it's going South. It sits in Southern IL for 2 days. Then it finally starts heading North and is shown to be in Chicago, where it sits. I start calling the office; "we have multiple trucks coming from Chicago every day, so I'm sure yours will be here in a day or less". I keep watching; nothing. Call again, same story. I start complaining. DAS then apparently decides I'll feel better if I don't know what's going on and shut off tracking for my car. When I do inquiries, it shows 'in transit' and nothing more. I call a third time and tell them I'm quite unhappy. Later that day I get a call back (first time that happened even though I requested call backs each time) assuring me the car will be in Minneapolis the following morning, however " You have to wait for the local depot to call you as they have to inspect and wash the car". I think to myself, at least that's a nice touch.

A check at noon the next day shows they've turned the tracking back on and my car is in town. I wait for the call; nothing. Mid afternoon I finally call the local depot. They do have the car and would really like me to get it picked up as they don't have much room for it. I guess I should apologize for causing them trouble by my car being the way there.

I get my trailer and head for the lot. It's a dirt lot that's actually a towing company. My car is out back, not washed, not inspected, dead battery (lights were left on somewhere along the way), stuck in 3rd gear (it's a 3 speed manual) but fortunately not damaged. I have to ask for a jump to get it running and they're obviously put out by the effort. I get the shifter unstuck, move the car to my trailer and am delighted to find the clutch is just about fried from the loading/unloading with the car in high gear.

I write a lengthy letter with specifics to DAS. Guess what? No response. Nothing. They've already been paid so they're not out anything. Like the name says DEPENDABLE AUTO SHIPPERS. You can depend on it!