With the globalization of the automotive industry, the demand for complete vehicles in international logistics transportation is increasing day by day. However, this process faces many challenges, such as long transportation distances, complex transportation methods, cumbersome customs procedures, and high requirements for vehicle protection. Vehicle logistics transportation services have emerged to address these challenges and ensure the safe and efficient international circulation of vehicles.

1、 Difficulties in international automobile logistics transportation

Transportation distance and time

In international logistics, whole vehicles may need to be transported across continents, with extremely long transportation distances. This not only leads to longer transportation times and increased delivery cycles, but also may face various unforeseeable risks during the long transportation process, such as adverse weather, changes in road conditions, etc.

Connection of transportation modes

The international transportation of automobiles often involves multiple modes of transportation, such as road, rail, sea, and air. Different modes of transportation have different requirements during loading, unloading, and transportation. Ensuring smooth connection of vehicles between different modes of transportation, avoiding transportation delays and vehicle damage, is a huge challenge.

Customs and Compliance

There are significant differences in customs regulations and trade policies among countries. The import and export of complete automobiles need to meet multiple requirements such as safety, environmental protection, and technical standards of the destination country, and handle various customs procedures, including customs declaration, clearance, and tariff calculation. Complex procedures and strict compliance requirements can easily lead to interruptions in the transportation process.

Vehicle protection

Cars are high-value commodities that are susceptible to damage such as scratches, collisions, and corrosion during transportation. Especially in long-distance and multimodal international transportation, how to provide sufficient protective measures to ensure that vehicles arrive in good condition at their destination is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

Logistics information tracking and management

International logistics involves multiple links and numerous participants, making it difficult to track the real-time transportation status of the entire vehicle and effectively manage it. Lack of accurate logistics information may lead to chaotic planning and scheduling, making it difficult to respond to transportation issues in a timely manner.

2、 Solution for whole vehicle logistics transportation services

Optimize transportation routes and time management

Vehicle logistics transportation service providers utilize advanced logistics planning software and data analysis technology to develop better transportation routes. For long-distance transportation, geographical factors, traffic conditions, political stability, etc. will be comprehensively considered to choose safe and fast routes. For example, in the transportation of the Eurasian Continental Bridge, by planning railway and highway transportation sections reasonably, unnecessary transfer times can be reduced, thereby shortening transportation time.

At the same time, precise time management strategies are adopted to coordinate operation schedules with transportation hubs such as ports and stations, ensuring timely loading, unloading, and transfer of vehicles. For example, in the maritime transportation process, the arrival time of vehicles at the port is accurately arranged according to the shipping schedule, avoiding vehicles waiting for a long time at the port and reducing the overall transportation cycle.

Seamless transportation mode connection

The whole vehicle logistics transportation service provider has established a comprehensive multimodal transport system. In terms of infrastructure, specialized transfer facilities have been built for the transportation of whole vehicles, such as car roll on/roll off docks, railway car transport trains, etc. These facilities are equipped with equipment suitable for car loading, unloading, and transfer, such as car elevators, dedicated tracks, etc.

In terms of operational procedures, standardized operating procedures have been established to ensure a smooth transition of vehicles between different modes of transportation such as highways, railways, and sea freight. For example, when transitioning from road transportation to railway transportation, staff inspect and secure vehicles according to prescribed procedures to ensure their safety and stability during railway transportation.

Customs and Compliance Assistance

Vehicle logistics transportation service providers have professional customs affairs teams who are familiar with customs regulations and trade policies of various countries. Before transportation, the relevant documents of the entire vehicle will be reviewed to ensure that it meets the requirements of the destination country. For example, for the export of vehicles with different emission standards, relevant certification documents will be prepared in advance.

They also assist clients in handling customs declaration and clearance procedures, providing accurate tariff calculation and declaration services. Accelerate the clearance speed of vehicles through good communication and cooperation with customs departments. For example, using electronic data interchange (EDI) systems to submit vehicle information to customs in advance can improve customs inspection efficiency.

Vehicle protection measures

In terms of vehicle packaging, multiple protective measures are adopted. For high-end cars or vulnerable parts, use specially designed protective covers, cushioning materials, etc. for wrapping. For example, customizing protective covers for the front face, rearview mirrors, and other parts of a car to prevent scratches during transportation.

On the transportation equipment, the whole vehicle logistics transportation service provider uses specially designed automobile transportation tools, such as automobile transport ships, automobile transport trains, etc. These tools have reasonable vehicle fixing devices inside, such as ropes, brackets, etc., which can effectively prevent the vehicle from shaking and colliding during transportation. For example, the cabin of a car transport ship is equipped with multiple layers of fixed frames to securely fasten the car to the frames, ensuring the safety of the vehicle even in the face of wind and waves during sea navigation.

Advanced logistics information tracking and management

By utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology, sensors are installed on the entire vehicle to collect real-time information on the vehicle's location and status (such as temperature, humidity, vibration, etc.). These information are transmitted to the logistics management platform through satellite communication or mobile networks, allowing customers and logistics service providers to view the transportation status of vehicles at any time.

The whole vehicle logistics transportation service provider has also established a unified logistics information management system, integrating information from various transportation links, including transportation plans, loading and unloading records, customs clearance status, etc. Through this system, the entire transportation process can be effectively monitored and managed, and problems such as transportation delays and vehicle abnormalities can be detected and resolved in a timely manner.

The whole vehicle logistics transportation service plays a crucial role in solving the problems of whole vehicles in international logistics transportation. By optimizing transportation routes, ensuring the connection of transportation modes, assisting customs compliance, protecting vehicles, and providing advanced logistics information tracking measures, the entire automobile can be efficiently and safely transported internationally, meeting the needs of global automobile industry development and promoting the further globalization of the automobile industry.