January 18, 2021- Rockville, MD– Autosled, Inc., a national digital logistics marketplace for franchise and independent dealers, has joined with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association as its newest National Member Benefit partner.
As part of the partnership, Autosled is offering NIADA member dealers a special first vehicle transport discount, available to association members who join as new customers.
“With more and more inventory being acquired digitally and from a wider geographic range, vehicle transport is growing in importance for independent dealers,” NIADA director of business development James Gibson said. “This partnership provides a greater opportunity for NIADA members to take advantage of Autosled’s seamless digital vehicle transport options to ship used vehicles throughout the nation.”
Autosled’s contactless vehicle shipping includes enclosed and open transport options. Dealers can schedule vehicle pickups online, communicate with drivers throughout the transportation process and share vehicle updates with customers in real time. Autosled delivers to residential or commercial locations, depending on the dealer’s preference.
NIADA members can look forward to less paperwork and no monthly subscription fees, enabling them to move used cars and trucks off the lot faster.
Autosled’s vetted network of nationwide transporters, in conjunction with industry-first video bill of lading technology, works to ensure successful vehicle deliveries for every dealer.
“Autosled is honored to come alongside NIADA and its members as a trusted transport partner,” Autosled chief financial officer Dan Sperau said. “We look forward to connecting with independent dealers nationwide to streamline their delivery processes and fulfill their vehicle transport needs, now and in the future.”
For more information, or to schedule an Autosled product demonstration, visit www.autosled.com/NIADA.
About Autosled
Autosled provides dealers, transporters, auctioneers, brokers and individuals who are relocating with efficient, digital vehicle transport options. New and used cars, trucks, motorcycles, classic and luxury vehicles are all regularly shipped nationwide.
Autosled offers enclosed and open transport as well as door-to-door shipping to both residences and businesses. The software allows dealers to reduce paperwork and miscommunication, allowing them to save time and move inventory quicker.
Autosled’s services include custom price quotes, secure online payments, electronic accounting and invoicing, vehicle shipments scheduled online, verified transporter insurance and a vetted network of transporters. Every vehicle shipped through Autosled is protected with real-time GPS vehicle tracking and instant communication with transporters throughout the shipping process. For more information, visit www.autosled.com.
About NIADA
The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) is among the nation’s largest trade associations, representing the used motor vehicle industry, and comprises more than 38,000 licensed used car dealers. Since 1946, NIADA has represented the voice and interests of used car dealers at the federal level in Washington D.C. Coupled with its state association network across the country, NIADA’s grass-roots framework provides a dual layer of advocacy unmatched in the used motor vehicle industry.
For more than 70 years, NIADA has engineered programs and leveraged technology to fulfill its mission to advance, educate and promote the independent used car dealer. NIADA members subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics of duty, honor and integrity, and believe in the advancement of small business in support of the free-market system. More information about NIADA programs and educational opportunities is available at www.niada.com and www.niada.tv.
On February 5th, 2021, Autosled was showcased by Newswatch. Watch the full video and read the transcript below.https://player.vimeo.com/video/507141552?dnt=1&app_id=122963
If you’ve ever moved a car – whether you’re in the business of moving cars or you moved cross-country – then you know it’s a cumbersome process, with a lot of room for mistakes, inefficiencies, and, if we’re being honest, headache.
Well, this isn’t true with Autosled.
A leader in automotive logistics, Autosled leverages modern technology to efficiently move cars from point A to B.
Their platform is entirely digital, making it easier than ever for you to decide you want to make the trek to L.A. from D.C.
Better yet – their platform is completely free to users. All you have to do is log on, receive a custom quote, and send your vehicle to your next destination.
And, once you ship your vehicle, you can check up on it at any point with real-time GPS tracking, so you never have to guess where your vehicle is. But, if you ever have a question, you can contact their 24/7 support team.
So even though they’re fully digital and contactless, you can still get that one-on-one human support.
If you need to ship a vehicle in the U.S., head to Autosled.com and receive your free custom quote today.
This past year has been transformative in the auto industry. Historically a heavily brick-and-mortar trade, Automotive has undergone a digital shift as consumers’ concerns for safety during the COVID epidemic have necessitated contactless, digital purchasing and shipping services.
Foot traffic to dealerships took a huge hit early in the pandemic. According to BDEX analysts, retail automotive dealerships saw a 40% decrease in consumer traffic during March and April of 2020. Comparatively, automotive e-commerce exploded with companies like Carvana, Vroom, and CarSaver selling directly to consumers.
The new and used car market continues to experience the powerful effects of the pandemic to this day, so, while it’s difficult to predict what the rest of the year will bring, there are a few automotive industry trends taking over 2021.
AI and Self Driving Vehicles
Although the technology behind self-driving cars and trucks is far from perfect, strides are being made to ensure these vehicles are safe for busy roads and unusual traffic conditions.
With the help of artificial intelligence, vehicles with AI integrations can “learn” over time and observe how human drivers might respond to out-of-the-ordinary road conditions. In the future, autonomous vehicles may even become better drivers than human operators.
The future of self-driving vehicle fleets is still in the early testing stages, but the interest in self-driving cars and trucks for commercial use has certainly grown. Tesla’s full self-driving car is in Beta testing and they’ve already confirmed reservations from UPS, FedEx, Walmart, and Pepsi for an impressive Semi-Truck.
Electric Vehicles
Along similar lines, electric vehicles have gained traction in the automotive industry over the past couple of years. Electric vehicles have been around since 2010, but have grown in popularity and adoption significantly. In 2019, there was a record 7.2 million electric vehicles on the road, as opposed to only 17,000 in 2010.
Some of the major benefits of 3D printing for car parts are weight reduction, easy spare part replacement, lower costs, less material waste, and more customization possibilities.
GPS Tracking
Logistics companies, like Autosled, as well as e-commerce companies, are particularly focused on transparency and traceability. Therefore, using tracking technology such as GPS to increase visibility and provide a sense of security for consumers has become a major trend in the transport sector.
Autosled’s GPS vehicle tracking, for example, enables automotive dealers to know exactly where their vehicles are in real-time, in turn, communicating accurate delivery estimates.
One example would be keeping track of vehicle performance history records as the vehicle changes owners. The same principle can be applied to keeping track of BOL records as vehicles are transported across state lines, or between companies and individuals.
Residence/Direct Address Delivery
As e-commerce becomes increasingly popular, the demand for direct, door-to-door delivery also rises. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dealerships were forced to provide contactless delivery services without diminishing service quality or efficiency. From this expectation arose a renewed importance in optimizing last-mile deliveries. This is just one of the reasons why Autosled ships vehicles to both residences and businesses, giving customers the high-quality convenience of receiving cars right to their doors.
Autosled’s digital transport management system embraces new technologies and the shift toward the future of Automotive. The company was created to alleviate frustrations caused by tedious, manual processes within vehicle shipping logistics. Dashboard and mobile app users are provided with a streamlined, contactless vehicle shipment experience. Key features include video pick-up and drop-off BOLs (bill of lading), electronic paperwork and invoicing, door-to-door shipping, load optimization, self-dispatch with a click of a button, and real-time GPS vehicle tracking.
As the auto industry makes strides towards greener transport, so will Autosled by continuing to decrease deadheading and moving towards electric vehicles. Increased transparency via blockchain logistics, as well as developments in AI and 3D printing, are interesting ideas that will impact the future of automotive transport. It’s exciting to keep looking forward to how these improvements will change the industry. For more information about Autosled, or to begin shipping vehicles today, visit: www.autosled.com.
As a premier digital transport provider, Autosled works to streamline vehicle shipments. Transporters are a vital part of this business, keeping trucks full and receiving payments within two business days of delivery. While Autosled’s transporter network works to take care of your vehicles, we remind our transporters to take care of themselves, especially during a long-distance haul.
Sleep is a crucial part of everyone’s development, health, and general wellbeing. According to the CDC, adults, 18-60 years old need 7 or more hours of sleep a night. Truckers, in particular, need plenty of rest in order to stay alert while driving long hours (often seven days a week).
Swap big fast-food meals for healthy snacks
While a Mcdonald’s drive-through may seem like a convenient stop along your route, fast food and larger meals can increase drowsiness. According to New Scientist, large meals and meals rich in carbs have high glycemic indexes. Glucose is released quickly into the bloodstream after high glycemic meals which increases insulin production and tryptophan (a chemical causing drowsiness) levels. This is why many people experience a “food coma” after eating a large meal.
In order to counteract sleepiness after eating, stick to smaller portions and keep your snacks healthy. A candy bar may provide a temporary boost, but once the sugar high wears off, your body will start to crash. The same goes for too many cups of coffee or surgery energy drinks. Make sure to check the prescriptions as well, to make sure drowsiness isn’t listed as a side effect.
Some great healthy snack options for the road are protein bars, mixed nuts, fruit (for healthy sugar intake), and beef jerky. Chewing gum or snacks like sunflower seeds can be doubly beneficial in keeping your jaw occupied to encourage attentiveness.
Take a break or a short power nap
Dozing off at the wheel during a long haul? Pull over as soon as possible and take a nap or stretch your legs at a rest stop. Walking around and fresh air help to fend off fatigue. Whatever the situation, it’s not worth putting yourself or anyone else at risk just to meet a delivery deadline.
A short nap resets both mind and body. In order to ensure you wake up rested, rather than groggy, restrict your nap to 20 minutes, so as to not disrupt your sleep cycle. The most rejuvenating naps occur when people only go into the first or second stage of sleep.
Turn down the temperature
A warm, cozy truck is enough to make even the most seasoned trucker yawn. Turn up the air conditioning, crack a window for a breeze if the weather outside is already brisk, or even use ice or a cold towel to sustain peak mental focus.
Listen to upbeat music or an audiobook
Another foolproof way to energize yourself while completing a long haul is by engaging your mind. Upbeat music can lift your mood and get you naturally pumped up. Sing along to your favorite songs for optimal results. If music doesn’t appeal, a good action-based audiobook can break up the monotony of a long haul. When looking out at the road ahead, make sure to move your eyes left to right to scan the road rather than keeping your gaze fixed in one place for too long.
Autosled cares about our haulers and strives to make your lives easier with free access to our platform, so you can find loads on your routes with ease. We also offer reduced paperwork and electronic invoicing to save you valuable time. Since life on the road isn’t always easy or conducive to regular sleep schedules, we gathered some helpful tips for staying awake and driving safely during long hauls.
What’s your longest ride? Email us at marketing@autosled.com to share your story and favorite tips for staying alert. Follow Autosled on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, to see if we feature your story!
Autosled, the next generation digital transport management system, has joined the Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) as its latest Associate Member. As part of this, Autosled is offering FADA’s dealerships a special discount of $100 off of the first vehicle transport over 250 miles.
Established in 1920, The Florida Automobile Dealers Association serves over 850 Franchise auto dealers throughout the state of Florida with education and advocacy. They also work closely with the state legislature, regulatory agencies, businesses, and media to elevate Automotive throughout Florida.
Autosled offers nationwide, contactless vehicle shipping to residences and businesses with both open and enclosed transport options. With Autosled, dealers can look forward to online vehicle shipment scheduling, a vetted and insured network of transporters, electronic accounting and invoicing, and real-time GPS tracking. Autosled’s digital transport platform is free to all FADA members with no monthly subscription fees.
“Autosled is excited to join the Florida Automobile Dealers Association as an Associate Member- offering vehicle transport benefits to the dealerships that FADA represents. Florida is an important state in the automotive industry in terms of automotive sales, dealer body population, and quantity of vehicle moves. We look forward to assisting Florida’s dealerships in streamlining their automotive logistics and transport processes”, said David Sperau, chief executive officer for Autosled.
For more information, or to schedule an Autosled product demonstration, visit www.autosled.com/FADA.
