| During the early years of the automobile industry your | | | | and North Western railroads. |
| choice of a vehicle largely depended on where you | | | | In 1920, when Ford opened the River Rouge |
| lived. The earliest ones were hand-built in limited | | | | Manufacturing Complex, it included ninety different |
| quantities and distributed locally. Charles and Frank | | | | buildings and 93 miles of railroad track to bring in |
| Duryea built their horseless carriages in Springfield, | | | | materials essential to manufacturing automobiles, as |
| Massachusetts. Alexander Winton manufactured | | | | well as transporting completed automobiles to market. |
| gas-power vehicles in Cleveland and Albert Pope | | | | The River Rouge was deepened and widened to |
| produced Waverly electrics in Indianapolis. A group of | | | | accommodate deepwater ships needed to transport |
| young upstarts led by David Dunbar Buick, Ransom | | | | materials and automobiles through the Great Lakes |
| Olds and Henry Ford built a variety of gas, electric and | | | | and beyond. Ford also acquired the Detroit, Toledo and |
| steam-powered runabouts and sedans in Detroit. | | | | Ironton Railroad with 454 miles of main track to bring |
| As automobiles became both more reliable and | | | | coal into the plant and ship manufactured automobiles |
| affordable, they also became more popular. Growing | | | | from Detroit to Ironton on the Ohio River. Through the |
| demand meant manufacturers' could no longer rely | | | | 1940s and 1950s virtually every car and truck |
| solely on selling vehicles from the factory gates. | | | | produced in the United States was transported by a |
| William Metzger is credited with opening the first | | | | car hauler, railcar or boat. In 1958 the first Toyotas and |
| independent car dealership in Detroit in 1897. About the | | | | Nissans were exported to the United States. In 1967 |
| same time, H.O. Kohller opened the first franchised car | | | | the Volkswagen Beetle invaded American shores. |
| dealership, selling Waverly electrics in Reading, | | | | Over the next forty years, countless other German, |
| Pennsylvania. Manufacturers used factory drivers, rail | | | | Japanese and Asian brands have been transported |
| and boats to transport their products to a growing | | | | across the Atlantic and Pacific in ocean carriers, and |
| network of independent and franchise dealers. | | | | then shipped to local dealerships by rail and truck. |
| Early Ford models were often encased in large | | | | The automotive landscape has changed dramatically |
| wooden boxes and loaded on open railcars directly | | | | over the past few years. However, the need for |
| outside the Mack Avenue plant and later the Highland | | | | affordable and reliable auto transport continues to be a |
| Park factory. Railcars would be shuttled to the | | | | critical factor in the growth and profitability of |
| Michigan Central, Grand Trunk or Soo Line terminal and | | | | automotive dealerships and remarketers. |
| rushed to anxious buyers. When they arrived at their | | | | Today, a new generation of customer-focused auto |
| final destination, a Ford mechanic would complete the | | | | transport brokers is helping used car dealers, auto |
| final assembly of the vehicle, often using pieces of the | | | | auctions, finance companies and fleet operators |
| wooded box for the floor and running boards. | | | | affordably and reliably transport cars and trucks |
| The 1909 Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog | | | | anywhere in the United States. |
| advertised the Sears Motor Buggy for $395 or $370 | | | | By integrating both short-distance truck transport and |
| without fenders or top, plus shipping to the nearest | | | | long-distance rail service options they offer the |
| train station. | | | | flexibility to use the shipping mode that best meets |
| In 1902 there had been one car for every 1.5 million | | | | practically any price and timing requirement. Leading |
| people in the country; two years later the ratio shrunk | | | | auto transport brokers also provide instant price |
| to one for every 65,000 people; and by 1909, after the | | | | quotes and estimated transit times for door-to-door |
| introduction of the Model T, there was one car for | | | | pickup and delivery anywhere in the United States. |
| every 800 people. | | | | Vehicles are transported using industry-leading |
| Reliable and affordable auto transport by road, rail and | | | | processes and safeguards to help ensure on-time, |
| water was essential to the growth of the early | | | | damage free transport and delivery by reputable, |
| automotive industry. | | | | fully-insured auto transport carriers and service |
| In 1910, the Toledo Shipbuilding Company produced the | | | | providers. |
| first steel car ferry for the Ann Arbor Railroad. The | | | | The early pioneers in the automotive industry relied on |
| vessel, named Ann Arbor no. 5, was 360 feet long | | | | engineering innovations and emerging auto transport |
| with a 56-foot beam and could carry up to 24 railway | | | | networks to ensure their success. Today's smart used |
| box cars, each loaded with four or five new | | | | car dealers, auto auctions, finance companies and fleet |
| automobiles. Leaving Ludington, Michigan, and arriving in | | | | operators can rely on a new generation of |
| Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the railcars and automobiles | | | | customer-focused auto transport brokers to help |
| were then transported west by the Wisconsin Central | | | | ensure the growth and profitability of their business. |