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Over The Road Boat Transporting – Worry Free.
How to Choose a Boat Mover.
You purchased your dream boat. You are relocating five states
away. Your boat needs a new engine. You want to bring your boat from the shop to
your marina. You would like to have your boat with you at your winter haven in
Florida.
How are you going to move your boat? You are in unfamiliar
waters. There is an Italian proverb, "After the ship has sunk, everyone knows
how she might have been saved." Moving a boat on land does not have to be a
sinking event. Finding an experienced, reputable and licensed boat Transporter
before you make the transport will make your move worry free.
Where do I locate potential boat Transporters?
You can find boat Transporters by looking in the
yellow pages, trade magazines, asking marine facilities, dock mates, the Better
Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and searching the internet via search
engines like Google and Yahoo.
Should a Transporter have boat knowledge?
Absolutely! A professional boat Transporter:
Knows how to properly distribute the weight of the boat
onto the trailer in relationship to the keel and the hull. Trailer support
pads are placed as to not carry the weight of the boat but as to stabilize it.
Failure to properly distribute the weight or incorrectly place a support pad
could result in damage to your boat.
Knows that a boat is specialty freight and needs to be
secured to the trailer correctly. It must be secured to prevent shifting that
can result in damage.
Knows to double check for any loose items such as canvas,
dock lines, buoys, antennas, etc. and secure them if necessary.
Knows a situation could occur in which the outdrive or
outboard sits too low for transport. The carrier would need to be familiar
with boat’s operation so that he may raise the outdrive or outboard (with or
without the use of batteries) so the lower unit is not damaged during
transport.
Knows that each boat and each transport is unique.
What type of trailer will the Transporter need?
This depends on your specific needs. Selecting the
correct trailer can potentially save you money.
Lowboy Trailer – These trailers are manufactured
mainly for boats 40’ and over or for carrying multiple boats at one time. Most
of these trailers are air-ride suspension, minimizing road shock. Boats are
loaded and unloaded with the use of a crane or hoist, so don’t forget to
consider the hoist or crane cost in your total transport expense.
Bunk Trailer – These trailers are manufactured in various
lengths and usually are custom fit to individual boats. Boats are loaded and
unloaded with the use of a crane, hoist or ramp.
Hydraulic Trailer – These versatile trailers are
manufactured to carry various lengths and a variety of different boats. Some
of these trailers are air-ride suspension, the same as the lowboy trailer,
minimizing road shock. The hydraulic trailer is self-loading and unloading.
Boats can be picked up and set down without the use of a hoist or crane in
most situations, saving you the additional cost of paying for a hoist or
crane. Boats may also be loaded and unloaded by crane, hoist or ramp.
Your Own Trailer – Your trailer must be roadworthy and have
a legal license plate. A Transporter will use his discretion to determine
whether a trailer is suitable for over-the-road transport. You will be
responsible for any breakdowns or damage that occurs as a result of the
trailer during transit.
What types of Transporters are available?
Intrastate Carrier is a Transporter licensed to transport
within his home state only. The carrier will have a US DOT number and is
"Authorized For Hire".
Interstate Carrier is a Transporter licensed to transport
across state borders. The carrier will have a US DOT number, an MC number and
is "Authorized For Hire".
What type of insurance should the Transporter have?
- The professional Transporter will have a Commercial
Insurance Policy. Do not accept a Personal Insurance Policy.
- The Commercial Policy should include both Liability and
Broad Form Cargo insurance. It is the Cargo portion of the insurance that will
cover your boat in the event of an unfortunate incident. The Cargo portion of
the Transporter’s coverage should be of greater value than your boat.
- Some Commercial Policies have limited radius miles meaning
the Transporter is not insured outside a certain distance of his place of
business.
- If the Transporter will be transporting your boat on your
trailer, he should have "any non-owned trailer" liability and "any non-owned
trailer" physical coverage at a limit greater than the value of the trailer.
Should I check the Transporters credentials?
Most definitely! "Where there is a sea, there are
pirates."
- Boats over 8’ 6" in width hauled over-the-road require an
oversize load permit in all states. Oversize loads are required to stop at
open weigh scales to show permits. Many times Department of Transportation
officials will conduct inspections either at the scales or randomly on the
side of the road. The detailed inspections can include driver’s hours, axle
weights, vehicle maintenance logs, oversize permits, local licensing, proof of
insurance, securement and much more. Non-compliance could find your boat
delayed or impounded.
- Should an unfortunate accident occur at the fault of your
Transporter, his cargo insurance would cover your boat. His insurance would
also cover the cost of removing a wrecked or damaged vessel from the roadway.
In the event he did not have cargo insurance or did not have adequate
coverage, you may be faced with the possibility of the damage to your boat
being uninsured. Most personal yacht policies have limitations concerning when
the yacht is being transported over land beyond a certain radius from your
home port. Many Marina Operators legal liability policies also have an over
land radius limitation and will not reimburse for a referral to an improperly
insured transporter. If uninsured, the recovery costs could be your
responsibility.
How do I check a Transporter’s credentials?
It is recommended that you ask the transport company
to provide you his US DOT number, MC Number (if he is interstate) and insurance
declarations.
With this information, visit
www.safersys.org, under "FMCSA Searches"
click on "Company Snapshot", enter his US DOT number and click "Search". From
here you can check the Transporter’s licensing, insurance and safety record. You
will want to check the following:
Is the carrier Authorized For Hire? The answer should be
yes. Look for an "X" marked next to "Auth For Hire".
Is the carrier Intrastate or Interstate? If your boat is
leaving the Transporter’s home state, the answer should be Interstate. Look
for an "X" marked next to "Interstate". If your boat will remain in the
Transporter’s home state, the "X" may either be next to "Interstate or
"Intrastate".
If the carrier is Interstate, does the MC number listed
match the number Transporter provided?
At the bottom of the page, click on "FMCSA Licensing &
Insurance site" and then "HTML"
Is the Transporter’s authority status active? If it is
active, you will see "ACTIVE"
Does the Transporter maintain the minimum or above
insurance? The answer will be visible on the chart. Make sure there is both
liability and cargo insurance.
Click your back button twice. On the top of the page, click on
SafeStat Results located in the upper right hand corner. On the next page,
Click here to access the Safestat Module. From here you can browse the
Carrier’s Safety Record to include inspections and accidents. This portion of
www.safersys.org contains a great deal of
information. For this reason, we chose not to go in depth on how to use it but
offer it for those that wish to venture in.
Do not take the word of your Transporter that his insurance is
in force. Call the insurance company to make sure the company is insured, the
cargo limit is satisfactory and the states in which your boat will be traveling
are covered.
I have checked several Transporters credentials and received
their quotes. How do I decide?
For a worry free over-the-road boat haul, it is
suggested that you eliminate any Transporter whose:
Licensing authority does not meet the guidelines
prescribed.
Insurance is not in force or inadequate.
Safety violations and/or accidents are in excess.
Company or driver does not have boat knowledge or
experience.
Company cannot answer questions pertaining to regulations,
licensing, insurance, and equipment.
Be cautious of Transporters who:
Licensing authority appears questionable.
Safety violations and/or accidents are moderate.
Provide low-ball quotes.
Cannot give you a pick up date.
Are brokers: they are merely middlemen.
Ask for payment in full prior to delivery.
Charges an additional fee for insurance.
Consider Transporters who:
Meet the licensing authority guidelines prescribed.
Carries minimum $1,000,000 Liability in addition to Broad
Form Cargo insurance limits that exceeds the value of your boat and trailer.
Safety violations and/or accidents are minimal.
Answers your calls and questions timely.
Engages in a transportation contract.
Comes highly recommended.
I have decided on a Transporter. What happens next?
Relax. Your Transporter will navigate you through
unfamiliar waters for a worry free over-the-road transport.
Written by: Dave and Marnie McAtee of Dave’s Marine Transport,
www.davesmarinetransport.com,
419-734-DAVE (3283),
davesmarinetransport@roadrunner.com Marblehead OH and Jim Tighe of Tighes’
Insurance Agency Inc.
www.tighesinsurance.com , 800-686-5656, Lakewood OH
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