Nicolas Cugnot’s Fardier introduced the world to the possibility of automobile vehicles. However, at a whopping 2.3 mph max speed, the car failed to conceive the automobile industry. The automobile industry wouldn’t come into its own until the early 1900s with gas-powered automobiles courtesy of the USA and Germany.

The Germans generated the automobile industry with vehicles with two-cylinder gas engines. However, the USA is credited with mass-producing automobile vehicles first, beginning with the Dash Oldsmobile in 1901. Henry Ford left an indelible mark on the process with the introduction of assembly-line production and the Model T in 1908. Here’s how these beginnings led to the modern-day auto shipping industry.

The Lead-Up to Modern-Day Auto Shipping

By the 1930s, the automobile industry was mass producing vehicles in the millions. Simultaneously, due to pressures of war and industry, the transport industry had also picked up the pace. Ships, trucks, trains, and more were commonly loaded with cargo, such as food or clothing, to transport them around the country.

Of course, issues were bound to arise due to how both these industries grew. The transport industry didn’t evolve for long-distance, on-land transport of heavy freight, like automobiles. Many auto dealers quickly realized that rail transport with boxcars was preferable for mass transporting vehicles, but even that was inefficient.

The need for change, however, slowly resulted in innovation in transportation. German engineers were the first to innovate with the development of an auto carrier rack (could carry ten cars). Canadian engineers made their contribution by closed, bi-level carriers (they added an additional floor).

Modern-Day Auto Shipping

However, auto shipping, as we see it today, came into being in the 1980s. The German and Canadian technological innovations helped trucks and trailers supplant rail transport as the preferred auto shipping medium.

Modern-day auto shipping has incorporated developments elsewhere, such as GPS, to improve its service. It utilizes carriers to transport multiple vehicles across large areas. However, present carriers can tolerate much greater loads than their predecessors. For instance, we can transport all sorts of vehicles, ranging from vintage and classic cars to heavy trucks and vans. Additionally, our auto shipping services include door-to-door transport, as well as accurate and regularly updated vehicle tracking.

If you’re looking for some of the best auto transport companies in the USA, get in touch with us at RGV Auto Transport Services. We’re located in Texas but provide affordable vehicle transport services throughout the USA.