New car contracts

Yes.
Keep some things in mind. When you take the whole pie, you move everything, not just the gravy.
The railroad runs 24/7. You get a train every day. You must pull enough off the ground for the next days train to unload.
The claims buck stops with you, and the railroad will do everything in its power to try and stick the haulaway carrier with the claim. It is in your best interest to get close to the unloading contractor as they are the railroads agent on the property.
Any more questions, hit me up

 

At least at Ford (the only contract we have) we still run paper DR's, but everything else is handled via EDI through our software.

Make sure you're fully aware of the terms the manufacturer expects you to operate under. Some go off an average dwell, others expect every unit moved within three days. And they don't care if it's one unit without any others that deliver within 400 miles, they want it shipped... TODAY!

Spend some time with the data they'll give you on bids (although just getting your foot in the door to get on the list is the hard part,) and don't trust their average numbers, calc everything yourself to verify. I actually made us a spreadsheet that would calc the load ratios for the different mileage bands to see what the average rates would be.

As for claims, pictures are nice, but if it's not properly documented (and signed off on, if needed,) those pics don't matter as much as you'd hope. I teach all my guys that nothing matters if it's not on all copies of the paperwork.

A little tale to emphasize @SLANT6 's post:

It was this time of year, the unloaders had left the left rear window halfway down, and we had a few days of heavy, cold rain. Driver found it in bay that way, we had the guard come out to verify, took it off the load, and I sent in a report to get the adjuster out to look at it.

Same routine as always, adjuster does the estimate, and off to the intransit repair shop it went for replacement of about half the interior. A month or so later the claim comes through with a rejection by the railroad claiming they were never notified of such severe damage (~$1700), and it was on us. Uh, no, and hell no. The only reason my companies name was even associated with the claim is because I was the only one on site who had an account to turn in the report. And it still took three go-arounds to get someone to understand that we never handled this vehicle and the damage was found in bay. All because the lazy ### supervisor for the unloading crew was too lazy to send off a report about the damage to railroad. Plus, he knew he'd have an butt-chewing coming for them leaving the window down, and hoped it would just slide through the system without fallback against his crew.

The biggest variable in new car hauling is the unloading contractor, some ramps are awesome, others a nightmare. We have one ramp that is absolutely hazardous after 3pm (when most the big shots leave,) when average speeds on the lot go from just over the 15 mph speed limit up to 30+mph. The last contractor got run out after a fatal, and at this rate this contractor will fair no better. I feel for their manager, he has to find dependable help, for so-so money, that can pass a drug test in a state with legal dope.

 

I could write a book on all the shenanigans that go on in a rail ramp. I've seen them tear one up and put it back on the railcar and then take photos as if it came in that way. Your driver moves a unit 1" and existing damage becomes yours. KC mixing center was famous for running thru a string of railcars like maniacs and ripping crossmembers on large sedans. I could go on for days.

 

Our "dwell"...a stupid term made up by UPS AG. Was 1.2 days. I utilized a night local shift to capitalize on moving day zero units to offset the aging unit for Bumble#### Wherever

 

You need to find out what logistics company is handling GM these days. It used to be a spin-off from Union Pacific RR, but the name escapes me now

 

The OEMs all had their own transportation department. Now a 3rd party logistics provider does.
Tough to get a foot in the door
The railroad is just one part of the factory to dealer process