ShipCarsNow, the US-based multimodal vehicle transport subsidiary of rail provider Union Pacific, has signed a business alliance agreement with Ready Auto Transport, which provides transport and logistics services to the automotive remarketing industry.
Together the companies will provide a combination of truck and rail transport that they said would provide a more economical and efficient way of moving larger volumes of vehicles.
The services will increase capacity for Manheim Remarketing auction customers and other wholesale vehicles shippers, according to the venture. Manheim Remarketing and Ready Auto Transport are divisions of Cox Automotive, the vehicle remarketing and dealer software provider. Ready Auto Transport provides transport services that connect Manheim and independent auctions, dealers and commercial customers to a 6,500 member carrier network across the US.
Meanwhile, ShipCarsNow works with most major US railroads to provide nationwide access using rail ramps and ports, 94% of which are in close proximity to Manheim’s US automotive auctions.
“ShipCarsNow, working with Ready Auto Transport, allows wholesale auto shippers to leverage the ShipCarsNow rail network between key US population centres and growth markets,” said Marty Coalson, president of ShipCarsNow. “In addition to more capacity, in certain areas rail transport can help a seller reach more markets than direct truck at a comparable price.”
