Well, it's that time of year again: the trees are growing, flowers are blooming, high schoolers are preparing for finals - that's right, it's time to celebrate the Earth and all the wonderful things she's done for us over the course of human history.

But as we enter into a new technological era, one has to wonder: what are we doing for her? With the pollution of the Industrial Revolution still flowing freely in our ozone layer, destroying what little there is left of it, and as gas prices soar we begin to look to new, alternative energies to fuel our rapidly-growing population. The human race has never encountered a shortage of fuel like we are seeing now, and the toll that it has taken on Mother Earth will have far-reaching and possibly devestating consequences.

But some people already know this. Mainly in the trucking industry, corporate leaders are stepping up and taking charge, and to celebrate Earth Day this year Mack Trucks is unveiling a dialogue at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, PA to discuss possible new, alternative energies to power their trucks. They're also unveiling a new section of their website to commemorate their shift in focus to new, cleaner energies. But Mack isn't the only one. Navistar recently announced that they've purchased 18 brand-new hybrid long-haul trucks that will operate out of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. It's not much, but it's progress.

It's good to see the trucking industry getting behind the environmental movement, as most of the pollution that comes from automobiles is spewed from their trucks. It'll be hard to imagine seeing a long-haul truck on the freeway not billowing out its nasty cloud of pollution, but when it comes to the planet, well, let's just say it's a sight that's worth missing.

Many a time I have had a customer call me with this question:

"Hi, my name is so-and-so and I booked my auto transport with a company, but I can't remember who I booked with. Do you know?"

 I'm sorry, but I don't know who you booked your auto transport with. It can be frustrating to move a car, I know that, but at the end of the day don't you want to know who is currently in posession of your vehicle? If you're shipping a Corvette, or some other high-value car, doesn't it stand to reason that you would want to be aware of who is driving the truck that it's currently on?

I'm not talking about the actual trucking company, but you should know which brokerage you booked your deal with. It will save you a lot of time and hassle if you just write the name of the company and their phone number down on a piece of paper. Here's the information you should keep when you decide to book with a brokerage, so you know at all times who to get ahold of and also what company they work for:

-Name of Company

-Name of your Customer Service Representative (i.e. who you spoke to over the phone)

-Phone number (either for the company or the direct-dial/extension of your CSR)

-Name of the Trucking Company

-Name of the driver

These little snippets of information--no more than half a page, total--will go a long way in making you feel safe and secure, knowing that you can call at any time and receive the status of your vehicle. Peace of mind is something that we all want, and with auto transport it's a simple thing to have. Just know who you're talking to.

I work in the auto shipping industry, and I know the kinds of questions that people ask. I know what people want to know, what they want to see, how they want their car shipped. But, as a customer, many people don't realize the implications that those requests come with, and the burdens that are placed on the auto transport company. Many times your requests take time and effort away from your move, and can ultmately lead to more money out of your pocket and more time waiting for your car. So, here are some tips to help you, the customer, make your transport experience pleasant.

 Don't put stuff in your car.

Often times, people will leave boxes of clothes or knick-knacks in the back seat of the car. This makes sense, seeing as how they're all heading to the same place, but in reality it's harder for the trucking companies to deal with that because they aren't licensed to carry those knick-knacks or clothes. But, you can haul up to 100 lbs in the trunk only. This is because trucks don't care about your "junk in the trunk," as long as they can't see it. If they can't see it, they aren't responsible for it because they don't "know about it," see?

So, don't make the mistake of leaving stuff in your car. Put it in the trunk!

 I'll be back with more tips about making your auto transport experience quick and painless.

 -JimmyJazz