What started as a small "drive away" business in an office overlooking Times Square has grown into a leading global transport company with 130 company-owned car carriers.
Dependable Auto Shippers, based in Mesquite, Texas, will transport 80,000 vehicles this year, everything from new to classic cars, as well as boats, trains and motorcycles.
"There's not a vehicle we haven't moved," says James Martin, head of specialized logistics for the 50-year-old company.
The core of DAS's business is corporate and personal relocation, says Jill Steele, marketing director. In recent years, though, shipping cars sold online has increased dramatically.
"That's a third of our business," says Steele. "From retail online buys to online auctions. And it's everything from classic cars to a reasonable used car for a college kid."
With 500 employees, DAS is equipped to ship "anything anywhere." It has both open and closed carriers and can do international shipping. Besides cars, the company has been entrusted with heavy machinery, the Batmobile and even some train cars."We moved three cars of a train from one fairground to another," says Martin. "That was probably our most difficult move."
The company recently added several key personnel, and plans to increase its market standing and global business partnerships in the years ahead. For more on DAS, go online to www.dasautoshippers.com.
