Pre-Dispatch Vehicle Condition

Vehicle Condition & Loading Checklist

The route is only half of an auto-transport quote. The vehicle also has to be loadable. This checklist turns vague labels such as “running,” “inoperable,” “modified” or “salvage” into specific facts that can be matched to carrier equipment before dispatch.

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Phoenix Auto Dispatch Planning Guide

Prepared by Phoenix Auto Dispatch · Reviewed August 26, 2026 · U.S. vehicle transport · How this guide is researched

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Key Planning Points

✓ Report what the vehicle can physically do: start, roll, steer, brake and enter neutral.

✓ Report what can prevent movement: missing keys, electronic parking brake, locked wheels, flat tires or damaged suspension.

✓ Measure or photograph clearance and modifications that can affect ramps, deck space or loaded height.

✓ For damaged EVs/hybrids, disclose possible high-voltage involvement before ordinary transport is assumed.

✓ Send unusual-condition information before carrier assignment, not when the driver arrives.

1. Basic movement condition

These answers are more useful than a single “running/non-running” field because they determine whether ordinary drive-on loading, winching or a more specialized recovery setup is realistic.

Question	Record before dispatch
Does it start / power on?	Yes / No / Intermittent / Unknown
Does it roll freely?	All wheels free / identify locked wheel or brake
Does it steer?	Normal / limited / locked / damaged linkage
Do the brakes work?	Service brake / parking brake status
Can it enter neutral?	Yes / No / electronic procedure required
Are keys/fob available?	Yes / No / app-only access / replacement pending

2. Wheels, tires and suspension

A vehicle can start and still be unsuitable for ordinary carrier loading if a wheel is folded under the body, the suspension has collapsed or a tire/wheel is missing. Send photos of any damaged corner.

All wheels/tires physically present
Tires inflated enough for positioning
No wheel locked by collision or mechanical damage
Suspension supports the vehicle at a predictable height
No loose body/suspension component that creates a loading hazard

3. Clearance and dimensions

Loading geometry and trailer space can change the equipment choice even when the vehicle is fully operable.

Lowest ground clearance at the front, center and rear when known
Front splitter, rear diffuser or side-skirt extensions
Lift or lowering kit
Oversized tires / dual rear wheels
Overall vehicle height and width for modified trucks/RVs
Roof rack, rooftop tent, ladder rack or other added height

Low-clearance transport →Lifted truck transport →

4. Collision, salvage or incomplete vehicles

Some conditions belong first in towing/recovery or repair-yard handling rather than ordinary long-haul auto transport. Phoenix needs enough information to avoid presenting an unsuitable carrier as if it were a normal pickup.

Loose or sharp body panels
Broken glass
Fluid leaks
Airbags deployed
Frame or suspension damage
Missing wheels/parts
Fire, flood or high-voltage battery involvement

Damaged & salvage transport →

5. Federal securement is the carrier’s responsibility

FMCSA maintains commodity-specific cargo securement rules for automobiles, light trucks and vans. Accurate vehicle weight and configuration help the assigned motor carrier apply the correct equipment and securement framework.

Official resource: FMCSA — Cargo Securement Rules

What to send Phoenix when the condition is unusual

The purpose is not to make the customer diagnose the vehicle. It is to give the carrier-assignment process enough facts to match equipment before dispatch.

Year, make and model
Pickup location and facility type
The movement-condition answers above
Photos from front/rear/both sides plus damaged areas
Approximate clearance/dimensions for modifications
Any auction/release deadline
Any manufacturer transport instruction already identified

Frequently Asked Questions

If the vehicle starts, is it automatically considered operable for transport?

Not necessarily. It also needs to be safely positionable. Steering, braking, neutral selection, wheel/suspension condition and clearance can still affect loading.

Do I need exact measurements for a stock passenger car?

Usually not. Measurements become more important for lowered, lifted, oversized, incomplete or heavily modified vehicles.

When should I send photos?

Send them when damage, modifications, low clearance, missing parts or loading condition cannot be described reliably in a few words.

Plan Your Vehicle Shipment

Use the quote form for current route, vehicle, equipment and timing details rather than relying on a generic national rate.

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