Recent Alaska Shipping News

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What is the zipper?
Why it is important to respect the zipper technique
Final word
 

What is the zipper?

The “zipper” technique or method, as many people call it, is a civil way of merging and allowing people to merge onto a road or highway with a high density of traffic. Specifically, the zipper technique is when one car already in the lane being merged into allows one car, no more – no less, from the lane or road being merged from to get into the lane in front of them. The car behind them does the same and so on. It is always a one-one trade off.

It is called the “zipper” method because, from above, it resembles the teeth of a zipper. That also helps explains why it is always one car allowed in then the car that let them in continues behind. If one car does not let a car into the lane in question or more than one car merges in front of one car, the “zipper” breaks much like it would on a jacket. When a zipper breaks, it causes a multitude of issues both on a jacket and in traffic.
 

Why it is important to respect the zipper technique

It is important to respect and properly execute the zipper technique because the issues caused by a broken “zipper” of traffic are detrimental to every driver on that road, not just to those who failed to respect the zipper.

The worst and most common issue resulting from one or more drivers not properly participating in the zipper is slower moving traffic. This directly leads to even more congestion and considerably longer travel times. As you can see, everyone suffers, not just those who chose to try to out drive the zipper technique. It can also easily lead to fender benders which will obviously also further worsen a traffic jam. However, not respecting the zipper can easily also lead to road rage which can be extremely dangerous and get out of hand quite quickly.
 

Final word

The zipper method/technique is a fairly simple way of helping to civilly speed up the process of cars merging into a lane with a lot of slow-moving cars already in it. Properly executing this technique will decrease traffic congestion, decrease travel times on that road and will eliminate higher risks of both fender benders as well as road rage incidents. When you need any type of vehicle shipped to or from Alaska, it is as simple as giving our auto transport experts a call anytime at (907) 331-3100.

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Where can I go off-road driving in Alaska?
When should I go off-roading in Alaska?
Advice for off-road driving in Alaska
Conclusion
 

Where can I go off-road driving in Alaska?

There are a few great spots that you can try your hand at off-roading in Alaska. They are:

• Knik Glacier Trail – This is one of the best off-roading experiences that you can have in all of Alaska. The trail is fairly difficult to traverse. You should only try to travel on this trail with a jeep or truck that has reliable snow tires. Be careful when crossing rivers because cars have been swept away in the past. There is also a considerable amount of traffic from ATVs, so be cautious.
• Kings River Trail – Kings River Trail is one of the easier off-road trails you can traverse in Alaska. It is almost five miles long and has some renowned fishing. It is not recommended to try this trail when the weather is bad. There are often many ATVs and dirt bikes on this trail as well.
• Bald Mountain Trail – This is one of the more difficult off-road trails to travel in Alaska. The trail includes great valley views. It often gets wet and muddy on the trail so good tires for off-roading will be needed. No camping is allowed here.
• Craigie Creek Road – Known for its wildlife, this trail is moderate in its difficulty. Potential wildlife spotting includes grizzlies and eagles. The trail includes an old mining cabin as well as waterfalls. Dependable off-road tires are recommended for this trip as well.

When should I go off-roading in Alaska?

It is always best to go off-roading in Alaska during warmer months. During the colder months, roads can easily become impassable, even with the sturdiest trucks, due to snow and ice quite easily.

However, in the warmer months in spring and summer, it is important to check the weather before you head out on one of these trails. This is because rain and wind can cause issues such as flooding and excessive mud on the trails. You can check the weather for a particular trail on this site.
 

Advice for off-road driving in Alaska

The most important things to remember about off-roading in Alaska are that you should always be careful and you should always be prepared for an emergency. Also, be sure to check the trail conditions and weather prior to heading out for the day.

As far as being prepared, make sure you have a spare off-road tire for your vehicle. Also, be sure that you have the right emergency supplies such as extra food and water, an emergency medical kit, a tool kit, gloves and a dependable way to communicate with help if need be such as a satellite phone (cell phones often do not get service in the remote areas on the trails).

You should also lower your tire pressure before you venture out on the trails. Doing so will allow the tires of your car more flexibility when going over an obstacle like rocks. However, you should only do so with caution because lowering your tire pressure too far could end up leading to damage to your tire including a flat tire. An important thing to remember is that you should only let air pressure out of your tires after you get off the highway and you should re-inflate them right after you get off of the trail.

Do not go off-roading alone either. Having a buddy with you is a great way to ensure a good level of safety and fun.

Finally, be sure that you get your car serviced prior to any off-roading that you might be considering. It is important to have the overall condition of your car checked as well as specific things such as fluid levels.
 

Conclusion

Off-roading in Alaska is a great way to experience the excellent nature and terrain that the great state has to offer. You just need to be sure that you are experienced or with someone experienced when you venture out to do so. You also need to be sure that you are in a vehicle that is capable of going off-road.

If you are heading to Alaska and need your off-road vehicle shipped there, Alaska Car Transport can help you out. Just give us a call today at (888) 777-2123.

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What is the Bill of Lading?
What you will need to do with it
Final word
 

What is the Bill of Lading?

When you ship a vehicle, the most important document involved will not be your license or registration. It will be the Bill of Lading which will be proved by your car shipping company. The bill of Lading is a legal transport document distributed by a carrier to a shipper. It is proof of the agreement you have with the auto transport carrier to ship your vehicle.

It is also the title of goods which legally binds the shipper to turn over the car (the goods in this case) to the consignee (car owner). It serves as receipt that the vehicle has been inspected and all pre-existing damage has been noted. It also serves as receipt upon delivery that the vehicle has been received and any new damage that occurred during the shipment has been noted. The occurrence of damage during a shipment is exceptionally rare. This is essentially a formality for insurance purposes.

A bill of lading is not actually a contract. It is evidence of a contract. The contract between someone shipping a vehicle and the carrier is formed when person shipping the car books their shipment with the carrier to transfer the car from point A to B. You won’t receive the bill of lading until your driver arrives to pick up your vehicle. The bill of lading will usually include the following information: Pick-up and delivery locations of the car, vehicle information such as make, model, year, VIN number & mileage, The inspection report regarding the vehicle’s pre-existing condition and damage as well as customer and driver agreement to terms & conditions.
 

What you will need to do with it

You will simply need to sign the Bill of Lading upon pickup. When you sign, it means you agree with all the pre-existing damage noted. You will also need to sign upon delivery. This signature means you recognize the car has been delivered. As you would with any other important document or receipt, be sure that you keep your copy in a safe place just in the rare case you need to reference it or use it in the future.
 

Final word

It should be no surprise that there will be paperwork involved when you ship your car. Fortunately, the paperwork will essentially begin and end with the Bill of Lading. The Bill of Lading is a document that you will need to sign both upon pickup and delivery. It will serve as a type of receipt for the auto transport service rendered. It will also serve several other purposes including but not limited to being the title of goods for the vehicle as well as being evidence of the contract between the shipping company and the car owner.

Jump to section:
The dangers of using your phone while you drive
How to legally use your phone hands-free
Final word
 

The dangers of using your phone while you drive

In 2020, over three thousand people died in America because of distracted driving. Not every one of those accidents was because of cell phone use but many were. Using your cell phone while you drive is outrageously dangerous to you, anyone else in your vehicle and every other driver on the road around you. It is very senseless and selfish to use your cell phone while you drive in Alaska or anywhere else in the world.

Research has shown that when you intermittently take your eyes on and off the road to read or write a text as you drive, your reaction time will double. This means it will take you twice as long to react to things like someone stopping short in front of you. If you find that you can barely react in time when someone stops short when you have full focus on the road, you are not alone. Imagine if your reaction time doubles. You would have no chance at avoiding getting into an accident. That example only accounts for those who are checking the road occasionally as they text, not those who flat out ignore the road when they text. In that case reacting to something like a car stopping in front of you becomes completely impossible.
 

How to legally use your phone hands-free

The good news is that you can safely and legally use your cell phone hands-free as you drive in Alaska. Doing so is not too complicated at all either. In order to safely and legally use your cell phone hands-free in Alaska, you have two options. First, you can get a good quality cell-phone mount and enable voice commands, such as voice dialing and speaker phone.

You can also choose to pair your phone to a hands-free device such as a Bluetooth. Some newer cars may even allow you to pair your cell phone to the speaker system. All of this only applies to calls and not texting. In the case of texting, you might be able to pair your phone with a device that can read texts and take dictation from your voice to automatically type responses. However, this is not that reliable and can easily distract your focus even though you are not averting your eyes from the road. Your best bet for using your phone while you drive will be to pull over and do so.
 

Final word

You should never take your eyes off of the road while you drive to use your phone for any reason. You also should never have your phone in your hand as you drive. If you are driving and you absolutely must use your phone, your best bet will always be to pull over in a safe place and do so there. You also have the options of getting a cell-phone mount or pairing your phone with a hands-free device in order to take calls while you drive only. Do not try to text using those options unless you can have your texts read aloud and typed through voice dictation by the device. Even then, never text while driving – it is just not worth the risk.

Jump to section:
Advantages of head-out parking
Disadvantages of head-out parking
Final word
 

Advantages of head-out parking

One of the most difficult parts about parking in a driveway or parking lot can be backing out of the spot when it is time to go. That is because you need to be on the lookout for oncoming cars and pedestrians in both directions while only being able to have your head turned in one direction at a time. That is exactly why many people choose to park head out whenever they have the chance.

The reduction of the risk of hitting another car or a pedestrian is the main advantage of parking head out. Parking that way also reduces the risk of road rage incidents as you have less of a chance of someone beeping if you do not see them when you pull out. Head out parking is also advantageous if you want to save some time as the process of pulling out of the spot will be much quicker than if you had to back out.
 

Disadvantages of head-out parking

Unfortunately, there will also be a couple of disadvantages to head out parking as well. The first is that, in some parking lots, it is against the law to park head out. Thus, you can get a parking ticket which will likely cost you thirty to fifty dollars. Many people question why such a rule would exist and the most reasonable explanation is that head out parking can lead to congestion in a parking lot because backing into a space can take more time than pulling in normally which can hold up cars behind you. Always check for any signs in a parking lot that restrict head out parking before doing so.

That leads us to the other main disadvantage of head out parking. It will be considerably more difficult to get into the space in the first place. This is especially true if the spaces are tight and/or there are lots of other drivers behind you as you back into the parking spot.
 

Final word

Parking head out is preferable for many people in most situations. It makes getting out of a driveway or parking spot much easier and safer. It will also make it take less time. Always be on the lookout in parking lots for signs that say “head in parking only” or something similar because if that is the case and you park head out, you can get a parking ticket as a result. If you need your vehicle transported to or from Alaska, give us a call today for a free quote at (907) 331-3100!

Jump to section:
Waiting for traffic to clear
Safely turning
Final word
 

Waiting for traffic to clear

Turning left at a green light can be tricky sometimes especially when there is a lot of oncoming traffic. You simultaneously need to worry about the light turning red as you attempt to turn. Regardless of the length of the light, you should never try to turn left too closely in between oncoming traffic. Risking an accident is not worth the benefit of avoiding a possible ticket. Always be sure to have your turn signal on as soon as you approach the intersection that you know you will be turning left at and keep it on until you have completed your left turn.

So, you must always wait for the oncoming traffic on the other side of the road to clear prior to attempting your left turn. If you do not, you risk getting t-boned which is an extremely dangerous type of accident that will cause a ton of damage to your car and the car that hits you. You also did not legally have the “right of way” in that situation thus you and/or your insurance will be responsible for paying for the damage to both cars. If your insurance covers you, you can be sure that your rates will be increased for getting into such a careless accident.
 

Safely turning

Sometimes, at busier intersections, a traffic light will give those turning left a green arrow signal where they can easily and quickly turn left while oncoming traffic must remain stopped at the opposite light. When you are turning left at a green light that does not have a green turn signal and you are the first in line on your side of traffic attempting to do so, you should pull out just a little bit into the intersection. How far you should pull out might depend on the specific intersection but, generally, one car length forward is a good rule of thumb. Legally, you must still be able to see the traffic light from where you have pulled up to.

If there is another vehicle in front of you that is also turning left, wait for them to turn and then start to worry about your own turn. Once any vehicles in front of you have turned and oncoming traffic has cleared and remains clear, make your turn.
 

Final word

Turning left at a green light that does not have a turn signal is not the easiest thing and it can be dangerous if not done correctly. Always have your turn signal on, wait for those in front of you to turn first, and wait for oncoming traffic to clear. Never pull too far out into the intersection prior to turning or try to turn too quickly in between oncoming cars.

Jump to section:
How to save gas when you are driving
How to drive less
Final word
 

How to save gas when you are driving

Gas prices are as high as they have ever been in many places around the country and the prices will continue to rise for at least the next two months. Alaska is no exception to this unfortunate trend. Gas prices in Alaska stand at an average of $4.80 a gallon for regular gas as of May 12th, 2022. One week prior the average price per gallon of regular gas was $4.68 and one year ago it was $3.28.

With those figures in mind, we will all obviously want to make sure we save as much gas as possible when we drive. The two biggest wastes of gas when you drive are speeding as well as excessive braking. You can avoid both of these things by slowing down, taking your time and putting a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you. Check that your tires are properly inflated because under-inflated tires will cause your engine to eat more fuel as you drive as well.

With the summer coming up, try rolling down the windows when you are too hot rather than using your air conditioning as the A/C can be a considerable drain on fuel. This may seem obvious, but always avoid idling your vehicle as that is a complete waste of gas. Take any roof racks or carriers off of your car because they build wind resistance which makes your engine work harder thus wasting more gas. If you need to fill up, use a gas app on your phone as this will give you the locations of gas stations with the lowest prices per gallon.
 

How to drive less

Another great way to avoid using more gas than you have to will be to drive as little as possible. Sometimes you will have no choice but to drive. However, with the right planning, you should be able to cut down on the amount that you are using your vehicle to get somewhere.

Try to combine trips especially if your stops at various places are along a similar route. If where you are going is only a mile or two away, consider walking or riding a bike as long as the weather allows you to. If you are commuting to work, consider carpooling with at least one other coworker. Finally, try using public transportation such as the bus. Fuel costs the same for public transportation companies and is reflected in the price increase for customers but because they have a high volume of customers it might be cheaper than driving your own car constantly.
 

Final word

Gas prices are unfortunately at an all-time high and will continue to climb for at least the next two months. That is all the reason that you need in order to conserve as much gas as humanly possible. You can do so by driving as little as possible, but you can also do so by doing things like avoiding idling, using your A/C much less, driving slower, and using a gas app on your smart phone.

Jump to section:
Preparing to stop
Coming to a complete stop
Final word
 

Preparing to stop

Making a proper and legal stop whether at a red light, stop sign or otherwise will always start as soon as you know that you will need to stop. The moment that you notice that you are approaching a redlight or stop sign you should begin the process of stopping by taking your foot off of the acceleration if you have not already done so. After that, you need to gently ease into pressing your brake so that you do not stop too far ahead of your intended stopping destination and/or that you do not stop too suddenly.

If you do stop too far ahead of your intended stopping destination, your stop might not be considered to be at the correct position, and you can technically receive a ticket for that. If your stop is too sudden, you can easily cause an accident and end up with a serious injury if you are hit hard enough from behind. Finally, if you are going to turn after you stop, turn your appropriate turn signal on as soon as you begin the process of coming to a stop.
 

Coming to a complete stop

Once you have safely and correctly come to a stop, you must ensure that you make a complete stop. At a redlight this will be very easy – you must remain stopped as long as the light remains red. If you are turning left after the light changes green, you will obviously need to remain stopped until oncoming traffic has cleared, and it is safe to turn.

Coming to a complete and legal stop at a stop sign will seem less clear. Many people will “roll” through stop signs which means they will just slow down considerably and check both ways. Doing this is illegal and can easily result in you receiving a ticket. However, even if you do stop completely and you start driving again too soon, you can still technically get a ticket. So, to simplify it as much as possible, a complete stop will mean both stopping so that your vehicle’s forward motion stops completely to the point that your car will rock back slightly. Then, you must also remain stopped at the stop sign for no less than three full seconds.
 

Final word

Stopping both correctly and legally in Alaska will go a long way in terms of helping you to avoid getting any unnecessary tickets and/or getting into easily avoidable accidents. As soon as you see that you are approaching a redlight or stop sign, you must begin the process of stopping. Do your best to avoid stopping completely too far before a redlight or stop sign as well as stopping too abruptly. Once you have finally stopped completely, remain stopped at a redlight until it turns green and at a stop sign for at least three full seconds.

Jump to section:
Before you turn
During your turn
Final word
 

Before you turn

A three-point turn can be useful technique in Alaska to get yourself turned around on a street or road that does not have enough space for you to make a typical U-turn. Situations that could necessitate a three-point turn could be when you need to turn around on a narrow road in a residential area with cars parked on one or both sides of the road or when there has been snow piled up on the side of a road which will take away space for you to maneuver. Whatever the situation, the most important part of a three-point turn will be for you to do so safely.

Successfully completing a proper and safe three-point turn will begin before you even start to physically turn your steering wheel. Prior to the turn, signal to the side of the road that you will initially be turning onto as you start to slow down to come to a stop. Then, check in all directions and make sure that there is no oncoming traffic or that any oncoming traffic has come to a stop to allow you to turn around. Once you have done this, you can begin your three-point turn.
 

During your turn

You can start your three-point turn by turning your car as far as you can to the left. Then cut the wheel all the way in the other direction and then you can put your car into reverse. While you do this keep your head turned backward to make sure you do not hit anything while reversing. After that, you can cut the wheel all the way to left again and put your car into drive and complete the turn.

For better visualization, you can also think of a three-point turn by thinking of its its other name, a K-turn, because the letter K is the outline of the various directions in which you will be going during the turn. Once you complete each and every step of the turn, be sure to do another quick check in all directions for new oncoming traffic that might not have been in close proximity to your vehicle when you first started the maneuver.
 

Final word

Three-point turns are a very useful maneuver that enable you to turn around on streets where there is not enough room to make a more typical U-turn. When you do make a three-point turn or K-turn as some people call it, always signal and check before you even start the turn. Make the turn slowly and with constant checks in all directions for oncoming traffic. If you need your car transported to or from Alaska, call (907) 331-3100 anytime for a free quote!

Jump to section:
How marijuana affects reaction time
Legal repercussions
Final word
 

How marijuana affects reaction time

Marijuana affects everyone differently. Many factors will affect how Marijuana will impact a certain individual including the exact type of marijuana, how frequently you use it and more. It is widely considered to be a harmless recreational drug. However, it does have some downsides. Marijuana can significantly impact the reaction time of someone who uses it. In fact, once someone has used marijuana their reaction time can increase by over twenty percent.

That is a big deal when it comes to operating a motor vehicle. It can easily be the difference between stopping safely behind the vehicle in front of you and hitting it at nearly full speed depending on the circumstances. In fact, in some individuals, it has been observed that executive function such as focus were also significantly impacted by the use of marijuana. When you momentarily lose focus while driving, in the moment your reaction ability becomes zero. To sum it up, you are putting yourself and everyone else out on the road at unnecessary risk when you choose to drive while you are under the influence of marijuana. It is for this reason that driving while “high” is illegal.
 

Legal repercussions

If you are caught by the police driving while you are under the influence of marijuana, you will face severe consequences just as you would if you were caught drinking and driving. The first time that you are caught driving “high” in Alaska:

• You will lose your license for at least three months.
• You will be fined up to fifteen hundred dollars.
• You will spend at least three days in jail.
• You will have an ignition interlock device installed in your car.

And that is just after your first offense. For additional offenses these penalties will reoccur but will just be much more severe. For example, you could end up getting six months to a year of jail time for additional offenses.
 

Final word

Driving under the influence of Marijuana is obviously something you should never do or even consider. Using marijuana lowers your ability to react as well as to focus. When you pair that with driving, you are just asking for trouble. You could end up getting into an accident, hurting yourself and someone else as well as getting arrested. If you hurt someone else, you will be responsible for damages and face severe criminal charges. If you get pulled over, you will be arrested, have your license suspended, and face a huge fine. In Alaska, or anywhere else for that matter, never drive under the influence of marijuana