What First-Time Senders Do Not Know to Ask

Most people who ship a bike for the first time hand it over and simply hope it arrives undamaged. They do not know what happens between handover and delivery — how the bike is secured, whether it lies on its side, whether multiple bikes share a space, or what the loading equipment looks like. Not knowing these things makes it impossible to ask the right questions or recognise when something is being done carelessly.

This guide walks through the entire loading and unloading process so you understand exactly what your bike experiences during transport and what to look for to ensure it is handled properly.

The Carrier Vehicle

Most two-wheelers in India are transported on one of two carrier types:

• Multi-bike open carriers — trucks with a flatbed or enclosed structure holding four to twelve motorcycles and scooters in purpose-built slots. The bikes are secured upright or at a slight angle in individual holding slots. This is the most common method for shared transport.
• Tempo or small van — for door-to-door service, smaller vehicles like a Tata Ace or Force Traveller are used to collect the bike and transport it to the main carrier depot, or in some cases all the way to the destination for short to medium distances.

Step 1: Pre-Loading Inspection

Before the bike is touched by the loading team, a team member should walk around the bike with you and document its condition on a pre-shipment inspection report. Every existing scratch, dent, chip, and mark is noted and both parties sign the report.

If the team skips this step, stop them and insist on it. The inspection report is your only evidence that damage existed before loading — without it, proving a damage claim after delivery is very difficult.

Step 2: Fuel Check

The loading team checks that the fuel tank is nearly empty before loading. If the tank is full, they will ask you to drain it. Most carriers will not load a bike with more than a small amount of fuel — typically enough to start and move the bike at the destination. This is a safety requirement, not a preference.

Step 3: Loading the Bike onto the Carrier

Loading involves riding or pushing the bike up a loading ramp onto the carrier bed. The ramp is typically a steel or aluminium ramp hinged to the back of the carrier truck.

• For bikes that can start: a team member starts the bike and rides it up the ramp slowly, stopping at the designated slot on the carrier. This is the preferred method as it gives the team control over the bike's movement.
• For bikes that cannot start or are very heavy: two or three team members push the bike up the ramp. For large motorcycles or those with seized engines, a wheel guide or sled is sometimes used to roll the bike without starting it.
• The bike is pushed or ridden to its designated slot — typically a groove or channel in the carrier bed that holds the front tyre in position.

Step 4: Securing the Bike

This is the most critical step for preventing transit damage. A properly secured bike does not move during transit; an improperly secured bike shifts and falls.

• Front tyre in the slot — the front wheel is placed in a channel or tyre chock that holds the wheel upright and prevents the bike from rolling forward or backward
• Tie-down straps — ratchet straps are attached from the bike's frame or handlebars to anchor points on the carrier. Correctly applied straps slightly compress the suspension — this is intentional, as it removes slack from the bike's movement range.
• Number of straps — a standard motorcycle should be secured with at least four straps: two at the front (attached to handlebars or forks) and two at the rear (attached to the frame or luggage rack mounts). For heavy motorcycles, six strap points is better.
• Strap placement — straps should not be attached to the fairing, indicators, mirrors, or any plastic component. Always to the frame or solid metal mounting points. A strap attached to a plastic fairing panel will damage or break it during the tension of the journey.

Step 5: Padding Contact Points

Wherever a strap contacts a painted or chrome surface, a cloth or foam pad is placed beneath the strap to prevent pressure marks or scratches. Ask the loading team to confirm they are padding all strap contact points before the truck closes or departs.

At the Destination: Unloading

Unloading is the reverse of loading: straps are removed, the bike is rolled or ridden backward down the ramp, and the team member guides the bike to a stable parking position at the delivery address.

Before signing the delivery receipt:

• Compare the bike's condition against your pre-shipment photographs and the inspection report
• Check the specific strap contact points for any rubbing or pressure damage
• Check the front tyre area and undercarriage for any new marks from the chock system
• Reconnect the battery and add fuel before attempting to start the engine

Note any new damage on the delivery receipt before signing. Once you sign a clean receipt, claiming damage later becomes very difficult regardless of what your photographs show.