Latest News

Global Supply Chain Challenges

Through the COVID pandemic we have experienced an influx of demand alongside a challenged global supply chain system; from raw material shortages, tangled ports and stretched trucking companies.

While we continue to pursue every option to keep inventory readily available (including moving some of our production to the USA) we have not found immunity to our stretched global system.

If challenges arise, we promise complete transparency with clear updates posted here as soon as possible.

November 23, 2022 Update:

m3 Short Backorder:

We have a short backorder on the m3 carrier. They are in production and we expect to resume normal shipping by December 9.

The other motorcycle carriers and electric bike racks are in stock and shipping normally. So if you place your order by noon US Central time, it will ship the same day. Click here for details.

September 16, 2022 Update:

Back to Normal!

All of the motorcycle carriers and electric bike racks are now in stock! This means your order will ship the same-day if placed by noon US Central time. Click here for details.

September 9, 2022 Update:

Steadily Normalizing:

We've updated the product status's of the Sport and m3 to "Available". This means they ship within about a week of ordering. We expect to be back to "In Stock - Same day shipping" by the end of next week.

Max, Max+ and Mini are Still Shipping Normally:

The Max, Max+ and Mini are shipping the same-day if you order by noon US Central time. Click here for details.

August 19, 2022 Update:

We have m3 and Sport carriers!:

We began shipping Sport and m3 carriers yesterday. We expect to ship retail orders placed up through June 22 by today Friday. The rest of the orders should be shipped by next Wednesday the 24th.
Thank you again for your patience!

Max, Max+ and Mini Shipping Normally:

The Max, Max+ and Mini are shipping same-day if you order by noon US Central time. Click here for details.

August 11, 2022 Update:

Texas Rocking!:

The Texas production ramp is now ahead of demand for Max, Max+ and Mini so same-day shipping is humming along - just like the old days (pre-COVID craze). Click here for details.

Sport and m3 Components:

We finally received the last of the components to finish the current Sport and m3 (big) production batch. These are now being powder coated. Next is assembly, packaging, then off to the warehouse for shipping to you! We expect to ship standing orders next week.

August 1, 2022 Update:

In Stock!:

The Max, Max+ and Mini are now in stock and back to same-day shipping - click here for details.

In Other News:

We're still shooting to ship the Sport and m3 by August 10 pending arrival of the last of the imported fabrications. Keep an eye on the product pages for updates to the ETA dates.

July 15, 2022 Quick Update: We have tubing!

From production manager:

"The last of the tubing came in about an hour ago....finally..... We started running the 1" in the tube laser already and will run this weekend through laser, bending, welding and over to powdercoat as quickly as possible..."

So the expected ship dates in yesterday's post should be pretty close.

July 14, 2022 Update

Sales continue to be very strong:

As more and more people learn about the expanding line of MotoTote products, the demand and backlog continue to grow. We are very thankful for this but also humbled because the challenges are frustrating and sometimes feel overwhelming.

However, we are motivated and so continue to work hard every day to ramp up and eventually catch up with the backlog to reach our goal of getting back to samde day shipping and staying there continually.

Once a particular product comes out of production and the warehouse is restocked, we ship all outstanding orders in a very short time.

Tubing shortages: The large diameter tubing for the MTX Platform on the Max and Max+ has been in short supply. We had been promised delivery last week but that didn't happen. Now, we're hoping to receive it this week. If that happens, then we'll be able to finish the batch in time to ship in two weeks (a two week delay) - last week of July.

All the material was received for the Mini BUT the small diameter tubing was out of round so had to be returned to the supplier. We're now waiting for the replacement tubing which is promised for this week. If that happens, we'll be able to finish the Minis in time to ship next week (a one week delay) - July 22.

The ETA dates on each product page have been updated accordingly.

Sport and m3: Expected ship dates of the Sport and m3 are holding so far. Keep an eye on those product pages. The components shipment is in Long Beach, wating to get on a train to come to the Texas factory.

As a reminder, for ship dates, please check each product page. If the product shows "In stock", then it will ship the same-day if you order by noon US Central Time. Otherwise there will be an ETA date.

Don't forget, we offer pre-order discounts on carriers that are backordered as a "Thank you" for your patience!

Feel free to contact us anytime.

Thank you for your patience and support!

June 23, 2022 Update

First some good news:

After many customer requests, the Dual carriers are finally in the works! Keep an eye on this website!

In other news: The Max inventory is running low but more are in production here in Texas, along with the Max+ and Mini. We hope to be restocked and shipping between July 8 & 12.

...and the (sort of) bad news: We're pushing back the expected ship date of the Sport and m3 to August 10. We think this is a conservative ETA - if the longshoremen are in a good mood, it could be sooner. We're waiting on the imported components that are making their way around the world to get to our Texas factory where we'll powder coat, assemble and package them before finally shipping the finished product to you.

For ship dates, check each product page. If the product shows "In stock", then it will ship the same-day if you order by noon US Central Time. Otherwise there will be an ETA date.

We always give pre-order discounts on carriers that are backordered so you can save a few buck$ while you're waiting!

Feel free to contact us anytime.

Thank you for your patience and support!

June 8, 2022 Update

Here's the news for today:

Inventory is good on the Max and we don't expect to run out.

The Mini, our newest product is a big hit so the first production batch is selling fast! We have more in production now so hopefully we won't run out before re-stocking.

Remember, if the product shows "In stock", then it will ship the same-day if you order by noon US Central Time.

The Max+ sold out today but we already have more in production so we expect to resume shipping by July 8 or so. In the meantime you can get a pre-order discount of $40 OR pay half now and half later when ready to ship.

We've adjusted the ETA date of the Sport and m3 to mid July. In all honesty, this could move back to the end of July.

Please know it's as frustrating for us as it is for you if you ordered and were expecting to receive it by a certain date.

As mentioned in the last update, we're producing the Sport and m3 in larger batches to adjust to the increased demand and reduce backorder delays.

Feel free to contact us anytime.

Thank you for your patience and support!

April 28, 2022 Update

It's been awhile since the last update, so first the good news:

Inventory is good on the Texas built carriers: The Max+, Max and Mini. We don't expect any disruptions. These ship same-day if you order by noon US Central Time.

...And now the other news:

Because of the above mentioned logistics challenges and supply shortages, we're forced to adjust the ETA date of the Sport and m3 to the latter part of June.

We know this is very frustraging for you if you ordered one expecting to receive it by the end of May. I can assure you that we are at least as frustrated because these issues are not within our control.

However, we are taking steps to avoid shortages of the Sport and m3 in the future: The next production batch is much larger than usual in hopes that we will not run out again.

We will post any significant updates on this page. Feel free to contact us anytime.

We appreciate all of you!

March 3, 2022 Update

Sport and m3 status:

The and m3 carriers sold out over the weekend. We still have some Sport carriers so now's the time to pull the trigger if you want to avoid a long wait. This back order is expected to last until May.

But here's the good news: The Sport and m3 that are now in production (expected in May) are the long-awaited Version 2.0 which addresses the pesky little issues that you may have read about in reviews.

These improvements include:

  • Upgraded black zinc treated hardware for rust resistance
  • Improved powder coat, done at the fab facility in Texas, with the same awesome finish as the Max/+ carriers!
  • ZeroWobble+ Hitch Mount included (the standard ZeroWobble will be phased out)
  • Much better packaging to reduce shipping damage
  • Wider structural weight safety margin with no weight penalty - More metal where needed, less where not
  • Final finishing and assembly in Texas for better quality control

If you order an m3 now, it will be the V2.0. After the current inventory of Sport carriers sells out, subsequent orders will be filled with the Sport V2.0.

If you want to order a Sport V2.0 now, go ahead and order now and type in the order comments that you want the V2.0. That way you'll help other customers who may be in a bigger hurry and you'll get a nice new V2.0 carrier (in May).

Texas Production:

The Max & Max+ carriers currently in production are on schedule to start shipping next week as expected! It's so nice when a plan comes together!

Mini inventory is still good for now. This is a new product and interest continues to ramp up. It has been well received with few or no bugs or complaints.

As always, check this page for updates.

We appreciate every customer!

February 15, 2022 Update

Get 'em while they're hot!

We just received Sport and m3 inventory so those are now in stock (for now) with same day shipping! Woo hoo!!!!

Texas Production:

The Max+ carrier is still on backorder. We expect to re-stock by the week of March 7.

Max inventory is running low and may sell out before we receive new inventory the week of March 7. We don't think the backorder will be long.

Mini inventory is good for now.

As always, check this page for updates.

We appreciate all our patient customers!

February 4, 2022 Update

Winter Weather in Texas:

Due to the weather that has impacted the area, the shipping carriers were not making pick ups from our logistics facility yesterday or today. We expect to resume normal shipping next week.

Texas Production:

The Max+ carrier has sold out. We're waiting on production for an update on a re-stock date.

Max and Mini inventory is good for now.

As always, keep an eye on this page for updates.

Thanks again for your support!

January 26, 2022 Update

Production OK (for now):

Shipping is humming for now on the Max, Max+ and Mini carriers while supplies last.

Logistics? Not so much:

The Sport and m3 have been on back-order with an ETA at end of January but we're forced to push this back because of further port delays in Long Beach. Our ship arrived off the coast of California on the 26th of December but has since been anchored at sea, presumably waiting for someone to unload it!! The currently shown ETA to Long Beach is January 30. This means we would receive inventory here in Dallas a few weeks later. Click here for a real-time view.

As always, keep an eye on this page for updates.

Thanks again for your support!

January 12, 2022 Update

Back to Same-Day Shipping (for now):

We're back to same-day shipping on the Max, Max+ and Mini carriers - for now.

Inventory is limited because supply and logistics challenges persist, hardware now being the latest bottleneck. We hope to have plenty of hardware by the end of the month.

The Sport and m3 are back-ordered until the end of January (we hope). This could be pushed back further - we'll see.

Keep an eye on this page for updates.

Thanks again to our wonderful, patient customers!

January 5, 2022 Update

Finally Catching Up:

Here's the update from production manager Tyler as of Monday afternoon (two days ago): We're running full speed on the [Sherwin Williams] Anthracite today. We will get the license plate holders powdered along with all the other items. As of this afternoon we are about 40% through all the MTM kits. We will continue with Anthracite until we have all items coated.

And this morning: We will start packing the MTM’s today and see how far we get, we just wrapped up the last of the powderocating on those. Still shooting the MTX [Max/+] components. We should have a good group by tomorrow afternoon.

This means the inventory will be at the MotoTote logistics facility on Airline Drive by Thursday afternoon, allowing us to get lots of shipping done by the end of this week.

December 30, 2021 Update

We have powder!:

We finally received the right powder coat today after another week of delay because of FedEx Freight's "personnel shortages".

We decided to not re-coat the Mini carriers with the alternate finish (as previously announced), expecting to receive the "real" powder shipment by the 23rd. This caused another week and a half delay for the Mini's and the last few Max+. We are sorry about that.

We can now finish the current production runs of Mini's, Max's, and Max+'s.

Thanks again for your patience.

December 14, 2021 Update

More News on Texas Production:

Last week we began powder coating Max and Max+ carriers as mentioned in the last update and were able to ship a good number of orders on Friday.

This week we are continue to ship orders in the order they were received.

Next, we'll finish up enough Mini carriers to fill existing orders and new orders in the near future. It may take until next week to get all of the existing Mini orders shipped.

Once we're caught up on old orders, we'll show the items as "In Stock" for shipping right away.

Thanks again for your patience.

December 6, 2021 Update

Good News on Texas Production:

We have found a very suitable alternate powder coating for the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers so powder coating will begin tomorrow morning on the Max/+ carriers. We hope to start shipping units by the end of the week although it may not be a large number. We expect to have all orders shipped by December 17.

The so-called "alternate" coating is every bit as good as the specified coating - just a little shinier. There will be no sacrifice in quality.

Today we were unable to get a satisfactory delivery guarantee from Sherwin-Williams so we felt we had to make this decision in order to not keep our customers waiting any longer.

December 2, 2021 Update

On-Time:

We are enjoying normal shipping times on the Sport carrier and most accessories and tie-downs.

Sold-Out:

The m3 carrier, always popular, recently sold out with restocking expected by February. Pre-order now for a discount!

Texas Production:

The powder coat saga continues... Our powder coat supplier Sherwin Williams continues to push back the production schedule on the powder for the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers. What's frustrating is they seem to do it 2 weeks at a time - perpetually. This wait is taking WAY longer than we could have imagined.

We've been searching for alternatives to get production moving again at the Texas factory. These include looking at new suppliers OR an alternate coating from our existing suppliers including Sherwin Williams. This last option seems to be the most viable.

What makes things extra complicated is that all of half the components of each carrier were already coated by the time we were notified of the shortage. If all componenets were still uncoated, we could simply switch to a more readily available substitute coating.

When we became aware of the shortage in September, the delay was to be a couple of weeks. That has now turned into months.

We are even considering re-doing the already coated parts with an alternative powder coat. We will re-coat a few sample pieces in order to make a decision on this option.

Whatever we do, we will not sacrifice quality.

Please stay tuned here for updates.

November 22, 2021 Update

We are back to normal shipping times on the Sport and m3 carriers as well as most accessories and tie-downs.

The last update from production is that  November 30th is the last that [the Sherwin Williams rep] could tell me but he also mentioned that he plans to escalate his inquiries on the delays.  

We can assure you that we WILL ship your order as soon as we can but at this point we don't feel we can supply an accurate date until we have better information. We are as frustrated as you are.

If you need to cancel your order, we would of course completely understand. HOWEVER, the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers are in a class of their own so if you can wait, it will be worth it. Please note that orders to date received introductory pricing - the price has already increased and will only go up in the future.

Be rest assured we are doing everything we can to complete this production batch including exploring other sourcing options.

Once again, we apologize for these delays but you can be sure we WILL come through for you.

November 17, 2021 Update

First the good news: We now have the Sport and m3 in stock so all those orders will be shipped by tomorrow!

The last information we received on the powder coat from Sherwin Williams is the 19th to 22nd of November which means we would start shipping the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers next week. This is the best information we have at this time.

Thank you again for your patience.

November 4, 2021 Update

The wait continues. The last information we received is that  Sherwin has this powder scheduled for 'Mid November'  . At this point, I don't think Sherwin Williams knows for sure but we continue hoping and waiting.

Based on this update, we would expect to be shipping the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers starting on about November 17. Obviously this could change but it's the best information we have at this time.

As always, we want to be as transparent as possible. We are a strong, well established company so you can be sure we will come through for you.

October 13, 2021 Update

The best shipping estimate we can now provide for the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers is the first week of November.

Here is the latest update from our production manager:

...I heard back from Sherwin Williams late yesterday. [Our] powder is now scheduled for completion November 1st. I will continue to monitor the progress and report any developments to you.

September 28, 2021 Update

I wish we had better news today.

We were fully expecting to start shipping the Max and Max+ on October 8.

Here's the lates update from our production manager:  ...Additional powder was expected last week but now being told backorder will be filled mid-October. We’re working to bring this date in, Sherwin Williams is working out the logistics... Not all components made it through powder before we ran out so I’m afraid we will not be able to assemble partials until we get more powder.

Here's the update MotoTote received directly from Sherwin-Williams:  Unfortunately there remain global shortages in pigments, resins, additives, etc that are used in both liquid and powder coatings. On top of that, global transportation and logistics and supply chains continue to be overtaxed. When I looked this morning, the next batch of [your] powder is currently scheduled for 10/17-18.

The best shipping estimate we can now provide for the Mini, Max, and Max+ carriers is October 20.

We apologize for this additional delay. We're posting these updates to be as truthful and transparent as possible.

We appreciate each and every one of our awesome customers and thank you for your patience.

August 25, 2021 Update

We're back to the "normal" same-day shipping on in-stock items.

The challenge until about October will be keeping carriers in stock.

On the bright side, ramping up, we have a large number of all carrier models in the production pipeline, including the awesome new MotoTote Mini for heavy electric bicycles and small trail bikes. All of the carrier models will become available to ship starting end of September to first half of October.

In the meantime, we encourage you to pre-order to assure you get what you want and maybe get a pre-order discount! If you live in the Sunbelt, don't worry about winter - it's the best time to get out!

As always, please refer to each product details page for the latest product ETA dates.

Click here for general information on shipping

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