Build Week vs Delivery Date

[WKTJR1]

Same here. My Trailhunter was built on 9/3 and has been at LZC since at least 9/26. Previous holds have shown up as holds in the dealer system. So my guess is they're all at the port waiting for a ride to Long Beach.

I had one salesperson tell me there's only one boat per month, which seemed ridiculous at the time. Based on my experience, I think I believe him now.

I would think it's more about having enough vehicles to fill the ship. Probably works out the same timewise.

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[YourOnlineHero]

anyone know if there are any holds going on west coast? my trailhunter has been sitting at the origin port in Lazaro Cardenas for almost a month now. Salesperson doesn't see any QA hold but still, no movement. Was originally suppose to get here a week ago but it hasn't even moved yet.

I experienced something very similar to your situation. My TRD PRO was built July 11, 2024 and arrived at the port of Long Beach in August. My TRD PRO ended up sitting at the port for over 30 days before it was finally delivered to the dealership. While I did maintain consistent contact with the dealership while waiting for the truck, I eventually decided to call Toyota’s brand engagement to communicate my frustration with the entire situation. 5 days after contacting brand engagement, my truck arrived at the dealership. The waiting process can be excruciatingly long, but I hope you get your truck soon.

 

[timetoeatpotatoes]

That honestly makes sense. I probably missed the previous boat by a few days since I know a few others with a build week one earlier made it already.

 

[Trailcat]

I would think it's more about having enough vehicles to fill the ship. Probably works out the same timewise.

That's a fair point. I have been tracking every RO-RO going through LZC. Several have gone to Long Beach in the last few weeks but I assume they're brand specific.

 

[Trailcat]

I experienced something very similar to your situation. My TRD PRO was built July 11, 2024 and arrived at the port of Long Beach in August. My TRD PRO ended up sitting at the port for over 30 days before it was finally delivered to the dealership. While I did maintain consistent contact with the dealership while waiting for the truck, I eventually decided to call Toyota’s brand engagement to communicate my frustration with the entire situation. 5 days after contacting brand engagement, my truck arrived at the dealership. The waiting process can be excruciatingly long, but I hope you get your truck soon.

How did you get ahold of Brand Engagement? Was that the 800 number on the Toyota site or something else?

 

[YourOnlineHero]

How did you get ahold of Brand Engagement? Was that the 800 number on the Toyota site or something else?

1-800-331-4331 believe this is the number. I also provided my VIN # and informed Toyota Brand Engagement that the dealership I’m working with had not been provided with an update about a delivery date for quite some time. Hope this helps

 

[JustAnotherDingus]

anyone know if there are any holds going on west coast? my trailhunter has been sitting at the origin port in Lazaro Cardenas for almost a month now. Salesperson doesn't see any QA hold but still, no movement. Was originally suppose to get here a week ago but it hasn't even moved yet.

Looks like our trucks will be on the same boat. I suspect there are only so many boats per month so it’s a matter of timing for when it lands? Since it’s been almost a month I’d like to hope that boat is coming soon

mines been there for about a week and some change.

 

[JustAnotherDingus]

That honestly makes sense. I probably missed the previous boat by a few days since I know a few others with a build week one earlier made it already.

Which means by that math hopefully it’s getting on a boat this week or next week?

 

[TacoFish]

Same here. My Trailhunter was built on 9/3 and has been at LZC since at least 9/26. Previous holds have shown up as holds in the dealer system. So my guess is they're all at the port waiting for a ride to Long Beach.

I had one salesperson tell me there's only one boat per month, which seemed ridiculous at the time. Based on my experience, I think I believe him now.

My Trailhunter was built on 8/27, arrived at Lazaro Cardenas on 9/19. No movement since per my dealer. Not sure if they use the same vessel to both Long Beach and Portland. Hopefully we all see the status "Vessel Depart" very soon.

 

[WKTJR1]

UPDATE: I started browsing the Toyota site and found a few trucks that caught my interest. It seems we’ve reached a point where supply is starting to outpace demand. I found another MA dealer with two Limiteds—one blue and one red. The blue one is on the lot, while the red one is still sitting at the port in Mexico.

I called the dealer and asked, "Do you do out-of-state sales?" They said, "Yes." Perfect! The blue one has a bunch of POIs totaling $2,600, but the truck is discounted by $2,500, so it’s basically a wash. Same situation with the red one.

I went ahead and put a deposit on the blue one and could have it in my driveway as early as next week. I’ve been in touch with the salesman and told him I’ll follow up soon to start the process.

Meanwhile, I still have the reservation on the red Limited with the original MA dealer. My salesman there is a man of few words—at the very least, I’d appreciate some acknowledgment of my emails so I know they were received. The spec sheet included a few items I don’t want or need, like floor mats. So, I asked for some changes: the interior color, bed scene lighting, and removal of the mats.

The usual response was that everything is pre-programmed and making changes might be a problem—blah, blah.

Honestly, I had kind of forgotten about it all since I wasn’t hearing back from him. Then, last night, just as I was about to email him to release the truck and tell him I was going in a different direction, I checked my inbox—and there it was. An email with a new spec sheet.

Everything I requested has been approved: the additions, deletions, and even the color change (again). Now, the truck is exactly the way I want it. It feels like fate has intervened, telling me I’m getting the red Limited exactly the way I want it, damn it!

So, I let the other dealer know that I won’t be moving forward with the blue truck and thanked him for his help. If the timing had been off by just an hour, I’d be telling a different story.

Now, it’s back to the waiting game.

 

[TacoFreak]

Now, it’s back to the waiting game.

I would say that is a smart choice, particularly since the later the build the better your chances are of getting a reliable drivetrain IMO.

 

[WKTJR1]

I would say that is a smart choice, particularly since the later the build the better your chances are of getting a reliable drivetrain IMO.

I just got off the phone with the salesman. He asked, "What can we do to earn your business? Is it the price?" Damn, I probably could’ve pushed for a bigger discount.

He also mentioned that next year, Toyota is planning to produce fewer Limited hybrids, so there might not be any deals. Whether that’s true or not doesn’t really matter. The latest KMG download shows 97 Limited hybrids out of 706 total units on the lots, so I can see why Toyota might want to shift production toward better-selling models.

 

[JustAnotherDingus]

That's a fair point. I have been tracking every RO-RO going through LZC. Several have gone to Long Beach in the last few weeks but I assume they're brand specific.

my sales guy got some info from one of Toyotas district managers from SoCal via email today. I have an screengrab but my phone is being a butt and won’t let me upload it.

Apparently once they land at the LZC port, Toyota can’t see exactly where they are until they get scanned/logged when they land at whichever port they’re going in the US. He also mentioned that LZC is often a bit backed up and that my truck (built late September) is within a non worrying threshold for expected ongoing port delays out of that spot. He’s waiting to hear back on some vessel logistics for a bit more info.

I hope that helps? It’s info and non info but it sheds a bit more light on their process I think. I wonder if they do one vehicle brand per ship and the same ship starts in San Diego and winds its way up the coast over the course of a couple weeks. Hm.

 

[Trailcat]

I hope that helps? It’s info and non info but it sheds a bit more light on their process I think. I wonder if they do one vehicle brand per ship and the same ship starts in San Diego and winds its way up the coast over the course of a couple weeks. Hm.

I'm glad we're within the 'non-worrying' threshold. lol. Will they tell us when to worry? My salesperson said she wouldn't expect an update in the system until it got loaded on the train. It all seems more chaotic than I'd expect from Toyota. I wonder if they know which ship. That would at least give us something to track.

 

[TacoFreak]

@Trailcat - It is chaotic and surprised me too. The only info I had was the allocation and build sheet, a build range which was wrong, a build date and eventually a delivery range, which was a week after I got the truck. And this is from a dealer that I know and completely trust.

My salesperson told me that Toyota lost a Tundra sale before it arrived last year. It left a a transit center headed to their dealership, and then it just disappeared from the system. After weeks of searching they found it in a Richmond,VA distribution place, who didn't even know that they had it.

She said - "This was a $80k truck and it took them over a month to even figure out where it was? That is why I don't pin things down too tightly with my buyers, because I know that a lot of times even Toyota does not know where some of its vehicles are or when they will arrive".

I would say that is chaotic, but Toyota distribution has always been strange and I guess people accept it as the price of getting a Toyota.

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