How Auto Shipping Works

 GET A QUOTE

Please remember during this process that the old saying “You get what you pay for” prevails. It is very important to understand how the auto transport market works. Almost all auto transport companies are brokers, which means they arrange transportation between the shipping customer and an auto transport carrier. Upon taking your order, all transport brokers post it to a national load board. There is usually a range for the prices along any given route. Like most businesses, auto transport carriers are looking for the shipments that pay the most. When an auto transport company quotes you a low figure, rest assured that your shipment will be one of the last accepted by a carrier. As a former auto transport carrier, we have received many phone calls from people who have been waiting over a month to get their vehicle shipped because it was not priced properly.

BOOKING YOUR SHIPMENT

Once you commit to an auto transport broker, you will be asked to sign a shipping contract. It is imperative that you read all the contract details before agreeing. Booking a shipment with multiple transport companies is a violation of most contracts and can result in assessment of additional fees if shipment is double brokered. It can also result in delays getting your shipment booked with a carrier, as most will not schedule an order that is double posted on load boards.

PRE-SHIPMENT CHECKLIST

See our Pre-Shipment Checklist for tips on preparing your vehicle for shipment.

CARRIER ASSIGNMENT

After booking your shipment with a transport company, they will schedule an available carrier for your shipment. Carriers are typically scheduled 3-7 days prior to your requested shipping date. The transport company will notify you once a carrier has been scheduled and request payment for your shipment.  Please note, carriers typically provide a 2-4 day window for pickup, as their schedules often change due to mechanical delays, weather issues, load routing, etc. The only way that an auto transport company can guarantee pick up on a scheduled day is by the utilization of a local (typically a local towing company), which typically adds approximately $300 to the cost. Guaranteed same day pickups without the utilization of a local is virtually impossible. All pick up and delivery windows are estimated and vary seasonally. 

CARRIER PICK UP

After a carrier is scheduled, they will contact you 24 hours in advance and give you an estimated pickup time window (usually 2-4 hours). It is essential that the origin address is truck accessible for carriers (no low hanging trees, power lines, bridges, etc.) and offers a safe area of at least 100 ft in length to accommodate the loading process. If the origin address does not allow for this, you will need to make arrangements with the carrier to meet them an alternate location to ensure that they can safely load the vehicle without damaging your vehicle or other vehicles on the truck.

Prior to loading, the driver will inspect your vehicle for pre-existing damage and document all findings on a Bill of Lading/Inspection Report. We highly recommend that you take pictures and/or videos of your vehicle during pickup, including the driver’s carrier in the photo. After signing the Bill of Lading, please collect a copy of the Bill of Lading/Inspection Report, as this is evidence of the pre-trip condition of your vehicle and also serves as your receipt. If carrier utilizes an electronic Bill of Lading, you should ask carrier to send you an electronic copy or take a picture of the electronic Bill of Lading. 

SHIPMENT IN TRANSIT

Please remember that brokers solely arrange transport. Although electronic tracking methods for transport are evolving, most carriers do not have the capability for GPS tracking at this time. For accurate shipping updates, please reach out to your assigned carrier via phone call or text. Although the carrier can provide you with an estimated delivery date, the transit times are not guaranteed due to potential for mechanical issues, weather delays, route changes, etc. 

DELIVERY OF YOUR VEHICLE

Similar to pick up, carriers will reach out approximately 24 hours in advance of delivery to provide you with a delivery time frame (usually 2-4 hour window). Also, on delivery, it is important to have a truck accessible location for unloading your vehicle. Once the carrier arrives, he will begin unloading your vehicle. This process can sometimes be very time consuming, as multiple vehicles may have to be unloaded in order to unload your vehicle. Once unloaded, it is essential that you walk around and thoroughly inspect your vehicle. It is important to take your time, as the vehicles are often very dirty, particularly if transported long distances. If any damage is noted, it is imperative that the damage is documented on all copies of the Bill of Lading/Inspection Report. Again, please remember to obtain a copy of the Bill of Lading/Inspection Report for your records. Although unlikely, if transport damage has occurred to the vehicle, it is important to photograph the damage with the carrier in the background and retain it for claims purposes. For COD shipments, the remaining balance will be due to the carrier in the form of cash/cashier's check or other forms acceptable to the carrier.