Brokers VS. Carriers

1. Auto Transport Carriers And Auto Transport Brokers - What’s The Difference?
2. What Is An Auto Transport Broker?
3. What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?
4. Auto Transport Companies That Are Brokers And Carriers
5. How To Determine If A Company Is A Broker Or Carrier
6. Remember
7. Related Information & Faq

Auto Transport Carriers and Auto Transport Brokers - What’s the Difference?

One of the most important distinctions to understand is the difference (and occasionally, the overlap) between an auto transport broker and a carrier. The customer or person having a vehicle transported is also known as a shipper.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will transport vehicles. Brokers facilitate auto transportation by connecting customers (shippers) with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. Brokers are also known as non-asset-based carriers, intermediaries , or third-party logistics providers.

The advantage of using a broker instead of a carrier is that you have more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not have the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have the license in all the states required to move your vehicle where it needs to go. A broker does the leg work of finding a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

The downside to dealing with a broker is that there are some questionable companies in the industry. Auto transport is a multi-billion dollar industry and technology–specifically, the internet–has created a low barrier to entry into the business, which has led to some unethical practices.The Consumer Advisory about Auto Transporters has indicated a drastic increase in complaints against auto transport companies in recent years as a result of these practices.

Did you know that chances are, when searching for an auto transporter, many of the companies you find will be brokers rather than carriers? Those companies that have a ton of ads posted online are often brokers as a broker often has the advertising budget to market worldwide and in the markets where people are usually searching for transport the most.

You might wonder why a broker can advertise on a larger scale than a carrier, and that is simply all about the budget each company has. A carrier usually has a larger overhead with drivers and an office team, but a broker will often have little overhead since a good deal of them have little overhead other than agents to respond to inquiries for quotes and service.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto transport carrier is a company that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the labor of transporting a vehicle.

One benefit of using a carrier is that you are dealing directly with the company (and maybe even the person) who will be transporting your vehicle, essentially eliminating the “middleman.”

It’s important to keep in mind that some carriers may not be able to transport an auto since licensing and legal requirements differ from state to state. Dealing strictly with a carrier can sometimes limit you in terms of availability, a method of transport , and time of delivery. Dealing directly with a carrier can sometimes mean a higher cost because of the lack of competing bids for the service.

Auto Transport Companies That Are Brokers and Carriers

Some auto transport companies are both brokers and carriers. These companies can transport vehicles, as well as broker a deal between a shipper and a carrier if there’s not a carrier available to handle the job.

How To Determine If A Company Is a Broker or Carrier

The Protect Your Move website offers information about brokers and carriers directly from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. At the FMCSA site, you can research specific companies by state, motor carrier license number , and U.S. Department of Transportation number.

You can also see if a company is a broker, carrier, or both and whether they have active or inactive status, which indicates if a company complies with current insurance regulations.

Remember

A broker can offer information and access to numerous carriers to transport your car. This means that you won’t find yourself stuck searching for carriers to pick up at the state line where another carrier may not be able to transport. Brokers can schedule the transport for the car to be picked up by one carrier and then if necessary, transferred to another carrier along the way for prompt delivery. It is not always necessary to transfer from one carrier to another, but for the time that it may be, it’s good to have a knowledgeable broker who can handle those arrangements.

Related Information & FAQ

• 6 things auto transport carriers only know
• Places that ship cars
• Long-distance moving services