
The auto transport industry is thriving, as thousands of people need their vehicles transported domestically daily. This doesn't even count the number of dealerships that need auto transport services. While auto transport brokers arrange everything, auto transport carriers do the actual driving.
Auto transport drivers have plenty of work opportunities. Still, if someone is looking to become one and either work for an auto transport carrier or run their own operation as an owner-operator, they must be aware of a few different things.

Meet the Requirements
There are a variety of requirements present in order to become a licensed auto transport driver. You will need:
- A commercial driver's license (CDL);
- Obtaining a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number;
- Being registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and obtaining a Motor Carrier (MC) number;
- Proof of insurance;
- General liability coverage.
You can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website at //www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration for all of the necessary information and forms.

Finding a Job
Obtaining all of the necessary licenses and certifications is the hard part. Now comes finding a job. Assuming that you have the right truck and equipment, which you can either buy or lease, you will need to find consistent work.
There are two main routes that you can take, and no pun is intended. If you want to transport individual vehicles instead of multiple vehicles, you can start by contacting car dealerships. Many of them constantly need assistance and will hire you, at least part-time. The problem with these jobs is that they don't provide frequent work and the pay rates are not the best. However, they are a great way to gain experience and references.
The second route is to get a full-time position where you transport multiple vehicles simultaneously. This will offer more financial compensation and the ability to work much more consistently. In this case, you should contact local auto transport carriers, or you can even contact auto transport brokers. Doing a simple Google search will help you out with this. Just make sure to have all of the proper certifications ready.
While most auto transport companies will require a bit of experience to hire you, some will also offer training programs for a fee. Visit the Better Business Bureau's website at www.bbb.org to ensure they're legitimate before committing to anything.

Compensation
How your pay will be determined depends on the agreement you reach with the client or company. Sometimes, you will be paid per mile, primarily if you work with auto transport companies. In other instances, you will be paid a flat fee, which is common if you only transport one vehicle.
Good luck!