Car shipping has two kinds of companies, a few kinds of trucks, and a handful of terms you’ll hear again and again. Here’s how it all fits together.
Who Does What
Carriers own the trucks and employ or are the drivers. Many are owner-operators or small fleets with a handful of trucks, each running particular routes.
Auto transport companies, like Shelby Auto Transport, arrange the shipment. They quote the price, find a licensed carrier on your route with the right equipment, book it, and are your point of contact. Because they work with many carriers, they can ship almost anywhere, instead of only where one fleet happens to go.
Both must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can look up any company’s USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA website. Shelby Auto Transport is USDOT 3813762, MC 1377368.
Types of Carriers
- Open multi-car carriers. The two-level trailers you see on the highway. The most common and the lower price. Open auto transport.
- Enclosed carriers. Covered trailers that protect the car from weather and debris, often with liftgates for low cars. Enclosed auto transport.
- Smaller trailers and hotshots. Pickup trucks pulling trailers for one to a few cars, common on shorter or less-traveled routes.
Terms You’ll Hear
- Pickup window: the range of days when the carrier will pick up. Exact times are confirmed by the driver’s call ahead.
- Bill of lading (BOL): the inspection report and receipt. Signed at pickup and delivery.
- Door to door: pickup and delivery at your addresses, or as close as a truck can safely get.
- Operable / inoperable: whether the car can drive on and off the trailer. Inoperable cars need a winch.
- Transit time: how long the car is on the road after pickup.
What Drives the Price
Distance, the specific cities (routes on main interstates cost less), the vehicle’s size and condition, open or enclosed, and the season. More in Car Shipping Charges & Fees Explained.
How to Prepare
Wash the car, photograph it, leave a quarter tank of fuel, and remove personal items and toll tags. Then inspect it carefully with the driver at both ends. The full checklist is in How Do I Ship My Car?