Car Shipping Decisions: Carriers, Not Brokers?

Carriers, Not Brokers?

Shipping a car can be a confusing experience, especially if you’re just starting out and trying to find relevant information about auto carriers or brokers. In this article, we’ll examine the difference between the two, as well as why it can be hard to tell the difference between a carrier and a broker (hint: some companies operate as both).

Carriers - Motorcar carriers, as opposed to brokers, make up the part of the industry that does the physical work of moving the vehicle. This includes loading, driving, status updates, delivery, unloading, and in some cases, storage. Haulers are a vital part of the car shipping process, and they are the ones who log the miles for cross-country shipments and put in the time to make sure your car gets where it’s going on time.

Brokers - Brokers simply arrange transport, typically between a carrier and the customer or client. The majority of automobile shippers in the business work with brokers in some form or another it simply makes it easier for them to contract fuller shipments and find business. A good broker can be beneficial for a company, as well as a customer, since they’re generally more familiar with the process, which services are offered, and which carrier will best fit the customer’s needs. Real estate agents are a type of broker that you may be more familiar with, essentially doing the same thing between homeowners and prospective buyers.

This article provides more in-depth information about freight brokers.

Is It Better To Use A Shipper Instead Of An Agent?

Whether you choose to work with a broker or a carrier is ultimately your choice as a customer. That said, it can sometimes be difficult to tell which is which. In fact, some companies operate as both a carrier and a broker, further blurring the line between the two. In this section, we’ll discuss why someone might prefer to work with a carrier instead of a broker and vice versa.

Some customers prefer to work with haulers rather than brokers for a simple reason: the carriers are the ones who will be actually moving your car. It makes sense that someone would prefer to get a feel for the person or business doing the service rather than an intermediary that simply coordinates and arranges the transport of a vehicle.

Unfortunately, many shippers do not have the time or manpower to invest heavily in finding customers since much of their work involves moving vehicles. This is where a broker comes in, which is a fairly common practice within the industry. Some very popular names in the industry (uShip being one of them) are large-scale brokers that simply take your request and match it up with a company that performs the service.

While some people may be reluctant to work with a “middleman,” it can be really helpful if you want to get the best value.

Have questions about car carriers or auto moving brokers? Call the number at the top or send an email through our online contact form to learn more! We’re happy to answer your questions, and all price quotes are FREE OF CHARGE!