Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
yellow A1 Auto Transport carrier on highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

What is RoRo Auto Transport? & What is RoRo Cargo

Published by Joe Webster.

What is RoRo Auto Transport? & What is RoRo Cargo

RoRo is a shortened term for a type of vehicle transport in which the cargo can be “rolled on and rolled off” of the transport vehicle, which is most often a large cargo ship. (Air freight can also be moved using ro-ro service, which is simply a term used to describe the loading and unloading process). Here’s how it works.

The vehicle is driven onto the boat (rolled on), shipped to its destination port and driven off (rolled off). Typically, RoRo service is used in international and overseas auto shifting as the more affordable alternative to delivery via air freight.

Roll-on/Roll-off shipping is usually reserved for larger cargo shifts since it takes considerable space to deliver vehicles with this method and also requires enough vehicles to be moved at once for it to be financially feasible. Some ro-ro ships can carry hundreds of cars at once. This is how autos are most frequently relocated to and from the United States.

Types of Vehicles Shipped Using Roll-on/Roll-off Car Hauling

Basically, anything that has wheels or can be safely and securely placed on wheels can be delivered using the ro-ro method. Here are some of the common vehicle types delivered using roll-on/roll-off shipping:

  • Cars
  • Buses
  • Trucks
  • Vans
  • SUVs
  • Construction equipment
  • International cargo
  • Military vehicles
A-1 Auto Transport Ships Worldwide.
Get a Free, No Obligation to Buy, Auto Shipping Quote.
Get my free quote now
or call us to do it for you:

History of Ro-Ro Cargo Transport

Roll-on/Roll-off transport has existed since the emergence of the steam train in the 1800s. The popularity of the steam engine and the developing railway infrastructure in the U.S. and across the world required a way to move locomotive cars over large bodies of water.

vessel at port with vehicles lined up nearby

It wasn’t until the 1950s that Ro-Ro transport became a practical way to transport oversize wheeled vehicles commercially. During the 1970s, the dramatic increase in production, import and export of autos required more efficient routes of delivery to overseas markets. RoRo became a popular option that began to open up to consumers as well as businesses.

Roll-on/roll-off service proved to be a very helpful for maritime cargo transport as it provided a much more efficient way to load and unload vehicles. Containerized shipping developed alongside the growth of ro-ro transport, further streamlining the process of relocating goods internationally.

U.S. Cities with RoRo Ports

  • Baltimore
  • Brunswick
  • Charleston
  • Jacksonville
  • New York
  • Norfolk
  • Galveston
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle
Online Ro-Ro Resources

Safety of Ro-Ro Ferries - Safety statistics from the International Maritime Organization regarding RoRo ferries and their safety as a method of delivering cargo.

RO-RO Ship & Dock Safety - An overview of safety guidelines for Ro-Ro shipping from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

a large vessel traverses the ocean

Frequently Asked Questions

Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

Email Me


James Anderson
I've been a five-time A1 Auto Transport customer
★★★★★

I've been a five-time A1 Auto Transport customer. Every time, the service was reliable and reasonably priced. To say the least, the car-shipping market can be confusing and even scary. My advice: Go with the most trustworthy guys you can find.

Linda Matthews
My car was shipped from Florida to California in only 4 days
★★★★★

My car was shipped from Florida to California in only 4 days, and the price was exactly as quoted. Thank you, A1 Auto Transport. I totally believe the other negative reviews, though. Car shipping and moving companies are notoriously dirty. I'm praying my household furniture arrives on time and without any raised prices.

Robert Johnson
A very reliable Service in getting my car to and from its location
★★★★★

I have been using A1 Auto Transport for my car shipping for the past several years. They are very reliable in getting my car to and from its location. They are my shipper of choice and are very price-competitive.

Emily Davis
my car was picked up and delivered in less than 30 hours
★★★★★

A1 Auto Transport is like Amazon Prime for car shipping! They are very professional and easy to work with. They picked up my car and delivered it to the destination in less than 30 hours.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
Copyright © 1988-2025, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.