The apparent parallels between brokers, carriers, and vehicle transportation management companies are that brokers work directly with customers to coordinate vehicle transportation, but the similarities do not end there. Most companies, regardless of whether they are brokers, carriers, or car transport management companies, will tout the all-inclusive experience. Some carriers, wanting to be able to cover as many bases as possible, will double up as brokers.
They also set up a web presence and promote car transport. Because of their vast network of carriers, car brokers can locate trucks with available spots in your area and give you a flexible pick-up window. A broker will be able to find available auto carriers in your area, so that you get a fast pickup. If a truck that you have booked breaks down or cannot pick up your vehicle, a major auto brokerage will locate another truck in its database.
In some cases, a broker may be able to move your vehicle onto another truck with no delays. While shipping via carrier may lead to faster results or be easier from a timing standpoint, vehicle transportation via a broker is a far more dependable and safer method. The best vehicle transport brokers will partner with both big and small carriers serving routes across the nation. A broker works with large and small carriers that serve routes all over the country, so that they will always be able to find the right carrier for the needs of their customers.
Brokers work with both big and small carriers across the country, meaning that they can service customers all over the country without too many restrictions. Because big-rig auto brokers work with big networks of drivers, they are able to quickly put your vehicle onto a truck and deliver it on time to your destination. Auto brokers are experts in the business, working only with legitimate carriers. Not only is a broker the customers business partner, the broker serves as a business partner for each and every car company.
The broker does not need to adhere to any particular trucking or movement pattern, which is why it is available wherever you go for your car transportation needs. Because brokers are not tied to their trucks and their particular routes, they can assist anyone regardless of the type of vehicle they have, regardless of the location where they are moving the vehicle, and regardless of the time of day that the vehicle is being moved. The main role of an automotive transportation broker is to find and verify the best carriers for each client given the types of vehicles they own and their timeframes to transport them.
Both carriers and brokers negotiate contracts with customers for the transportation of their vehicles. A carriers company contracts for their trucks to carry your car, and a brokers company contracts for carriers to move your vehicle. In short, the auto carrier owns and operates their own fleet, whereas a broker contracts the transportation of your vehicle with the car carriers.
The carrier may be a single carrier or carrier company who carries items directly while a brokers job is to act as the middleman. Owner-operators may partner with carriers, sometimes acting as brokers, although they will not use that term in their marketing.
We are mostly a car-hauler-carrier, with our own truck fleet, but we are also an approved broker. As a freight broker and specialized dispatcher, we have an extensive network of auto carriers qualified to transport vehicles nationwide. Whether you decide to work with a car broker or go through the carriers directly, you will want to verify that the company is reliable and bonded.
The biggest thing you can do when choosing a vehicle transportation management company — whether you are looking at brokers or carriers, or both — is to research and trust your instincts. As tempting as it might be to go with a company offering that rock-bottom price on your car, do your due diligence before you book, and make sure that you are looking at car transport management companies (not just brokers and carriers). There are pros and cons of choosing a broker over a carrier — and vice versa — as well as benefits that only come from working with an auto transport management company.
There are car brokers that will move your classic car for reasonable rates, all the while providing the prestige services of open-carriers. Car carriers partner with brokers such as Nexus Auto Transport because they know that they will deliver vehicles as quickly as possible to customers that need them in a new location. Car haulers are able to build these solid relationships due to a consistent flow of weekly routes that they utilize with their contracted carriers.
Brokers do not do transportation services for brokers, they do, however, find the lowest-rate carriers who will do your routes in the specified timeframe for transporting your car. Brokers want to be flexible to ensure that they are best equipped to meet your car transportation needs, which means that they will look to find a vehicle transporter that has an open space and that is going to be there when you need it to be there.
While you will definitely be okay going with a company that might subcontract work, you might prefer going with a carrier who is a broker, as you might feel that they are more committed to the job. The biggest downsides to dealing with a broker will be that they will not have complete control over pick-ups or drive times (which could cause unexpected delays) and you will not get a chance to check on your carriers or drivers in person. A reputable broker could save you some time by checking out the licensing, insurance, and security information for carriers that they work with.
