Why Booking With a Carrier is a Bad Idea
If you type in “auto transport broker vs carrier” in Google you’ll get a few different websites that all say different things regarding which is better, a broker or a carrier.
It really depends on who’s running the website, because most brokers and quote providers will tell you a broker is the way to go, while carriers will likely tell you booking directly with them will save you more time and money in the long run.
But which is right? Well, really, they all are; some carriers can get you good deals when you book directly with them, but many times brokers will be the best bet, particularly if you’re going to try to find one using our advertising services (i.e. filling out our free online quote form).
There are several reasons why booking with a carrier is a bad idea, but here are a few:
For starters, while carriers control how much they make on each route, the brokers ultimately decide the prices. It’s a fine balance between brokers and carriers, but on the whole they work together to make sure a vehicle gets moved at a reasonable rate within a reasonable amount of time.
A broker’s job is to get your car moved, first and foremost, which means they’re going to try to get you the lowest possible rate that will move it for you. Sometimes haggling between brokers and carriers can happen – but you won’t be able to do that.
Brokers provide so much freight for so many carriers out there that they rely on one another heavily. Carriers don’t rely on you directly, so booking with them directly usually results in much higher prices because they know they can get away with it.
Not only that but auto transport carriers can be quite difficult to find online. Aside from a few of the major nationwide fleets, most carrier companies are small owner-operator-type businesses, usually a tag-team operation between a driver in the truck and a dispatcher in their home or office.
It’s a small-time operation because that’s all it takes most of the time, thanks to the brokers. So finding them is more challenging, and booking with them directly can result in longer pickup wait times because more often than not their truck won’t be anywhere close to where you are.
Brokers can find carriers in your area, which speeds up pickup times, and since they regulate pricing among the carriers you’ll likely find a cheaper rate. You can also learn more about this topic in our brokers vs. carriers article, and you can call our toll-free telephone number at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our helpful and friendly auto transport experts. They can answer your questions, give you a quote to ship your vehicle, and much more.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
- When to go with an Enclosed Transport - October 2, 2023
- Understanding California’s EV Mandate - August 1, 2023
- Top Reasons Auto Shippers Are Delayed - January 9, 2023
