- If you’re trying to find loopholes when you’re transporting your vehicle(s) for a cheap price, you’re going about it the wrong way.
I’ll be honest, working in the vehicle transport industry is a delicate subject. We’re not just talking about a home appliance that won’t work, this is YOUR vehicle, something that’s costly and oftentimes essential for survival if your job or location depends on it.
I get it when you are first venturing through options for choosing an auto shipping broker, you want to find one that gives offers you the best option: cheap, fast, and safe.
Who doesn’t want to pay the lowest price for high quality?
But what’s the issue? Well, that actually depends on you!
Why do you need your vehicle to be transported? Are you on a time crunch? Is it inoperable? Are you sending it to a loved one? Do you need it during your vacation? Will your daughter/son use it for school? Did you just purchase it from a dealership or a car auction? Are you moving to?
Your reason will influence the kind of carrier that can be assigned to you. So cheaper might look numerically pleasant but the quality of the transport might not be.
Now, when you’re trying to find an auto transport brokers who can provide top-quality customer service, I’m sure you’re likely to do your research: check the company’s reviews, check how long the company has been in business, call and check the company’s reviews ask for the quote and evaluate your options.
Okay, great, so let’s shop around and sign up with a couple of car shipping brokers to see what they offer, let’s give them all our credit card information and sign the contract, right?
WRONG!
There are a national board and a couple of other platforms like a central dispatch load board for car shipping, and most, if not all carriers, use them. Each platform has its own rules to be followed.
What does this mean to you? That you’re better off searching and choosing freight brokers and carriers instead of two or three.
It’s okay to ask for a quote but you want to make sure that the freight broker and carriers you choose to work with can give you the most relevant insight related to your situation. Why? To make sure they are able to ship your vehicle in the most efficient and effective way possible.
That’s why here are some details that you should keep in mind when choosing transport brokers and carriers:
Is the transport broker company giving you options according to your needs?
Your transport coordinator can help you narrow it down and simplify your experience. Make sure you refer back to your ‘why’ and make it clear in every way possible.
Ask about the conditions of the transport industry
There’s been a considerable amount of changes recently with the law and the gas prices rising, (click here to see one of the major changes in the auto transport industry). If the price changes, it’s most likely because the carriers have changed your rate, not your coordinator. You’ll know when it’s not about the money but rather the current circumstances when your coordinator maintains consistent communication with you.
Requesting more money is sometimes inevitable
As previously mentioned, all carriers have their own price, depending on the weight, size, and how far off the locations are from their regular route.
Perhaps you may have even used another carrier in the past and you’re expecting the same price but transport conditions, weather, seasons, or any other circumstances may have caused the change and are out of our control.
The cheapest price will often give you a low-quality transport experience
Just because you think the price looks nice doesn’t mean it will get done or the transport will be of good quality. Good auto transport brokers have coordinators who are not trying to rip you off, they want to secure the spot for your vehicle transport.
In other words, an average one will tell you what you want to hear and work around it. That’s why it’s good to make sure that the price you get will place you in a good position on the National Board… depending on your needs.
Estimated dates are there for a reason
In the first couple of conversations, it’s important to highlight any pickup or delivery conditions you may have and the coordinator will let you know if that’s something they can work with or not.
However, when you’re on a road hauling many vehicles, delays and weather conditions are beyond the driver’s control. Good auto shipping brokers have coordinators who will do their best to give you an update and help the driver as much as they can to make sure your experience does not become a stressful one.
Some transport brokers will tell you what you want to hear
“You want your vehicle transported from Florida to California in 3 days? Do you want to $200 off the quote? Do you want it picked up exactly at 10 am and delivered at 7 pm? No worries, we got you”… Don’t fall for that.
There’s a high chance that you’ll lose your money when you book with two or more transport brokers
Remember that each shipping company has its own refund terms, conditions, and refund policies. That’s why it’s important to choose transport brokers and carriers, or else you’ll end up losing money and time.
When you are shipping your vehicle, you need to make sure you have a well-known and reputable auto transport company backing you up. Having a lot of things to take care of besides vehicle shipping can be troublesome, which is why it’s really important to have that peace of mind with the right car shipping brokers.
Got any questions? Feel free to give us a call, we are here to help!
