In Auto Transport, How Should You Go?
Shipping brokers and car carriers are two very different types of companies and yet they can both provide auto transport services to consumers
. It is important for consumers to understand the differences and the similarities between these types of companies.Shipping brokers do not own the equipment necessary to provide auto transport while car carriers do. Car carriers also employ drivers to operate that equipmentprimarily trucks and trailers. Shipping brokers can make the arrangements to transport a vehicle but car carriers are the companies that make the actual pickups and deliveries.
It may sound as if shipping brokers are middle men who simply add costs and complexities to the process, while car carriers would be a more direct option for consumers. But there are valid grounds for contracting a shipping broker when looking for an auto transport service.
Brokers work with networks of multiple car carriers. This gives brokers access to larger fleets of trucks and drivers. That alone provides brokers with flexibility in prices, services, and routes. Car carriers, on the other hand, are usually limited to their own fleets of trucks and personnel. Many car carriers provide auto transport to limited areas of service, so a consumer might have to contact several carriers before finding one that can meet his needs. A single shipping broker can usually cover almost any route.
Because they work with networks of carriers, brokers usually guarantee a certain amount of auto transport business to those carriers. This can result in lower auto transport cost to the consumer. It can also help consumers get around the potential issue of terminal-to-terminal versus door-to-door service. Some carriers will only pick up from and deliver to shipping terminals. These are often located in inconvenient locations for the consumernear seaports or airports. But a broker can arrange for one carrier to deliver the vehicle to a terminal and another carrier to deliver to the customers specified location. This full service auto transport helps the consumer save time and potential aggravation.
Of course there are benefits to using a car carrier. Personal service is a big one. Working with the people who work directly for a company generally makes them more eager to please the consumer because it puts a face with name. A car carrier may also be able to keep better track of a consumers vehicle during auto transport because that carrier has fewer trucks to track. And while brokers can certainly negotiate bulk pricing, a single car carrier might be willing to negotiate directly with a consumer.
As with any other service, it all comes down to what the consumer needs. Shipping broker or car carrierconsumers should research both to determine which service is right for their auto transport needs.
by: David Thomson