difference between auto shipper and broker

Now that you’re ready to ship your car, truck or SUV, it’s time to get schooled on the options. Auto transport is a unique industry with many nuances. Getting to know the differences between auto transport brokers and car shippers can help you understand in which direction you should turn when you’re ready to ship your car.

What’s the difference between an auto transport broker and a shipper?

Auto Transport Brokers – The auto transport broker don’t own carriers (trucks that transport vehicles) of their own. They are not typically the company that transports your car, truck or motorcycle. So, they are brokers as the name implies that coordinate and facilitate your car shipment. Their strength is in connecting car shippers with the third-party carriers that offer the auto transport services that the customer is requesting. As you are researching your car shipping options, you may see auto transport brokers referred to as non-asset based carriers, intermediaries or third-party logistics providers.

Auto Transport Shippers – An auto transport shipper or carrier is a company that owns the fleet of trucks that transports your vehicles. Typically, the drivers are employed by the company.

Benefits of using an auto transport broker

  1. More options – brokers typically have more routes and a larger network to tap into to get your vehicle where it needs to be.
  2. More routes – brokers typically are not limited by licensing requirements that vary from state to state.
  3. Better equipment – brokers typically work with carriers that have a multitude of equipment so your car shipment is not limited to what they own as part of their fleet.
  4. Competitive prices – brokers are experts at doing the heavy lifting to get you the best prices with top carrier s that specialize in shipping cars along the routes you need and often get the best prices due to their relationships and the volume of business they send to their carriers.

Are there benefits of going directly to the carrier?

When you deal directly with the carrier to ship your car, truck, SUV or motorcycle, you eliminate the middle man – which may seem like a solid advantage. In some cases, this is true but in most instances, it simply is not. The carrier is limited to specific areas as licensing gets too complex to be able to go everywhere.

Direct Connect offers the best of both worlds!

Direct Connect Auto Transport, the leader in auto transport since 2001,  offers both auto shipper and brokers services. As America’s top choice for car shipping, it offers a complete range of quality, service, and affordability to the consumer looking to get his or her vehicle to a distance across the country or across the state. Direct Connect Auto Transport’s car shipping services include:

  1. Access to the largest and most thoroughly-vetted carrier network
  2. Damage-free guarantee and world-class insurance
  3. 24/7 customer service year-round
  4. A+ Better Business Bureau rating
  5. Access to all the most commonly used auto transport equipment
  6. Easy to understand, straightforward car shipping pricing

When it’s time for you to ship your car, be sure to choose the leader that you can trust. Start with an auto transport price quote from Direct Connect Auto Transport today.