Facts about Automobile Transportation

While the average person believes that the auto transportation industry simply handles truck driving, there’s actually a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re moving and need to ship your car or are purchasing a car from another state, it’s important to understand what goes into car shipping and facts about automobile transportation so that you can choose a company that’s right for you and your needs.

Car Shipping Facts

Shipping a New Car

When a new car needs to be shipped, a truck carries it to a dealership or a buyer’s home. Since cars are meant to be driven, many people find the fact that they need to be shipped on a truck peculiar. However, when you’re purchasing a brand new car, you expect it to be a brand new car, which means that it can’t have thousands of miles on it. The cost of shipping a new car is called a destination charge, which customers pay as part of the total price of the vehicle.

Time Estimations for Car Shipping

When you’re given a pick-up or delivery time, this is an estimate, which means that you’ll likely receive your estimation as a timeframe in between certain hours. There are a number of reasons for this type of estimation, including the fact that car shipping happens long-distance, which means that it takes time to get the vehicle from one state to the next, and there are things like traffic accidents, construction and weather that may be unpredictable. Shipping companies cannot predict everything that could happen on the road, especially when it comes to different states.

Shipping delays may happen because of mechanical failures as well. Even though trucks are maintained daily and undergo check-ups, malfunctions do occur. A time estimate may compensate for minor problems that a trucker can take care of on his or her own.

Insurance Coverage

All car transport and logistics companies are required by law to have liability insurance. However, the type of car you’re shipping will determine the type of coverage the customer will need to ship the car. Coverage also often varies depending on the insurance company.

It’s always important to research companies and dig for information about their insurance coverage. Also, always make sure to read the terms and compare them with other companies that you may be considering. Terms and coverage will often vary, so it’s best to do your due diligence, especially if you’re transporting a luxury car.

Requirements for Drivers

Truck driving is not an easy job. In fact, it’s been difficult for trucking companies to find suitable talent over the last few years. Trucking is a difficult job with high requirements.

Physical Health

Firstly, driving a truck requires multitasking and focus. In order to maintain focus, drivers must be in good physical condition. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that all truck drivers pass something called a DOT medical exam before they can obtain their commercial driver’s license.

Mental Health

Drivers must also pass psychological tests to ensure that they are suitable mentally for this type of job. Truck drivers must be on the road for ten or more hours a day, so they need patience and the ability to be alone for long periods of time. Mental strength is just one quality that a truck driver needs in order to do their job effectively.

Knowledge of Mechanics

Physical and mental health are not the only necessities for truck drivers. They must also have mechanical knowledge so that they can fix minor problems on their own trucks. Because they are often alone, they can’t ask their supervisor for help if something minor happens while they’re in transit.

Finding a Car Shipping Company

When it comes to finding the right car shipping company, you’ll have to do your research. Not all car transportation services are created equally. While insurance is one important factor to consider, you’ll also want to ensure that the company you hire is reputable and is known for providing customers with quality customer service.

Shipping a car can be stressful, especially since you’re trusting someone else with something worth a lot of your hard-earned money. Because of this, communication is also another important consideration when looking for the right company. Whether you’re a dealership awaiting the hottest new car on the market, or an average Joe who moved from one state to another, you’ll want to ensure that your process is as stress-free as possible with the proper communication from your car shipping company.

For more information about shipping your car, or to receive a quote, contact us today.

How to Ship a Car That You Bought Online or in Another State (Podcast)

Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts,, discusses shipping a car you bought online or in another state.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher and I’m here today with Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. And our topic today is how to ship a car that you bought online, or in another state. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John, thanks for having me.

John: Sure. So Mike what are some of the reasons that I might want to buy a car out of state?

Why Purchase a Car Out-of-State?

Mike: Yeah. So there are all kinds of reasons people want to buy cars out of state, and it’s actually happening a lot more now than ever. We’re seeing a lot more purchases of cars online from other states and shipping is increasing due to that. One reason could be you’re looking for a very specific car, so cars come in all different shapes and forms now and a specific model of a car might come in certain ways with colors of interior, and trim, and a submodel that you’re looking for, or if it’s an older car, a classic car in a specific color, again, specific trims and models, it might not be available in the state that you’re in and you may have to look out of state. So we see that a lot. People spend time to find that specific car, that perfect car that they’ve been looking for and they’ll go to another state to get it if they have to.

The other thing is price. We’ve noticed a lot of people, being up in the Northeast here is, things are a little bit more expensive. Cars are expensive up here. People looking for trucks, we see a lot, can save. I’ve seen as much as four or five, $6,000 on the same make and model of a truck and getting it from out in the Midwest or down towards Texas. So we move a lot of trucks to individuals, to dealerships who are purchasing them to save some money in different parts of the country.

And also condition. Again, being up here in the Northeast and in New England, we’re known for those harsh winters and they’re just as tough on the cars as they are on us. So buying a car that is a little older, four or five, six years, maybe even more, from down South and knowing that it hasn’t seen any winters, you know that you’re getting a car in much better shape. So that’s very appealing to people. And many more too, but there are all kinds of reasons people could be purchasing a car from a different state.

John: Right up here in the Northeast, we put salt on the roads to melt the ice and the snow and things like that. And that salt can really damage, especially the underside of a car and create a lot of rust and things like that. So I know that my brother purchased a car. He lives in New Hampshire, but he purchased a car from Florida. And because it was a few years old and, like you said, maybe five years old, but he said it was just an absolutely perfect condition because it had only been driven in Florida.

Mike: Right? Yeah. You hear that term a lot for collectors up here, they’ll say like, “Oh, it’s a Florida car.” And like, “Oh, that’s awesome.” They know that it’s not going to have that rust, like you said, that the salt kills the cars underneath and they rust up pretty fast.

Buying Cars Online

John: So where can I buy cars online? And should I look for cars in a certain area or a certain state? Again, like we said, is buying a car online from Florida better than buying one from the Northeast in general? And do you have any favorite places where you might go online to buy a car?

Mike: Yeah. So I mean, there are so many places you can buy online now. I think we’ve all seen it with Carvana and CarGurus and Autotrader, those being the big places, to the dealerships really promoting themselves now for online, with last mile delivery and things like that. Saying, “Check out our inventory on our website. We have options to get the car to you as well. That’s not completely up to you now, we can help you deliver the car.” So online purchasing for vehicles has become huge and there’s endless amounts of sources for where you could be looking. It’s really about what’s important to you, what kind of car you’re looking for and where you’re going to find that. So, yeah, just doing your research and looking out there, you’re definitely not going to hit a dead end for options when it comes to buying online.

John: Can I get a car loan for a car that I buy remotely, like online like that? Or do I need to be able to pay cash and pay for the full amount of the car?

Mike: Yeah. So depends on where you’re buying from. I mean, if it’s an individual who posted the car themselves online, that it’s up to them how they decide they want to make the sale go. But when it comes to dealerships, large ones and small ones, there are all kinds of options. I’m sure you could go to your current bank where you finance with and who you have other loans out with, or you could work with the dealership that you’re looking at buying the car from, but you definitely, again, you won’t hit a wall with that either when it comes to financing. These people want to sell these cars and they know that they’re not only selling them locally, so they’ll do everything they can to help you. You want to purchase it from out of state.

Benefits of Shipping a Car versus Driving Yourself

John: Why is shipping a car a better option than, say, just flying to where that car is and then driving it back to my home?

Mike: Right, the biggest thing here is time, depending on where you purchase it from. So, you know, if it’s all the way across the country, if you’re buying a car from California and bringing it to Massachusetts, that could be putting you out a week, which will segue into the next factor here, which is cost. And if you break down the cost, it’s usually cheaper to have the car shipped than to fly out and drive it. Week’s worth of time is a week off of work. That’s a week that you have to use PTO or you’re getting paid for. A week means that you have five nights that you’re staying in a hotel, five days of eating on the road, gas for the whole trip.

So as far as looking at it as a cost saver to do that, it’s usually not the case. And I always tell people to really break down the numbers and spend some time before pulling the trigger and making that decision. The only time I think it’s worth it to do that is if there’s a reason you want to be on the road. If maybe you’re looking to get this new car and immediately take a road trip. But other than that, it’s a lot safer and cheaper to have the car shipped than to fly in drive.

Arranging Car Shipping and Auto Transport

John: Okay. Talk a little bit about the process. You know, I found a car online, I want to purchase it. How do I go ahead and arrange car shipping for that car that I’ve purchased online?

Mike: Yeah. So there are several ways you could go about this process. You could be doing the research yourself in securing the shipper yourself, or maybe the place that you’re buying the car has a preferred shipper that they use, or some of these dealerships even handle it completely for you. You never even talked to the shipper. They take care of it and keep you in the loop throughout the shipment letting you know when the car is going to arrive. So as far as expectations go there, I would say, you’re really not going to know what you’re in for until you decide where you’re purchasing the car from.

And then from there, as I say a lot, ask a lot of questions. If this is something that you’re going to do on a consistent basis, if you plan on buying cars online and you think you might do it again, then I think it’s important to look outside of it. Do the research yourself and find a company you feel safe with shipping cars on a regular basis. Then if the dealership you buy from does have a preferred vendor or they were planning on handling it themselves, you could use that to your advantage. You could negotiate that and say, “You know what, I’m going to handle the shipping myself. So we’ll negotiate that into the cost.” You can start getting a better idea of what shipping goes for and knowing what you should be able to save yourself on the car, if you’re going to handle the shipping yourself.

John: And should I be concerned about registering my vehicle and do you know what the process is for registering my vehicle when I purchase it online? Again, I might be purchasing it from another state so that person or that dealership is in a different state than the one that I might be registering the car in. Do you know what the process is there?

Mike: Yeah. So the process there is going to be different depending on where you buy it. But it’s very important to be thinking about that. And you’d be surprised that people don’t always think about that until the car arrives and they realize, “Wow, I thought it was going to be registered, or I didn’t even think of this.” So it’s important to be having that go through your mind throughout the process. Some dealerships, they might go out and make the phone calls for you and handle that work and get that all done for you, but that’s not always going to be the case. That might be on you and you might have different needs yourself. You might need to transfer plates and you’re driving a car around currently that you need to transfer those plates from.

So you need to know where the car is going to sit when it lands and how long it’s going to take you to register and then transfer the plates and know what you’re going to do with the new car until you’re able to get rid of the old one. So yeah, it’s very important to be considering all that and ask those questions and understand how it’s going to work with who you’re buying the car from.

John: Right, and different states, I’m sure, have different rules in terms of their registry of motor vehicles. So definitely checking in with what the rules are for your state and talking to that dealership. If you’re purchasing it from a dealership, asking them that question, “Do you handle this for me? Or do I need to do this myself?” And just making sure you’re knowledgeable about that ahead of time is probably the most important thing.

Mike: Right, yes. Especially if you’re moving to a new state, because depending on how long you’ve been at your current residence, you’re going somewhere new, you have no idea how their registration works and what the registry of motor vehicles is like in that state. And you might want to do a little homework and some research or talk to some people about what you should expect as far as getting a car on the road.

John: Okay. That’s great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah, of course. Thank you, John.

John: And for more information or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com or call 877-542-1955.

4 Reasons to Choose an Auto Transport Company Instead of Driving

When it comes to moving, whether it’s for the winter or to a new permanent residence, there are many challenges. One such challenge is transporting one or more vehicles. While you can choose to drive your vehicles to your new home, this takes time that you may not have and comes with a lot of stress, especially if you have to get there by a certain date. In this article, we’ll discuss why you should choose an auto transport company over driving yourself.

Top 4 Reasons to Choose Auto Shipping Services

Save On Extra Miles

Unfortunately, the value of a car goes down as soon as you drive it off the lot, and the odometer on the dashboard starts ticking off miles. The more miles you drive, the more you age your vehicle, ultimately affecting its value when you try to sell it in the future. Running your vehicle also puts wear and tear on the wheels, body, and engine, not to mention the overall appearance of the car. All of this decreases the value of your vehicle.

Shipping your car doesn’t raise the meter and allows your vehicle to sit safely like it’s a passenger on another, larger vehicle. Not only that, but shipping your car will ensure that your car stays in pristine condition so that you’re not decreasing the value further by wearing out the important components responsible for helping your car run effectively. If maintaining a high resale value is important to you, then shipping your vehicle is the best option.

Save Time

While most people can agree that road trips are fun, they do take a lot of time. Driving your own vehicle from one state to another is time-consuming. Your road trip can take anywhere from hours to days or even weeks. If you’re free from any of your regular duties, this may be viable. However, most people are on a time constraint that puts extra pressure on a big move.

Instead, you can save yourself time by using a car transport company. If you’re moving permanently, you can use this time to ensure you make it to your new home in time to start work the following Monday.

Save Money

When you drive to your destination, you’ll lose both time and money. The highest cost that will affect you is fuel. Driving your car to a new state, for example, means refueling multiple times, increasing your overall cost of moving. You’ll also have to consider food, hotel expenses, and more.

It’s best to check your budget and determine whether or not driving is the cheaper option. Odds are, once you factor everything in, it will be less expensive to hire a company to ensure that your car makes it to its new destination. This will be especially beneficial if you’re shipping two cars simultaneously.

Save the Environment

When you drive a car, you’re increasing your environmental footprint. Using a car transport company, however, will help you reduce your environmental footprint. The fewer the number of cars on the road, the less pollution added to the air. Most car carrier trucks can transport 5-9 cars at a time. For all of those cars, there is only one truck on the road, resulting in less pollution.

When it comes to choosing between driving and choosing an auto transport company, it’s always best to weigh the pros and cons of both options. Always make sure to do your research to ensure you’re choosing the right option for your needs. To learn more about our services, contact us today.

5 Main Factors That Contribute to Car Shipping Rates

One of the many reasons people may choose not to ship their car is because they fear the cost. However, once you factor in additional costs from driving the car, not to mention the risk you carry by driving a car yourself, it actually ends up being more cost-effective to work with a knowledgeable company.

Car shipping rates often vary from company to company. However, your decision to choose one auto transport company over another should not come down to cost alone. When it comes to choosing the right car shipping company for your needs, it’s best to understand the factors that go into the rates you may receive.

Factors in Car Shipping Rates

Location and Distance

Whether you’re transporting your car a state over or across America entirely, the location will be a major factor that influences your car shipping rate. The total distance your car needs to travel affects the cost significantly, as well as the location it is being shipped to. If you’re transporting your car to a major city, you can expect less expensive rates.

The reason for these rates is because major cities are popular auto transport routes. Meanwhile, rural areas will have fewer routes, which means the truck carrying your vehicle may have to drive further out from its route to deliver it. Additional miles mean added costs.

Season

Believe it or not, there’s actually a season when car shipping companies are busier than others. Spring and Fall are the busiest seasons, as seasonal residents move between summer and winter homes. Be sure to book early to lock in the best rates and ensure that your schedule can be accommodated. February and March tend to be slow, as season residents who move immediately after the holidays are finished with their moves, so you may be able to get a good rate to move during those times.

Vehicle transportation costs are typically higher with increased winter traffic and dangerous road conditions. While you may not see a drastic difference between the winter and summer rates, seasons will affect the overall price. Along with that, you may choose an enclosed shipping service, which will often be more expensive than an open trailer.

Delivery Time Flexibility

When you begin working with a car shipping company, they will give you a delivery time-frame. If you’re someone who needs your car by a certain date, you can expect to pay expedited car shipping rates. Expedited shipping is more expensive, just like any other shipping service, because it requires a quick pick-up and faster delivery along with proper planning.

If you’re more flexible when you need your car delivered, you can expect to pay less. This allows the car shipping company to organize the most efficient routes and processes with more time and zero rush.

Open or Enclosed Delivery

Most car shipping and logistics companies offer an open or enclosed delivery. Open delivery is the less expensive option because cars are uncovered and exposed while in transport. There are typically few problems with shipping a car in an open trailer; however, debris is a major concern for many auto owners. Open car shipping means that more cars can be loaded onto the truck and transported simultaneously.

Enclosed car shipping is a more premium service that’s often requested for expensive, luxury or sports cars. Because debris can chip the paint off of cars, enclosed delivery provides car owners with peace of mind, although it does come at a higher price.

Size and Weight of Vehicle Being Shipped

No matter which company you choose for auto transportation, the size and weight of the vehicle being transported will affect the cost. A larger vehicle is more expensive to transport because it takes up more space and weighs more. On the other hand, small cars take up less space and are lighter, which costs the car shipping company less. These savings are then passed on to customers with smaller vehicles.

Car Shipping Rates

The best way to determine how much you’ll end up paying to ship your car is to request quotes from auto transport companies in your area. Once you receive your quote, you can ask for more details if they’re not already provided to you. While a quote may differ from the final cost of shipping the vehicle, you can at least get an idea of how much it will cost you to ship your car from one state to another.

Contact us today to learn more about us and get your free quote.

Finding a Reliable Car Transporter (Podcast)

Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts, discusses finding a reliable car transporter.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher And I’m here today with Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. And today our topic is finding a reliable car transporter. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey, John, how are you?

Asking Advice from a Car Transport Company

John: Good, thanks. So, Mike, one of the things that might come up a lot when people call you is maybe they don’t have a lot of experience with getting their car transported or shipped to another state, that kind of thing, and they might need some advice from you. Maybe have a lot of questions about what type of truck that they’re going to have to choose for their particular model of car, just any kinds of questions that people might have. Are you guys prepared to give a lot of advice and is that the sign of a good auto transport company?

Mike: Yes, yes, absolutely. And I think that this is something that we find people are looking for advice on a lot. And I think it’s important to have people who can provide that information. We get calls all the time from people who are new to car shipping, it might be their first time, and they need some help. They want to be walked through the process. It can seem a bit overwhelming and they really want someone that can help them make sure they’re making the right decisions.

So we’ve talked before about when you call in with us, right from when you get your quote through whether or not you book through the whole shipment, you’re going to get a dedicated rep throughout the entire process. And all of our reps are very, very well trained here. I would consider all of them experts at moving cars. They spend significant time with dispatch departments. They even spend time out on the trucks, really learning the industry before moving into a seat where they’re dealing with the customers. Once they get to the point where they’re on their own, dealing with customers, they’re all very well trained to answer any questions you might have. What type of shipping is best for you? We give advice on timelines.

So for example, one I get a lot is people moving. And they call us and say, “Mike, we’re going to send our cars out. How quick can you get them there? We don’t want to be without our cars. We want them to get there very quickly.” And it’s something people miss a lot. But the simple piece of advice there is why don’t we send out one car first, so you have one car while you’re at point A and the other car gets to point B, and then right before you leave, you give up the other car so when you get to point B your other car is there and then you wait for the second car to follow. And it’s one we give a lot and people are like, “Wow, I didn’t even think of that. That makes so much sense.”

But yeah, little things like that, just pointing them in the right directions, tips outside of just moving the car, but what life is going to be like without the car? Well, you’ve got a lot of stuff going on. So, yeah. Yeah. We get asked questions like that a lot. We’re very happy to answer them and to help make the entire process of shipping the car, but also living without the car as easy as possible.

John: Yeah. That’s interesting. And that’s a really interesting point that you brought up about shipping two cars. Maybe my wife and I, we’re both moving and we both have our own cars and we want to ship them both, but we don’t want to both be without cars. And so maybe going a week or two where we can share a car on either end is a worthwhile thing so that we don’t have to both be without our cars at the same time. So yeah, that’s the kind of thing that I wouldn’t have thought of, but if somebody explains what their individual issue is and what they’re trying to do, you guys can help us work through those problems and figure out a way that works best for us.

Mike: Right. Yeah. There are all kinds of factors and our team is trained very well to ask the right questions and help get this done in a way that really suits your needs.

Obtaining a Quote

John: Asking questions brings up another point, which is getting a quote. What happens when I’m trying to get a quote from maybe multiple companies? And should I be expecting that I’m going to have to talk to a company and then they’re going to maybe give me that sort of high pressure sales pitch to try to make a decision today? Is that what I should be expecting? Or should I be expecting that a company will give me a quote and then let me take a week to think about it? And in terms of asking questions, what kinds of questions should I be expecting that the auto transport company is going to ask me in order to be able to give me an accurate quote?

Mike: Yeah, those are all really good questions, John. So of course, I don’t think you should be pressured when purchasing anything. I don’t think anyone likes the feeling of being pressured to make a quick decision. And we certainly wouldn’t do that here. We really lean on our honesty here and integrity. And although sometimes decisions are important to make, because if you have certain accommodations you’re looking for during the shipment, you want a car at a certain place at a certain time, it’s important to get the ball rolling on that process, give a company time to work on that move so they can accommodate what you’re looking for.

But for a company like us, I would present that to you. I wouldn’t pressure you into making that decision. I’d tell you, in my opinion, it’s important to make this decision quickly if you want the car at this place at this time. But ultimately at the end of the day, I want everyone who I work with to feel comfortable about the decisions they make.

And to your second point, yes, considering the questions that the shipping company asks you is very important. There are a lot of companies out there that you call and tell them I’m looking to move a car from Atlanta to Chicago and they say, “That’s great. It’ll be this much.” So if you get that, that is not a company that I would recommend moving forward with because I could tell you, you’re probably going to run into problems there. There are all kinds of questions that a company should be asking in order to give you an accurate quote and safely move the vehicle. So timeframes are important. The type of vehicle is extremely important. There’s a huge difference between a Toyota Prius and a Cadillac Escalade. Weight’s going to [inaudible] the price.

Also the locations. You need to know if they’re accessible for these trucks. You want to know on the front end there if the location that you need the car shipped to is inaccessible by a truck, then that’s a problem you’re dealing with when the truck is really close to the destination. We have a new set of problems that could bring on new sets of money. So it’s very important to ask a lot of questions. But detailed information about the origin and destination, detailed information about the vehicle and detailed information about your expected timeframe. Those are all questions you should be asked when receiving a quote for auto shipping.

Types of Auto Transport Available

John: Okay. That’s great. What about choosing a car transporter which offers multiple types of auto transport? So depending on what type of car that I have, I might want that shipped on a car carrier with a lot of other cars or possibly on a flatbed by itself or even in an enclosed truck. Is it important to make sure that the company offers multiple options in terms of the types of trucks?

Mike: Yeah, of course. I mean, ultimately at the end of the day, what’s important to an individual is that the individual type of shipment they’re looking for. So I guess it’s important that they offer at least that type of shipment. But when you get into the bigger companies, they are going to have all of those options. So we have options out there. As you had mentioned, everything from, you could be on a nine car carrier, open a nine car carrier with eight other cars, to an individual enclosed trailer pulling just your car, dedicated solely to this single move.

And there’s just kind of a give and take there of what’s important is that do you have a really high end expensive car that you need to get somewhere at a certain time? And it has to go smooth that we can’t have damage on this at all. Then yeah, we want that dedicated enclosed carrier. But are you going somewhere and are you more flexible on time? Is it not as important that the car stay covered the whole time, but it is important that you save some money? We have options for that as well.

So, yeah, I think it’s good. I mean, if you’re shipping one time, make sure the company meets those needs, but a lot of people ship on a regular basis. People are shifting over to not feeling like they need to walk into the dealership to buy a car. They can find one online and have it delivered to their house. So those people could be purchasing as soon as every two or three years. So yeah, but you don’t know what kind of car you’re going to buy next or what type of shipment that you’re going to need so I think it’s very important that you start to build a relationship with a company that offers different types of shipments.

Online Reviews

John: What about reading online reviews? Is that an important part of finding a reliable car transporter? And should I be cautious of a company that doesn’t seem to put their reviews kind of front and center on their website?

Mike: Yeah, I would. I mean, there are reviews out there for a reason, and there are a lot of companies out there with bad reviews that put a big effort into hiding them. There are companies out there that have bad reviews and put a bigger effort into changing those, which is good. And there are companies with good reviews that put a big effort into making sure they’re getting good reviews. And I’ll be honest, it’s not easy to get good reviews in this industry. People’s expectations seem to not always align with what the reality of the industry is. So for a company like us, we’re really happy to maintain very high reviews and we’d do that through helping people understand what to expect in this industry and delivering a very quality product. So I think, yeah, it’s very important to check the reviews. If you find an auto transport company that maintains good reviews, you know that they’re working very hard to do that.

John: Right. Expectations are a huge thing. If I just have the right expectations that, Hey, this is going to take a week or this is going to take two weeks or something like that, then I know upfront that’s how long it’s going to take and then when it happens, or maybe you even beat that time, then it’s great. But if my expectation is that I’m going to get my car in two days and then it takes a week, well, now I’m upset. You know? So I think setting the expectations for the consumer is a huge factor.

Mike: Right. Absolutely. I say that to people all the time. I talk to people and I tell them, you’re looking at about a week, maybe 10 days to get the car. And they don’t like that answer and it can be very upsetting. And I always say that I could tell you, it’s going to take less time, but that would be unrealistic. And that would probably be more upsetting to you on the other end. The reality is, this is a reasonable transit time for any company. And people appreciate that by the end of that discussion. I don’t like that it’s going to take a week, but I’d rather know that now than find out when I thought I was going to get my car.

John: Right. And my car is on a truck somewhere halfway across the country and I don’t have it.

Mike: Right. And then you’re learning, okay, the reality is it really takes longer than these times people are saying.

John: Right. All right. Well, that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah, of course. Thanks, John.

John: And for more information or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com or call (877) 542-1955.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Company (Podcast)

Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company located in Massachusetts, discusses choosing the best auto transport company for your needs.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher. I’m here today with Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics. A car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Today our topic is choosing the best auto transport company. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John. Thanks for having me.

Large Auto Transport Companies vs Small Companies

John: Sure. Mike, are large auto transport companies generally better?

Mike: Yeah, that’s a good question. This is one, I would say people think a lot that a smaller company is better. A lot of times we get people who switch to us, they’ve been using a small company, where it’s an owner-operator. By that I mean, the owner of the company is out there driving the truck himself. This is a great relationship they have. You call the owner of the company up, tell them when you’re going to be transporting somewhere, and they let you know when they’ll be in the area.

You get on the truck. You usually get a really good rate doing a shipment like this. It can work well for a while. Until one of a few things comes up. Either these smaller companies change their lane. They decide to go to a different part of the country. If you’re shipping on a regular basis, like a seasonal resident going back and forth, this isn’t good for you. Or corporate relocation. Things like that. You want someone that’s a little more consistent, that you can rely on. If this person moves to a different part of the country, you’re out there searching for a company again.

You also, people tend not to dig into their coverage. Insurance, and what’s covered during the shipment with these smaller companies. I’ve seen it before. A lot of the smaller companies, they don’t have the coverage for all of the vehicles on the truck. Something could happen, and they may not have the money to repair the car. Which does not leave you in a good position.

I think it’s better to go with a larger company, to get some of these things. You’re going to get that coverage. If there is damage, you have a larger company that has the money up front, to get the car repaired right away. For a company like us, our first priority when there’s damage is to get your car repaired. We take care of the insurance, and that kind of stuff, on the back end. But immediately, we’re working on getting your car fixed.

Then as far as consistency and resources go, a larger company is going to have a bigger network of carriers. They’re going to cover more parts of the country. They’re going to be more consistent in your lane. It’s something you’re going to be able to count on, whether you’re shipping a car one time, or you’re looking to ship cars multiple times a year.

John: Right, and I’d imagine, like you said at the beginning. If you’re just dealing with an individual person, who’s driving the truck themselves, you’re stuck with whatever lane they’re on, and the timing of it. If you want a pick up in Massachusetts, but they’re down in Florida right now, and they’re not going to be back to Massachusetts for another week, well you’re going to have to wait that amount of time. It would be harder to schedule things.

Mike: Yeah, right. You’re at that schedule. Where for us, with more trucks and with more resources, we can accommodate not only what you’re looking for in the beginning. But last minute changes. I have last minute changes all the time. While I tell people there’s nothing I can do to guarantee that we can accommodate the last minute change, we’re usually able to come through. We’re usually able to look at what we have, and where, and make a quick move, and move one car from one truck to another. Accommodate something that might be out of your control that comes up, and it’d be a lot better for you to get the car picked up a lot sooner than you had originally planned.

Importance of Reviews

John: Right. That’s good to know. When I make a purchase online, if I’m buying something from Amazon or something like that, I’m always looking at the reviews online. Just to see what other people think of it. How do I ask other people about their car shipping experiences? Just looking at the reviews online, the best way to go? Are there other ways to find out what experiences people have had, with this company that I’m looking into?

Mike: Yeah. Of course, as you just said, the reviews are great. With access to information these days, we’re all looking at reviews. Whether we’re going out to eat, or trying anything new, we’re all immediately on the internet and seeing the reviews. But as you just mentioned, getting a referral. A referral’s always great. You ask someone about what car shipping companies they’ve used. If they purchased a car, or had to send a car somewhere.

As far as what to look for, not only do I get inquiries a lot about it, but I see a lot of reviews for our company, and other companies about it. It seems as though communication is big with people. I get that, because a car is something very valuable to people. Not only just for the money it’s worth, but people get attached to cars. There could be sentimental value in a car as well.

People are very concerned once their car leaves their hand. It’s just, it’s gone. They’re on the other end, just hoping and praying that it’s going to come to them safely, and they’re going to get it. When they go a few days without hearing from anyone, there seems to be a level of concern. Communication, I hear all the time, is big with people. They want to be able to pick up the phone and call someone, see where the car is at. Make sure everything’s okay. Make sure everything’s still going according to plan, and that there’s nothing that they have to worry about. Which I get. It makes sense.

Ideal Communication

John: Right. One thing that I really appreciate as a consumer, is a proactive approach from the company that I’m dealing with. In terms of communication. One thing that I dislike is always having to be the one to call the company, and say, “What’s going on?”. In this case, “Where’s my car?”. That kind of thing. What kind of approach do you have, if you know that a car, maybe something happens, and a car is going to be delayed for an extra day, or something like that? Do you take that proactive approach to call, and reach out to the consumer, and talk to them, and discuss what the issues are? That kind of thing?

Mike: Absolutely. You’re not alone in that at all. I think most people appreciate a company being proactive, in letting them know what’s going on. We are very strong believers in that. We have a process here, where you get a series of calls or emails throughout this entire process.

Your first one comes when the vehicle is dispatched. When you book the order, we set a rough date when we plan on having a truck come out to pick up the car. Once it’s dispatched, scheduled to go on a truck, that’s when you receive your first call. Where we let you know that that’s the day the truck plans on being there, to pick the car up.

You get another call after we’ve confirmed the pick up. We want to make sure that the pick up of the vehicle went smooth. We call to make sure that everything went well. The car got on the truck safely, and it’s off to its destination.

Then from there, our reps are trained to communicate during transit, at a level that you’re comfortable with. We ship cars for people who do it all the time. They’re very comfortable. They have a high level of trust with us, and they say, “Mike, thanks for picking up the car. Great, I’ll see it on the other end. Have a great week”.

Then we have new people, who haven’t done this before. They’re very nervous. Our reps are happy to give them a daily call, if that’s the case. Just to let them know something as simple as, “It’s still on the way. It’s in this city today. Still expected to be there this day, and everything’s safe”. Then we get down to the delivery.

The day before delivery, we definitely give you a call. Make sure that you’re available the next day, in a rough time frame of when we expect the car to be at the destination. Then we follow that through, day of. At that point, the driver will start to get in touch with the consumer. She’ll call and say, “I’m an hour away. Make sure we have a safe place, that’s big enough for the truck to get to, and safely unload your car”.

John: So you’d get these initial calls from a representative at your company first. Then as it gets closer, then you get an actual call from the driver themselves, to say, “I’m on my way”. Or, “I’m here. I’ll be there in an hour”. That kind of thing.

Mike: Right. We believe in the one point of contact. We think that makes it a lot easier for people than having to talk to a different person every time you call in about your shipment, and you have someone new learning about it. If you get assigned an account rep, and that’s your account rep through the entire process.

Right up until the end, when we feel that you need to get in touch with the driver. When you’re in that one hour window, and it’s important that you’re in strong communication with the individual delivering the car. Yeah, at that point, that’s the only time you talk to someone other than your assigned rep.

Comparing Shipping Costs

John: Okay. How do I compare car shipping costs from company to company? Are there issues with, one company might have a bunch of hidden costs? It seems like their quote is really low, but then it ends up being higher? How do I know, and how do I compare those?

Mike: Yeah, that’s a great question. This is something, you’re not going to just get one number. Everyone does it differently out there. There are companies that will give you a number, and then there are other fees included with that number. There might be a terminal fee, if you’re having the car delivered to a terminal location, and picking it up from there. You’d want to be sure that the amount that they’re giving you includes these fees.

There could be a flat rate, I’ve seen, with a mileage charge attached to it. Or I’ve seen fuel surcharges. Really, I see different ones each year. But just like anything, it’s a different approach. You get a number, followed by a series of charges and fees. Or you can take the approach of just a flat rate, which is how we do it here.

We like to tell people that, “The quote that we’re giving you is an all inclusive quote. There are no hidden fees. Whatever number we say to you is exactly what you’ll pay for the shipment”.

Then there’s obviously a difference in cost, of the quality of the company you’re working with. Just like anything. There are going to be companies out there that are maybe not hiding fees, and they have that all inclusive number. It’s still going to be a little bit more money, but it’ll be a better service that you’re paying for.

It’s important to figure out what you’re looking for. Do you just need to get the car somewhere? You’re not concerned about the service, or what happens to the car? Or is it important that this gets done right, and is it worth paying a little more to make sure that happens?

John: Right, you get what you pay for. It definitely comes into play there.

Mike: Yeah, absolutely with this. Again, especially when it comes down to something like communication. It’s a lot to stay in touch with an individual, throughout this entire process. That’s time consuming. But that’s something that, with the right company, you can pay for, you can receive that. That peace of mind, for a lot of people, that peace of mind is worth it. It’s something that they’re willing to pay for.

Other Factors for Choosing a Car Shipping Company

John: Are there any other factors that I should look for, when I’m determining the best auto transport company?

Mike: Yeah. I know I say it a lot, but reviews are always a big one. I would look into insurance. Make sure that they’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured. I think that experience is really big. Looking into the level of experience of the company. We see auto transport companies come and go every year. It’s a big revolving door in this industry. I think there’s something to say, for the ones that have been doing it for some time, and able to keep going, and stay up with the industry, and keep doing it year after year.

I think that’s a big one. It  goes along with the number of moves they’ve done. That experience is really big.

John: All right. Well that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah, of course. Thanks, John.

John: For more information, or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com. Or call 877-542-1955.

Auto Shipment Options: Brokers vs. Carriers vs. Transport Management Companies

In the digital age, everyone’s first stop for information is Google. Looking for a car shipping company to help you move your car from one place to another is no exception. However, what may seem like an easy task can quickly get confusing. Once you type your search query into a search engine like Google, you’ll find that there are two main types of car shipping companies out there: brokers and carriers. While both ensure that your car gets to its final destination, these types of companies aren’t the same. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between brokers and carriers and why it matters when you’re searching for an auto shipping company.

The Difference Between Car Transport Carriers, Brokers, and Auto Transport Companies

Auto Transport Carriers

Carriers operate the trucks that ship the vehicle.

Any driver who owns and operates a truck can be a carrier. These carriers typically schedule shipments through a broker, who then verifies licenses, types of insurance, and USDOT credentials to ensure they’re working with a legitimate carrier.

Larger carriers often operate and coordinate a fleet of trucks that they own. They may sometimes also work with brokers. Carriers may also work with owner-operators if they need extra help during a busy moving season.

Auto Transport Brokers

Brokers coordinate the shipment of your car using carriers.

Car Transport brokers usually work with multiple carriers to serve a wider region, while carriers typically operate within one or two regions within the county.

Auto Transport Companies

There is also a third option: working with an auto transport company. These companies manage the entire shipment process from beginning to end, including coordinating the auto shipping, updating clients, handling any potential issues, and ensuring timely delivery. Auto transport companies may have a fleet of their own trucks (like a carrier) and they may supplement that fleet by hiring outside carriers when needed (like a broker). With auto transport companies, you get the best of both worlds, and it makes the entire car shipping process less stressful, and more time and cost efficient. Instead of worrying about various carriers and brokers, you can work with one company that does it all.

Similarities of Car Transport Carriers, Brokers, and Auto Transport Companies

Now you know what each auto transport option offers you, but you may still be confused.

There are companies out there that operate only as brokers or only as carriers. However, many do both. There are some brokers that own fleets of their own, which makes them broker-carriers. Some carriers also work with owner-operators, acting as a broker. Most of these companies serve the same purpose: to get your car safely from one place to another. Many of them also offer full-service.

Pros and Cons of the Car Shipping Options

There are obvious similarities and overlaps between brokers, carriers, and auto transport management companies, including that they all work with customers to coordinate the shipment of cars. Here are the benefits of each:

Brokers

Pros

You’ll find that brokers are one of the most flexible options because they aren’t tied to the schedule of a particular fleet. This means that they can meet your time needs more effectively. They’ll also be able to find carriers with spots that will be able to get you a faster pickup time.

Brokers vet all of the truckers that are responsible for the shipment of your vehicle, so you can rest assured they’re properly licensed, insured, and accredited. They also provide excellent customer service so that you can get the best deals and have any issues solved for you.

Cons

The most significant disadvantage of working with a broker is that brokers don’t have direct control over transit times or pickups. This means you could face unexpected delays.

Carriers 

Pros

When you work with a carrier, you may get a lower price when it comes to shipping your car. Because you won’t be using a broker, going directly to a carrier typically means paying less. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that you’ll save money as service fees vary from company to company.

Also, using a carrier means that you have only one contact. If there are any issues with your car shipment, you’ll communicate directly with those in charge instead of using a middleman. This can make solving issues much simpler.

Cons

Depending on the carrier you use, you may find that there’s a lack of communication. For example, if a truck breaks down and is carrying your vehicle, the carrier will be more focused on fixing the issue than communicating any potential delays to its clients.

Auto Transport Management Companies

Working with an auto transport management company means combining the benefits of both carriers and brokers. From your initial query to the moment your car arrives, you’ll be working with one company.

Not only that, but auto transport companies typically cover more regions than carriers, which makes a move from one side of the country to another much easier.

Choosing the Best Option

With so much overlap between your options, it can be difficult to find the best one for your needs.

Just because there are a lot of similarities between options doesn’t mean that you should find the cheapest option. As always, there are benefits and disadvantages of all options, and it will ultimately come down to finding the right company that can offer you the services you need. For example, while any broker or carrier can manage the shipment of your luxury vehicle, you may find a broker that specializes in those types of cars.

You may also want to look into reviews. The best way to determine if a company is one you’d feel comfortable using is to see how their past clients have felt about their services. If there were any issues, you might want to address them when acquiring quotes.

Why Using an Auto Transport Company Is Better Than Driving (Podcast)

Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts, discusses the benefits of using an auto transport company instead of driving yourself.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher. I’m here today with Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Our topic today is why using an auto transport company is better than driving. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John, how are you?

Using an Auto Transport Company is Safer

John: Good, thanks. Mike, one of the factors in deciding whether or not I’m going to just drive my car to my destination or hire an auto transport company is safety. Is auto transport, or using an auto transport company, actually safer than driving?

Mike: Sure. This is a topic that I actually find myself talking about quite often. The answer is yes, we find that it’s a lot safer to have the car shipped and fly than it is to drive. As far as it goes for the car, it’s a lot safer for the car. You’re putting less wear and tear on the car, less miles on the car, and you’re obviously a lot less likely to get in an accident if you’re not driving a car versus driving it. It’s safer for the individual as well. You’re not a lot less likely to get in an accident, and obviously it’s very safe.

I find myself having this conversation a lot with parents of college students. Each year, we talk to new parents who of course are very concerned with their children going to school out of state, and the idea of taking on this big drive is very cumbersome. It’s something they’d rather not have them do. Aside from the dangers of driving along, there are other things involved. It’s a big trip to drive across the country, so this is something you have to plan out.

So, you’re staying in areas you’re not familiar with, you’re driving on roads you’re not familiar with, you’re doing a type of driving that you’re probably not familiar with. Maybe for most people, you’ve probably done locally one, two, maybe three hours of driving long drives. Now, going across the country you have to understand your own limits. You could be driving six, seven, eight hours a day. You might get tired in a different way that you don’t realize. It’s something that could be dangerous.

John: Right, the hypnotizing effect of the road is something that maybe you don’t understand, especially when you’re a new driver like a college student, the hours of just being on the highway and just driving straight, especially if you’re somewhere like in the Midwest where the roads are just straight for miles, and miles, and miles. It can kind of put you to sleep, and that’s a real thing.

Mike: Yes, absolutely. I don’t know if it’s something you’ve ever done, but I did Boston to Austin, Texas once and when I got to the Midwest, like you said, I didn’t realize these very long straight roads, and it gets difficult to focus.

Which Option is Cheaper?

John: Right. What about the cost? How does the cost of auto transport compare to driving? What are the factors involved there?

Mike: Yeah, this is something we find ourselves talking about often. It’s a huge part of the decision. First and foremost, people want to know how much this is going to cost, driving versus shipping the car. When you add up the elements involved with driving, it gets up there pretty quick. You have, of course, gas, there are tolls along the way, you’re buying food: breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, hotels depending on how many nights you’re going to need to pull off and sleep before getting back on the road. There’s wear and tear and depreciation on the car. Depending on how long the trip is, you may have to take some time off of work. So, there’s the cost of your own time.

We do a lot of shipping for people who ship on a consistent basis. They live in one part of the country one part of the year, and another part of the country the other part of the year. So, they’re shipping a car twice a year. Each year, I talk to people. We get referrals for new people who have been driving and switch over to shipping, and they tell me, “Wow Mike, I never realized that shipping the car and flying is actually cheaper. This whole time I thought I was saving money by driving.” That’s really not the case if you take the time to do the math.

John: Right, that’s interesting. I definitely think that a lot of people would think that initially, “Driving is free. I just get in my car and I just drive,” but we don’t think the gas really adds up when you’re driving for hundreds of miles at a time. So, that’s definitely a factor. When you add in all of those other things that you said that you have to consider, yeah the wear and tear on the car, and the time that you have to maybe take off of work in order to do it, all of those things are huge factors.

What about speed? I might think that you know what, if I need to do this and I need to have my car when I get to my location, I’ll be able to just drive and then I’ll immediately be able to just have my car. So, it’s going to be faster for me. What would you say to that?

Speed of Auto Transportation

Mike: Yeah, I get asked that a lot. Really, when it comes to speed, I tell people you should look at it in two different ways. There’s speed for the car to get to the destination, as you just mentioned, but there’s also the speed for you to physically get to your destination. As far as the car getting to the destination, I would say it’s about the same, maybe a bit longer, to have a car shipped than for you to drive it yourself. Your car is on a truck with anywhere from seven to nine other cars, so that truck has to stop at different places, drop cars off, pick cars up. So, it might take a bit longer than if you were driving yourself.

Good companies such as ourselves, we want to make sure this is all done safely and properly. So, our drivers really take their time at these destinations and make sure they’re loading the car and unloading it properly, and strapping them down correctly. As far as getting to where you’re going, it’s going to be a lot faster to just hop on a plane than it is to get in the car. So, how important is it for you to have your car right away? But how important is your time and the safety of your vehicle? Those are the things to consider when you’re asking yourself the speed question when it comes to transportation.

Convenience of Using an Auto Transport Company

John: Is convenience a factor as well in choosing an auto transport company?

Mike: Oh, yeah. Convenience is a huge factor. This is probably the biggest factor. Anytime you need to ship a car, you probably have a lot more going on than just shipping the car. So, whether you’re moving permanently or for a short period of time, or off to college, these are all big things happening and you probably have a lot of planning going on in your life at that moment. I’m sure we’ve all moved before. Everyone’s experienced moving, so you know how overwhelming that process can be. If you’re getting ready for school, you have a lot going on and you’re picking classes, you’re planning what your semester is going to be like. If you’re moving seasonally, if you don’t own you might be looking for a rental in the place that you’re going.

So, to add the drive into driving to this place into all of that, now you’re really essentially planning an entire trip. That’s something people overlook a lot. It’s not as simple as just getting in the car and driving. You need to figure out how many miles a day you’re going to drive, where you’re going to stop at night, where you’re going to eat. I talk to a lot of people who just think that if they can take that off their plate with all of the other things they’re doing, it’s great. We get thanks from people every year saying, “It’s such a relief to not have to plan something else during this time I’m planning more things than I ever have.”

John: Right, like “Here I am. I’m planning on moving.” Especially when you said that some people move twice a year, back and forth from a winter home to a summer home. They have to plan on moving a lot of their stuff, and whatever. Then that’s just one more thing that they would have to deal with, is planning my three day trip, or however long it is to where I’m going to eat, where I’m going to stay, all of those factors. It’s just something that they can tick right off their minds if they can just hand it off to you guys.

Mike: Right, exactly.

Dependability of Auto Transport Companies

John: What about dependability? Are auto transport companies dependable? Can I really count on them?

Mike: Yeah, auto transport companies are very dependable as far as getting the job that we’re setting out to do. I don’t think we’ve ever had a problem with accomplishing that. I’ve never had to call anyone and say, “We can’t do this shipment,” or, “It’s going to take drastically longer than you thought it would be.” Obviously, it depends on the company that you choose. I think that goes for any industry. So, dependability, it is important to look into the companies that you’re considering using for that reason. Check reviews. Decide what’s important to you. Is it safe for the vehicle? Is it an expensive car? Are you more about safety? Would you rather they take their time moving the car and just make sure that nothing happens? Or do you need the car right away?

These are all good questions to ask yourself before choosing an auto transport company, and being able to find that one that’s dependable and going to get the job done that you need.

John: All right, well that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me.

Mike: Yeah, thank you John.

John: And for more information or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at PreOwnedAutoLogistics.com or call 877-542-1955.

The Difference Between Auto Shipment Brokers and Carriers (Podcast)

Mike Scenna, sales manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts, discuss the difference between auto shipment brokers and carriers.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher. I’m here today with Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at PreOwned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Our topic today is the difference between auto shipment brokers and carriers. Welcome Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John, thanks for having me.

Biggest Difference Between Auto Transport Brokers and Carriers

John: Sure. Mike, what’s the biggest difference between auto transport brokers and carriers?

Mike: The difference between a broker and a carrier is that carrier, as the term people use, will be a company that uses exclusively their own trucks. They own the fleet of trucks that carry the vehicles from point A to point B and an auto transport broker will own pretty much no trucks, and they broker their service. They have relationships with companies that own trucks that they broker their services to get a move done for you. Of course, this is very different. I get asked a lot of questions about, is it better to use a broker or a carrier? And what’s the difference?

Of course, with a broker, it’s all about the quality of the network that they use to move cars. Their years of experience in doing this, the companies that they work with, the terms and agreements that their shipment, these are all things you want to look into when choosing a good broker. And with a carrier, it’s the same thing, all of that’s important. It’s important. They probably won’t cover as much of a distance using their own trucks as a broker. Broker’s going to be able to cover … Cast a much bigger net because they’re brokering out services to other companies that have access to more trucks.

Similarities Between Auto Transport Brokers and Carriers

John: Okay. And talk about some of the similarities. In what ways are auto shipment carriers and brokers similar?

Mike: They’re similar in the sense that they’re both accomplishing the same thing. They’re both moving cars from point A to point B, they’re doing it in a different way, but ultimately they’re doing the same thing. They’re going to have to stay up to date on all of the same rules and regulations. They’re following the same safety guidelines, drive time. They’re both aware of that. Yeah. It’s like I said, doing the same thing, they’re doing it in a different way. It’s the same industry. They know the same lanes, what it takes to get a car from one place to another, what places are difficult to move cars to, what places are easier to move cars.

Pros and Cons of Carriers and Brokers

John: Talk a little bit about some of the pros and cons of each option and how I choose which auto shipment option is best for me. And then while you’re at it, maybe talk about PreOwned Auto Logistics, your company, and how that maybe is a little bit different than either or of these types of options.

Mike: Yeah, absolutely. As far as the carrier goes, it’s usually cheaper to work with the carrier directly, but you’re cutting out the middleman. And I would say it’s also a bit faster to work with the carrier directly. You’re usually working with a smaller company with a carrier, so their stuff is planned out a little bit more specifically, and they’re able to accomplish routes faster. The cons that you’re going to get with a carrier are they usually might not be as reliable when you get a carrier director as small as just one or two trucks. If you make a car shipment, if you do some sort of a consistent shipping of a car, and you’re working with a carrier, say from Mass to Florida and it’s going great, that carrier might stop making that trip. They might move on to a different part of the country and suddenly you just don’t have an option to ship with them anymore.

Their insurance coverage might not be as high. It’s possible that they’re not operating it as safely as they can. They really don’t have anyone holding them accountable to their actions. But the right broker holds their network of carriers very accountable, staying on top of them, making sure that their paperwork is in order and that they’re up to date on all of their licensing. With a broker, your cons are going to be that it might cost a little bit more money and it could take a little bit longer for the shipment. But the pros there is you’re going to get a company that’s much more resourceful, able to handle more lanes and accomplish more types of moves. You’re probably going to get a better service. You’re working with an agent, just like you would with a real estate or insurance agent.

They’re working for you and trying to broker service for you. So of course, they want to provide the best version of that that they can. We do, as far as you’d ask how we operate here at PreOwned Auto Logistics, we do a combination of both. We have a fleet of our own trucks that operate in a specific area and we broker out services with companies that we’ve been building relationships with for close to 20 years. We keep our own internal rating system for these carriers. There are certain … Outside of the law itself, there are certain criteria that we hold our brokers accountable for. And if they don’t meet that, then it won’t be in our best interest to continue doing service with them. It’s not something people think about often, but it’s definitely something you should consider when choosing a shipping company and ask these kinds of questions.

John: Basically when I’m shipping with you, you’re choosing what the best option is for me. If you have your own truck that is doing the route that I’m looking to have my car shipped on, then you might go in that direction. Or if you don’t have your own truck, that’s going in that direction, then you have a team of people that you work with, that you trust and that you’re checking up on all the time and you might go with them. You’re just basically picking whatever the best option is for me when I want to ship my car.

Mike: Absolutely. Yeah. And that’s how we explain it to people. When you go to ship a car with our company, you get assigned a single point of contact, a rep, who’s going to work with you to find out what you need and what’s important to you. They’re going to do the best that they can to save you money and work on understanding your time frames with you and presenting you with the best option. We really try to go above and beyond when we provide that service to our customers.

John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah. Thanks John.

John: And for more information or request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at PreOwnedAutoLogistics.com or call (877) 542-1955.

222 Jubilee Dr.
Peabody, MA 01960

Phone: 978-313-5841
E-Mail: support@palmoves.com

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