As a rule, the first thing that comes to your mind when you need an auto-shipment is to google whether there is a reputable car shipping company near you and then decide which one is perfect to satisfy all of your needs. Unfortunately, there may be some problems with Google search because your results keep mentioning both car shipping brokers and carriers. So, what are the difference between those two, and what should you choose? Read on, to find lots of useful information concerning the pros and cons of car shipping broker and carrier.
What Is The Difference Between a Car Shipping Carrier And a Broker?
The thing is, the car shipping carrier is the one, who operates the car shipping truck that is going to ship your vehicle. While a broker is a person, who coordinates the whole network or car shipping carriers.
You should also bear in mind, that even the owner of a truck can become a carrier. Although, he may need a help of a broker to verify the licenses of his truck, USDOT credentials, and cargo insurance. The broker can work with several car shipping carriers to provide his services all around the country and abroad.
What Is The Best Car Shipping Option?
Everyone should understand that there are different segments in the car shipping industry. That means you don’t have to look for the cheapest offer available and call it a day. You need to make a deep study of the market, compare services, and pay attention to the reviews. There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing a carrier over a broker and vise versa.
The Pros and Cons of Working with an Auto Transport Broker
The main advantage of working with a broker is the flexibility he offers. The thing is, brokers, work with the carriers, and they can help you to choose the most reputable carrier to meet all of your car transport needs. Besides, working with a broker can save you a vast of time. Once, you find a broker, you don’t have to look for a carrier surfing the net. It is not that easy to do. All you need is to check the list of car shipping companies and make sure they are licensed and insured.
With the years of experience, some auto transport brokers have formed a partnership with the car shipping companies, so it won’t take a long time for them to prepare a list of carriers and manage the whole process.
Unfortunately, there are still some brokers with poor communication skills. As a result, you may not get the desired service and bad car shipping experience.
The Pros and Cons of Working with an Auto Transport Carrier
In general, there are two advantages to working with a car shipping carrier. First of all, you pay less when working directly with a carrier. And another benefit is that you are dealing directly with the driver. Although it does have its challenges, you are the one who manages the process.
The disadvantage of working with a carrier is quite obvious because it is a time-consuming process, so you need to have a lot of time and patience to find a carrier who is running your specific route in the time you want to. Sometimes, it is impossible to do if you are an average person, out of this industry.