What Is The Difference Between An Auto Shipping Broker And An Auto Shipping Carrier?
There are two companies in the ring. The carrier in one corner, the broker in the other. Which one are you going to put your money on?
A Background on the Two Competitors
The auto shipping carriers are as numerous as baby bunnies. These businesses provide a convenient service for vehicles on the move, for car dealers and for customers with specific requirements. Most find that contacting one of these carriers online may be the only way to go as they are all over the place and a face-to-face contact with them is unlikely. Even so, it is not very difficult to obtain quotes and rates either online or by telephone. Excellent customer service is usually their stock in trade. The rates quoted to you will include the cost of insurance which is imperative for the well being of your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers will offer you several options by which to ship your vehicle or equipment of any sort. Your vehicle can be transported in an open or enclosed environment, by truck, rail, freight or boat, and these are just some of the services they offer.
Auto shipping brokers are specific individuals who work as the middleman between you and the shipping company. They are the most widely used in dealing with auto shipping for both parties. This being due to the fact that they make the customers life easier and they bring more clientele and revenue to the shipping companies. They allow the curious customer much freedom in that they never have to be tied down to one company. Brokers give the patrons a variety of companies and prices to choose from, as well as direct communication.
Who is the winner?
The major factor separating the broker from the carrier is that brokers don’t own vehicles or transportation systems. The carrier companies have their own shipping utilities and so the cost to them is somewhat less, which makes the cost of dealing with the carrier directly somewhat less for the customer as well. The broker provides a valuable service to you by locating the companies for you and getting your vehicle picked up and delivered to you without difficulty. The carriers have a problem in that are undoubtedly not local to the customer shipping his vehicle and so the customer must rely on strictly the services offered by the carrier. With the broker scenario, the customer receives full disclosure to a plethora of options without being married to any one company. The broker, then, becomes the responsible party for the timely and efficient delivery of your vehicle to its destination, relieving you, his customer, of this burden.
Brokers are able to get your various quotes and rates and then accommodate accordingly. Brokers have the benefit of immediate interaction with the trucking or shipping drivers; it is promised with most carriers that this can happen but the reality of it is not always true. The fact is that most trucking or shipping companies don’t have the equipment to communicate directly to the driver. Plus, brokers, during communication, are working with one shipping service at a time. While the carrier companies have an abundant amount of trucks or other drivers spread around the USA or internationally, thus causing inherent lack of communication. Most carriers drop off the vehicles at terminals, yet working with a broker you have door to door service at your disposal; making it all much more convenient.
It was a fair fight. The winner depends upon your needs. Everyone wins this one.
Visit JMN Logistics for more information on Vehicle Shipping or follow JMN Logistics on their blog.
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