Accessorial Fees: Charges for additional services like residential delivery, winching, or expedited shipping.
Auto Logistics: The complete process of shipping a vehicle, including coordinating with a carrier, route planning, scheduling pickup and delivery, and managing transport efficiency.
Auto Broker: A professional intermediary who connects customers with licensed carriers, managing quotes, contracts, and logistics to ensure smooth vehicle transport.
Auto Carrier: The truck or trailer used to transport vehicles.
Auto Transport Broker: See Auto Broker.
B
Backhaul: The return trip of a carrier after completing a delivery, often used to pick up additional loads at a lower cost.
Bill of Lading (BOL): A legal document provided by the carrier at pickup, detailing the vehicle’s condition and serving as a receipt and agreement for the shipment.
Bonded: Indicates the transport company has secured a financial guarantee (bond) to protect customers against damages or contractual issues.
Broker Bond: A $75,000 surety bond required for brokers to operate legally in the U.S.
C
Car Carrier Trailer: A specialized trailer used for transporting vehicles, available as an open or enclosed carrier.
Car Hauling: Transporting vehicles from one location to another using specialized trucks or trailers, facilitated by professional carriers.
Chain Tie-Downs: Chains used to secure vehicles to the truck, often replaced by soft straps to prevent damage.
Classic Car Transport: Specialized services for shipping rare, vintage, or high-value vehicles.
Condition Report: Documentation of a vehicle’s condition before and after shipping.
Consignee: The person or entity receiving the shipment.
Consignor: The individual or entity shipping the vehicle.
Cut-Off Time: The deadline by which a vehicle must be ready for pickup to ensure timely transport.
D
Damage Waiver: Carrier liability coverage for damage caused during transport.
Department of Transportation (D.O.T): The federal agency regulating commercial vehicle safety and transport standards.
Diversion: A mid-shipment change in the original route or delivery destination, often resulting in additional costs.
Door-to-Door Auto Shipping: Service where the carrier picks up and delivers the vehicle directly to the specified locations, offering maximum convenience.
Double-Decker Trailer: A truck trailer with two levels for transporting multiple vehicles.
E
Enclosed Auto Transport: A premium option where vehicles are transported in an enclosed trailer for protection from external elements.
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA): The projected delivery time for the vehicle.
Exception: A documented note of any issues or damage found during vehicle pickup or delivery, often recorded on the Bill of Lading.
Expedited Auto Transport: A priority shipping service for faster pickup and delivery, typically at a higher cost.
F
Flatbed Transport: Shipping vehicles on an open flatbed trailer, often for oversized or inoperable vehicles.
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration): The government agency responsible for regulating interstate commercial vehicles and ensuring carriers meet safety and insurance standards.
Freight Class: A classification for determining shipping rates based on size and weight.
G
Guaranteed Pickup/Delivery: A service ensuring vehicle pickup or delivery on specific dates, often at a premium price.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum allowable weight of a truck and its cargo.
H
Hauler Insurance: Insurance coverage provided by carriers to protect against damage during transport.
High-Value Vehicle Transport: Specialized services for shipping luxury or high-value vehicles.
I
Inoperable Vehicle: A car that cannot move under its own power and requires special handling.
Inspection Report: A detailed record of the vehicle’s condition before transport.
L
Load Board: An online platform where transport jobs are posted for carriers to bid on.
Logistics Coordinator: The person responsible for managing and scheduling vehicle shipments.
Lowboy: A type of flatbed trailer with a lowered deck for transporting oversized or heavy vehicles.
M
MC Number: A unique identifier issued by the FMCSA for carriers and brokers, certifying their legal authority to operate.
Mileage Rate: The cost of transport per mile.
Multi-Car Transport: Shipping multiple vehicles on a single trailer.
O
Open Carrier Transport: The most common and cost-effective method of vehicle shipping, using open-air trailers.
Operating Authority: Legal permission granted by the FMCSA, allowing carriers and brokers to operate across state lines.
Operational Vehicle: A car that can be driven onto the carrier without assistance.
P
Pickup Window: The timeframe during which the carrier is scheduled to pick up the vehicle.
Proof of Delivery (POD): A signed document confirming the vehicle’s delivery and noting its condition upon arrival.
R
Ramp Loading: Using ramps to load vehicles onto the truck.
Regional Carrier: A transport company operating within a specific geographic area.
Residential Delivery: Vehicle delivery to a residential address.
S
Seasonal Transport: Services catering to specific times of the year, such as snowbirds relocating vehicles.
Soft Straps: Non-abrasive straps used to secure vehicles during transport to avoid damage.
Spot Quote: A one-time cost estimate for a specific shipment.
T
Team Drivers: Two drivers working together on a carrier to minimize downtime and speed up delivery.
Terminal: A storage facility used in terminal-to-terminal shipping for vehicle drop-off and pick-up.
Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping: Transporting vehicles between designated terminals.
Top Load: Placing a vehicle on the upper deck of an open carrier to minimize exposure to debris or fluid leaks.
U
Undercarriage Clearance: The minimum clearance needed for a vehicle to load onto a trailer.
V
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): A unique code used to track and identify a vehicle during transport.
Vehicle Release Form: Authorization for the release of a vehicle to the consignee.
W
Weight Limit: The maximum weight allowed for a transport trailer.
Winch Loading: Using a mechanical winch to load inoperable vehicles.
