I am a broker, so take this with that in mind. Here is what a broker actually does for the price, and when you are better off calling a carrier yourself.
A carrier owns the truck and drives your car. A broker, like Leader Auto Ship, does not own trucks: it finds a licensed carrier that is running your route, agrees the price, checks the carrier’s authority and insurance, and stays your contact until delivery. The broker’s fee is part of the price you are quoted; it is not added at the door.
What the broker is paid for
- Finding a truck: most carriers run set routes, and a broker can offer your car to many of them at once instead of you calling one at a time.
- Checking the carrier: active federal authority, a current cargo certificate, and the right equipment for your vehicle.
- Fixing the price in writing with you and with the carrier, so nobody can ask for more at delivery.
- Handling the problem when a truck breaks down or a date slips, by finding another carrier.
When going direct to a carrier makes sense
If you already know a reliable carrier that runs your exact route on your dates, booking it directly can cost less, because there is no broker fee. The catch is that one carrier has one truck and one schedule. If it is full or delayed, you start over. Most carriers also take their loads through brokers and load boards, so a carrier’s own price is not always lower in practice.
How to tell a good broker from a bad one
- It names the carrier, with its MC and DOT numbers and insurance certificate, before your car moves.
- It takes no deposit before a carrier is assigned.
- Its quote is realistic. A price far below the others usually sits without a truck, or is "corrected" on pickup day.
- It puts the price, the deposit and the balance due to the driver on a written confirmation.
The warning-signs guide goes further, and the deposit guide explains when and how you should pay.
Written by Brian Smith, Auto Transport Manager at Leader Auto Ship LLC — FMCSA licensed property broker, MC #1638331, DOT #4232283. Brian has more than four years of experience and has personally handled about 800 shipments. Verify the licence yourself.
