Beware of Auto transport broker tactics

[efjayatee]

Please be aware:

I shipped my 80 to Colorado last week using Xpress Auto and to let folks know that Transport fees have VERY little difference in real price from one shipper to another. Those ULTRA LOW prices are just BAIT and SWITCH. They lure you in, get you to agree to a non-refundable deposit to trap you and then raise the price in the last minutes. This happend to me.

 

[thorslc1977]

Could not agree more. Looked up some reviews on line when I needed a cruiser transported and was dumbfounded at the number of rip offs and scams. It is a cesspool. I did find a person who did a good honest job for me, but it took a couple of days of filtering through the trash and getting reliable recommendations.

 

[fjbj40]

Truly is bad out there in the vehicle transport market.

When I was buying my 80 in Cali I put out feelers for transport service.

It was like I kicked a hornets nest, bombarded with emails with others saying not to trust so and so but I can guarantee you a better deal etc.

The emails continued about 6 months, it’s was absolutely crazy.

In the end I flew out and drive it back with my son. One of my best drives yet.

From Valley Hybrids where I had a PPI done and serviced for the drive all the way to NS Canada.

 

[Dparo]

Use Summit Auto

 

[efjayatee]

Sorry for the long post....
I requested a quote from summit auto first based on this forum and pretty sure they will do an awesome job. The quote at that time seemed high but at the end I went with a different carrier (Xpress Auto) thinking I could save $$ and it turned out at the end its about the Same prices.
The only big difference is that Summit Auto was up front....no hidden/tricks or gimmick.
I learn that the next time to just go deal directly with the driver rather than going through a broker. The cost would have been halve.
It was the deceit that pissed me off....the broker jacked up the price that morning and I needed the rig to be shipped. I would see auto transport trucks on the freeway on my way to work all the time and could've taken a picture if their # and license info if i knew what i know then.

Btokers job is to find you a driver and schedule your pick up. And the broker gets their fee. The price is all standard based on distance/mileage so ftom quote to quote its very similar......

What happend was i scheduled 3 weeks out......Xpress auto sent me a quote for $800. They found me a driver the week the rig was scheduled to get picked up. That morning 2hrs before pick up the broker said the driver raised the price. I needed to get the rig to cruisers and co and was time sensitive so I had no choice but to haggle....new price was $1400....i haggled it down to $1200. So I had to pay up front deposit of $500.
Later upon delivery i was told I had to pay the driver directly, the balance....there was no mentioned ftom Xpress auto that was part of the deal. I then asked the driver what was the actual cost if i went directly through you? He told me the same price as the balance owed-$700.

That was my experience with an auto broker

 

[RivMan]

I had a super sketchy situation happen last time I had to ship a vehicle.

I purchased a 4Runner from a dealer in Montana, with the intent to ship it to Michigan.

I contacted a transport broker I've worked with in the past. They quoted me a price (~$1,600), and I said go for it.

A couple days later the dealer calls and lets me know that the driver had picked up my truck, and it was on it's way.

The next day I got a call from the Broker to let me know that "They are still working on getting a driver, but it should only be a couple more days. I let them know that the vehicle had already been picked up, and the driver was on the way. They freaked out a little bit and had to call me back.

Apparently they had put the shipment out for bid with just enough information that someone was able to figure out where the pickup and drop off was.

A random driver with who knows what insurance or ability just decided to pick up the truck with no paperwork and take it. I had no information on who the driver was, where they worked, or if the truck was stolen or not. The broker washed their hands of it and said I should probably file a police report. I tried to, but the police basically said that it was too early to file something, and let them know if the truck never showed up.

Three days later the truck arrived at my door on a super sketchy flatbed. The driver said they only take cash and demanded $800, half what the broker quoted me. I inspected the truck, and all seemed good. I paid and they disappeared.

Apparently it's a common issue.

Interesting stories here in the same theme:


-Rob

 

[TCEd]

Sorry for the long post....
I requested a quote from summit auto first based on this forum and pretty sure they will do an awesome job. The quote at that time seemed high but at the end I went with a different carrier (Xpress Auto) thinking I could save $$ and it turned out at the end its about the Same prices.
The only big difference is that Summit Auto was up front....no hidden/tricks or gimmick.
I learn that the next time to just go deal directly with the driver rather than going through a broker. The cost would have been halve.
It was the deceit that pissed me off....the broker jacked up the price that morning and I needed the rig to be shipped. I would see auto transport trucks on the freeway on my way to work all the time and could've taken a picture if their # and license info if i knew what i know then.

Btokers job is to find you a driver and schedule your pick up. And the broker gets their fee. The price is all standard based on distance/mileage so ftom quote to quote its very similar......

What happend was i scheduled 3 weeks out......Xpress auto sent me a quote for $800. They found me a driver the week the rig was scheduled to get picked up. That morning 2hrs before pick up the broker said the driver raised the price. I needed to get the rig to cruisers and co and was time sensitive so I had no choice but to haggle....new price was $1400....i haggled it down to $1200. So I had to pay up front deposit of $500.
Later upon delivery i was told I had to pay the driver directly, the balance....there was no mentioned ftom Xpress auto that was part of the deal. I then asked the driver what was the actual cost if i went directly through you? He told me the same price as the balance owed-$700.

That was my experience with an auto broker

View attachment 3849220

Summit is a broker not a delivery driver

 

[efjayatee]

Summit is a broker not a delivery driver

Yes they are a broker but they were upftont with their quote....no hidden fees.
This post is to caution MUDDER that brokers has hidden fees....more of a bait and click tactics. Not all brokers are like this and Summit Auto is one that is honest.

 

[fjbj40]

I feel so much happier I drove my rig instead of getting it shipped. I feel I would have been hosed or worse yet truck stolen!

 

[TCEd]

I feel so much happier I drove my rig instead of getting it shipped. I feel I would have been hosed or worse yet truck stolen!

I also recently did a fly and drive, Texas to Michigan and enjoyed the experience. Saw a number of trucks/trailer car haulers that would have worried me if my vehicle was on them.

 

[gonzopancho]

Use Summit Auto

Summit is little better, and I do not think Aaron at Summit is honest.

He had one of his drivers transport a one owner original paint fj62 for me. VA to TX.

It arrived scratched from rubbing on the car in front.
Driver said it was scratched before the pickup.

I had pictures from before it was transported. Didn’t matter to Aaron a bit.

I’ve since repainted the truck, (and replaced the non-factory antenna with a proper fj62 powered antenna) which was something I had not wanted to do.

Prior to that, Aaron/Summit brokered transport of a lx450 MN to TX for me. It arrived with the front plate bent from, you guessed it, running into the trailer. And yes, I have pics from before the transport.

I reported it to Aaron, but no effect. The ARB behind the plate wasn’t damaged so I waved it off.

Aaron isn’t “responsible for what the driver does”. Things happen but I shouldn’t have to absorb the cost of repair.

This was all back in 2018/2019.

I have not since and will never again use Aaron/Summit.

 

[chelo]

Don't cheap out on something like this. Many vehicles are just disappearing (stolen).
Reliable carriers for all the big $$ rigs. Or fly and drive for anything less and enjoy the drive. I've shipped heavy machinery and have contacts with flatbed haulers. Not car carriers in specific but they get the job done if it could be of assistance to anyone.

 

[thorslc1977]

It really is a cesspool! I am still getting texts to transport vehicles after two years!

 

[HemiAlex]

Please be aware:

I shipped my 80 to Colorado last week using Xpress Auto and to let folks know that Transport fees have VERY little difference in real price from one shipper to another. Those ULTRA LOW prices are just BAIT and SWITCH. They lure you in, get you to agree to a non-refundable deposit to trap you and then raise the price in the last minutes. This happend to me.

I recently priced out shipping a daily driver Mercedes from AZ to Texas.

All of the low prices were bait and switch. And after a deep dive online, the reviews reflected that.

So, I picked a median/high price and had zero issues. It may not be worth much, but I used shiply.com, and it was a nightmare of calls/texts/emails for weeks and months after. It's all a pool of data.

I ended up using a dispatch out of the Los Angeles area, Tempus Logix Auto Transport | Car Shipping & Ship a Vehicle - https://tempuslogix.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwaspYGv0spn-bM83aUTCGYyeqmabxkWCW37c78gOIAEFkTZ0G9RoFJIAaAhMREALw_wcB

They were easy to communicate with and met the timeframe quoted. Their contract driver confirmed my thoughts about the low-priced options. They always call back with a complication and force you to accept a higher one once they have your car and the deposit. Also, some low-priced options aren't regulated and insured to ship cars, and they lose or destroy your vehicle.

 

[CRZR45]

I took the drivers direct # last time and he said he drives coast to coast weekly and just call him directly next time I need a transport and he can get me a timeframe based on his route.

 

[Advrider639]

I recently shipped a car from Denver to Atlanta... It was a mess.

- was picked up 3 weeks after original pick up window
- broker told me they had to pay extra for it to be picked up, and that they were covering the extra cost
- quick transit time, 3 days
- I paid the driver the remaining balance, but he had no record of the extra cost already being paid. Things got heated, he said he would put the car back on the trailer. I offered to let the police help him get it loaded. At that point he called his dispatch and they miraculously sorted out that it had been paid. He threw my keys at me and walked away.

He 100% was trying to pocket the extra bit of $. What a slimy business.

I'll be driving everything from now on, or paying for an in house company, like Reliable.

 

[WesCadwall]

Just a thought here but I have a 3/4 ton 2022 chevy with a 5th wheel flatbed trailer (new) and Im retiring soon. What kind of price/mileage are you guys paying. It would be a part time gig for me . I have a farm in SC but not having to live off the money like these hotshot drivers would let me take my time and ship with care.

 

[krsabhinav]

For TX folks short on time, I recommend Flix Auto out of Austin. Broker, not transporter but they find good drivers for you, take a very low cut, and are easy to work with. Have shipped roughly 6 times with them since before the pandemic, no problems, never more than $550 cross-country, vehicles big, small, cheap, and pricey.

If you're not short on time, I echo what others have said.

 

[Dparo]

Just a thought here but I have a 3/4 ton 2022 chevy with a 5th wheel flatbed trailer (new) and Im retiring soon. What kind of price/mileage are you guys paying. It would be a part time gig for me . I have a farm in SC but not having to live off the money like these hotshot drivers would let me take my time and ship with care.

I paid $1300 Eugene Oregon to NW Indiana.