What every customer should ask before booking.
We wrote this hub so you can spot a bad broker — even if it's not us you're comparing to. Three featured questions below, and a new article on the 1st of every month.
Featured questions
Three questions that expose 95% of broker scams.
These are the questions to ask any broker before you book. Use them on us. Use them on anyone.
"Are you the broker who'll actually arrange my shipment, or did you buy my info from a lead service?"
Why ask it
Lead-gen sites mask as brokers, then resell your number to 8+ real brokers in seconds. The "quote" you saw was never theirs to honor.
Honest answer sounds like
"We are the broker. We arrange every shipment ourselves. No reselling."
"Will you tell me the carrier's name, USDOT, and driver contact — before pickup, in writing?"
Why ask it
Shady brokers hide the actual carrier so customers can't verify the trucker, their insurance, or their DOT history. The broker collects the markup, then disappears if anything goes wrong.
Honest answer sounds like
"Yes. The carrier name, USDOT, and driver contact appear in your customer portal as soon as we assign the load. Verifiable on the FMCSA SAFER database."
"What happens if I don't hear from anyone for 3 days during transit?"
Why ask it
Many brokers vanish after booking. No proactive updates, no point of contact, no tracking. By the time you realize something's off, your car is somewhere in Texas and nobody knows where.
Honest answer sounds like
"Your customer portal shows the truck on the map in real time. Milestone updates by text and email at pickup, en route, and pre-delivery. Your coordinator answers if you call between them."
Read the guides
Plain-English answers to the scary questions.
Long-form articles on the games brokers play, how quotes work in practice, and how to tell whether the company you booked is the company driving.
Buyer guide · 8 min read
Why Your Car Shipping Quote Went Up at the Last Minute
If a broker quoted you $629 then asked for $900, you are not alone. Here is what is actually happening in the industry, and how to make sure your quote is real before you pay.
Buyer guide · 8 min read
Broker vs Carrier: Who Actually Moves Your Car?
Most auto transport companies are brokers. Some own trucks. The customer almost always finds out which is which only after something goes wrong. Here is why it matters who is on the other end of your booking, and how a hybrid that runs both sides handles things differently.
Buyer guide · 7 min read
Why Your Auto Transport Quote Might Not Hold (And What to Look For)
A low first quote does not always mean a fair price. Here is why some quotes get raised after you book, how to tell which ones are at risk, and the four questions you can ask any broker to find out.
Ready for a real quote?
Use the checklist on us first.
We answer all 3 questions honestly. If we don't, you have our word that we'll point you to someone who will.
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