If you haul cars for a living and want to find the best loads out there for auto transporters, you are in the right place.
In this article, I am going to cover 9 great options for finding auto transport loads, including some of the most popular load boards (both free and paid). I will also include at the end some other load options you can explore, such as signing on to carriers and using brokers who specialize in working with car haulers.
Before we dive into the load boards and other options, I will touch briefly on some introductory stuff, like what is an auto transport business and what types of truck and trailers are used to haul cars. If you prefer to jump straight to the load options, just click here.
We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!
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What Is An Auto Transport Business?
An auto transport business is a business that offers to move a customer’s car from one location to another in exchange for a fee. In most cases, this type of service is offered through trucks and trailers that transport the automobiles to their destination, although cars may be moved via air, train or boat (for overseas deliveries).
What Types of Trucks and Trailers Are Used For Auto Transport?
At the broadest level, you are going to see two types of trailers used in auto transport: open trailers and enclosed trailers. These are usually pulled by semi-trucks or pickup trucks (often duallys due to their increased power and stability), depending on the size of the load and the type of trailer used.
As their names suggest, open trailers are the trailers you often see on the road hauling cars. They are exposed to the elements, but provide customers with a much cheaper alternative for shipping their cars.
Enclosed trailers are closed up with sides and a roof, and they protect cars from the elements as well as road debris, making them a superior choice for customer who are shipping antique, collectible, or exotic cars.
Now there are variations with each of these two general types of trailers.
For example, with open trailers, you will find carriers who use something as simple as a single vehicle hot shot trailer used to transport cars over relatively shorter distances to those who use much larger multi-level, multi-car trailers.
Some of the specific types of trailers include flatbed, gooseneck, wedge, drop deck, and bumper pull trailers.
Best Paid Load Boards For Car Haulers
1. DAT [Top Recommendation]
When it comes to load boards, DAT is a clear market leader, with around 1.37 million loads posted daily (including tons of loads for auto transport).
Because of their size and scope, they also have leading edge tech and info, including unlimited searching, instant alarm match notifications, broker credit scores, days to pay, market rates, mileage routing and much more.
Despite their dominant place in the market, I think their pricing is reasonable and it’s actually in line with other premium paid load boards. As of this writing, DAT offers the following plans:
- DAT TruckersEdge: Standard ($45/month) – includes unlimited truck posts and load searches, load match alarms, month to month billing, mileage and routing features, broker credit data and load counts by state.
- DAT TruckersEdge: Enhanced ($85/month) – includes all standard features plus the ability to call and search for loads (for when you are on the road), and average rates for lanes you are searching (30 day).
- DAT TruckersEdge: Professional ($135/month) – includes all Enhanced features plus average rates for past 15 days, access to Tri-Haul (which suggests higher paying routes with triangular route suggestions), DAT Assurance (which helps you collect past due accounts), and North American database (which includes Canadian loads)
There are higher tier plans available for companies with multiple trucks (Power Select Carrier) and multiple dispatchers (Power Office Carrier).
There are no long terms contracts, so you can stop at any time.
I have an affiliate relationship with DAT and secured a deal where if you use my link, you can get a free 30 day trial for any of their plans. So, you get to try out this industry-leading load board for a full month for free. I would note that this deal is only for new DAT subscribers.
If you are interested, just click on the banner below to take advantage of this no-risk offer.
2. Central Dispatch
Central Dispatch is America’s largest auto transportation marketplace according to their website.
Their size and scope make them an obvious load board to explore. They have been around since 1999 and have certain requirements:
If you are an interstate carrier, you need to meet the following:
- Active MC (motor carrier) authority, either common or contract, with FMCSA.
- $1 million active liability insurance policy in the company name or the name of the owner.
- Recommended cargo insurance per vehicle hauled is $35,000 ($50,000 is preferred but less is accepted). For instance, if they can haul a total of 10 vehicles, it is recommended that they have at least $350,000 cargo coverage
If you want to learn more (including pricing), you can contact them here.
3. Ship.cars
Another popular load board that is dedicated to car haulers is Ship.cars. Their load board offers the ability to conveniently and instantly book loads online, without ever needing to go offline. This means that you will not lose out on loads just because you have to try calling shippers who are offline.
Unfortunately, pricing is unavailable online, so you will need to contact them.
4. Super Dispatch
Super Dispatch is another paid load board specializing in auto transport. They boast an easy to use app, with functionality like proactive load suggestions, instant booking, no status calls and no paperwork.
Best Free Load Boards for Car Haulers
5. Shiply
Shiply is a great free load board for car haulers. On their website, they state that “[c]ar hauling is very popular on our platform with jobs posted frequently.”
They have a different business model altogether. You won’t be charged any fees to access their load board. But they will tack on their fee when you actually book a load. That way, you don’t pay them unless you actually book a load with them. Seems like a pretty low risk option and one worth exploring.
If you want to learn more about using Shiply to find free hot shot loads, check out their website here.
6. Uship
Another free load board that uses this type of pay-as-you-go pricing structure is Uship. One of they key advantages of using Uship is that you have access to a wide variety of freight available for car hauler (so whether you have a tractor trailer or pickup with trailer, there may be options for you).
They also have tools that allow you to set your rate, schedule and routes. You can also market your trucking business by filling out a carrier profile, which will allow people to search for you and find reviews and ratings for your business.
Other Load Options- Sign on to Carriers or Use Brokers that Specialize in Car Transport
If you are a owner operator or carrier and want other ways to find car transport loads, you can sign on to a carrier or work with brokers that specialize in auto transportation.
7. RPM
One great option is RPM. From 3-car wedges to stingers and 9-car haulers, they accommodate almost all truck types.
Below are some of the key requirements you will need to meet to register as a carrier with RPM:
- Provide a valid MC/MX or USDOT number to begin the registration process. Intrastate carriers without a DOT number may provide an applicable state registration number to begin registration.
- This registration, and RPM’s Broker – Carrier Agreement, must be completed by an employee that is authorized to enter your company into legally binding transportation agreements.
- A valid Tax Identification Number (EIN) and federal tax information must be submitted electronically during the registration.
- Provide a Certificate of Insurance that meets the insurance minimum requirements below. Certificates must be submitted from your insurance producer (agent);
- General Liability – $1,000,000
- Auto Liability/BIPD – $1,000,000
- Workers’ Compensation – Statutory Limits
- Cargo – $100,000
8. Cloudtrucks
Another interesting option is Cloudtrucks.
Their app is free to use and there are no monthly fees. They do however take 5% of each trip to cover cargo and liability insurance and 10% to keep their lights on. That means you get to keep 85% of each load when compared to mega carriers, who may often take a much larger cut.
They will require the following:
- CDL and 2+ years of experience
- Your own truck and trailer
- Physical damage, occupational, accident, and liability insurance
It’s worth noting that at this time, they do not do hotshots, flatbeds, reefers or dropboxes.
9. Syngin
Syngin is a broker that specializes in auto transport.
Sign up and access to their app is free – all you need to do is validate your carrier status by providing your DOT number and provide three documents: (i) contract, (ii) insurance and (iii) ACH authorization. You should also indicate what type of trailer you have (e.g., flatbed, multi-car trailer, etc.), so they know what type of loads you are capable of handling.
Conclusion
So there you have it – 9 great load options for car haulers. Hope this has been helpful and best of luck with your car hauling business!
