Key takeaways
- BOL = Bill of Lading (your damage-claim evidence).
- Broker coordinates; carrier owns the truck.
- USDOT identifies the company; MC number specifies operating authority.
- Pay-at-pickup means the card is charged when the carrier picks up your vehicle — never before.
The auto transport industry has its own vocabulary. Knowing these terms helps you communicate clearly with shipping companies, evaluate quotes, and protect yourself during transport. Here are the 25 most important.
Essential terms
Auto Transport — Moving vehicles using specialized carrier trucks.
Bill of Lading (BOL) — Document recording vehicle condition at pickup and delivery. Primary damage-claim evidence.
Broker — Licensed intermediary coordinating shipments between customers and carriers. Doesn't own trucks.
Carrier — Company that owns the truck and physically transports your vehicle.
Cargo Insurance — Coverage against damage during transport.
Dispatch — Assigning a carrier to your shipment.
Door-to-Door — Pickup and delivery at your addresses. Standard for most shipments.
Double Brokering — A broker re-selling your shipment to another broker instead of dispatching directly. A red flag.
Enclosed Transport — Vehicle ships in a covered trailer. 30–50% more than open.
Expedited — Fastest tier; 24–48 hour pickup window.
FMCSA — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Gate Pass — Authorization required to release a vehicle from an auction lot or port.
GPS Tracking — Real-time location monitoring in transit.
Highway — Carrier-verification platform performing real-time identity, insurance, and safety checks.
Inoperable — Vehicle that cannot drive under its own power. Requires winch.
Loadboard — Digital marketplace where brokers post shipments and carriers bid.
MC Number — Motor Carrier number; FMCSA operating authority.
Open Transport — Standard open carrier; used by 85% of shippers.
Pay-at-Pickup — Card kept on file at booking, charged only when the carrier picks up your vehicle.
Photo Inspection — Timestamped photos documenting condition at pickup and delivery.
Priority — Mid-tier service; 2–4 day pickup window.
Standard — Base tier; 5–7 day pickup window. Most affordable.
Terminal-to-Terminal — Drop-off and pickup at carrier terminals, not your address.
USDOT Number — Unique FMCSA identifier for every commercial transport company.
VIN — 17-character Vehicle Identification Number.
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