Reading : 2 minutes
Jan 16, 2024

Many customers will request car transport quotes weeks or even months in advance expecting to “lock in” an exact schedule for a guaranteed price. It makes sense, right? Especially when preparing a cross-country move, it’s just logical to plan ahead and cross things off of the big “to-do” list. But auto transports are not like bus schedules or other types of transit that have regular, dependable daily or weekly schedules. There isn’t a way to micro-manage the timing of car transports in a way to guarantee set schedules in advance. It’s just a totally different process no matter how much notice you give your broker to arrange your transport for you.

It has everything to do with the transitory nature of car transport customers for door-to-door service. Bus schedules are well-timed from stop to stop or station to station, but car carriers don’t operate out of hubs like buses do. Each and every car transport route is as unique as they individual customers being served with that run. It wouldn’t be cost effect to run fleets of carriers half empty from stop to stop across the country just to be able to have a master schedule. Each car transport scheduled has to include a full truckload of customers from the same general region to the same region going the same direction the same week. Because routes and schedules can vary widely from run to run and week to week, there is no way to guarantee one specific pick-up date months in advance. The car transport schedule is ever-changing.

No matter when you place your order, your schedule will be confirmed the week of your “First Available for Pick-up” date, most often within 24-48 hours of pick-up. And that date is an estimate; the timing can still be affected by traffic or road construction or a few other issues your driver can’t control. As much as your broker wants to put you at ease (and your driver wants to give the specific timing you want) it is realistic to plan on being flexible. We know you have to deal with your work schedule or try to catch a flight or any number of other hassles, but there just isn’t a way to guarantee a transport schedule with perfect precision in advance.

Please give us a call if you have any questions about the car transport booking process: 866-221-1664.

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