Car Shipping Glossary

Every industry has its own language, its own set of terms that might not make much sense to an outsider, and as it turns out, even the car shipping industry has its own language. These terms may just confuse you and create more questions. At carshipping.org, we try to take all of the confusing nonsense away and present information in an easy to understand way. Spend a little bit of time going over these terms, and you won’t have as many questions. Below is a list of the most common terms used in the car shipping industry and their meanings.

Open Vehicle Shipping – This is the most common method of shipping vehicles. It does not provide your vehicle with any protection from the outside world. Your vehicle is put on a trailer that does not have any walls, and it does not have a roof. This is also the most affordable method of shipping a vehicle.

 Closed Vehicle Shipping – This is the exact opposite of open vehicle shipping. Closed vehicle shipping is when your vehicle gets shipped in a closed trailer. It provides more protection from the outside world and it is not susceptible to the elements. This method of shipping is more expensive than open vehicle shipping.

 Car Shipping Insurance – This is the insurance that is provided by the car shipping company. Make sure that you read over the entire policy. Find out who is liable for any damages, and if there is a deductible, find out how much it will be.

 Car Shipping Covering – Some automotive shipping transport companies will provide a protective plastic covering for the vehicles that they ship. It might be included in the price, and it might be available at an additional charge. Ask your car shipping company for more information on whether or not they offer car shipping covering and how much it may or may not cost you.

 Delivery Time – This is the amount of time that is estimated for it to take for the delivery of the vehicle. This time frame usually starts from the moment the vehicle is picked up. There are many things that can alter the delivery time. Conditions beyond the car shipping companies control can have a huge affect on the delivery time.

 Hauler – This is the vehicle that transports the vehicles from one place to another. There is a really good chance that you have seen one of these on the interstate.

 Shipping Mileage – This is the total amount of miles from the vehicle pickup location to the delivery destination.

 Bill Of Lading – The bill of lading is the paperwork that the shipping company uses during the delivery process. The driver will have a copy of the bill of lading. On the bill of lading you can expect to find all of the information associated with the vehicle shipment. It is like a contract and a receipt all rolled up into one.

 FMCSA – This is an organization within the department of transportation. It stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Make sure that your car shipping company is licensed by the FMCSA.

 USDOT – This stands for the US Department of Transportation.

 USDOT Number – This is a number that is given to vehicle shippers by the FMSCA. Make sure that your car shipping service has a valid USDOT number.