Auto Transport vs Brokers: What Dealerships Should Know

The Confusion Every Dealership Faces

You sell cars fast, but shipping them shouldn’t slow you down. Yet every time you need vehicles moved, you face the same question: Should I hire a broker or go straight to a carrier?

Both claim to “handle everything,” but the truth is, their business models and your costs couldn’t be more different.

Let’s break it down simply, dealership-style.

🚗 What a Broker Actually Does

A broker doesn’t own trucks. They post your load on public boards like Central Dispatch, then call around until they find a driver willing to take it.

They act as the middleman between you and the carrier - collecting payment from you, taking their commission, and passing the rest to the driver

Pros:

• Can quickly find carriers when you don’t have contacts.

• Useful for one-time or emergency shipments.

Cons:

• Adds 10–25% markup.

• No control over drivers or schedules.

• Communication delays (you never talk to the actual driver).

• Often overpromise and underdeliver.

🚛 What a Carrier Does

A carrier owns or directly manages trucks and dispatchers. When you call them, you’re speaking to the person who will actually move your vehicles, not a middleman flipping calls

Pros:

• Real-time updates from dispatch or driver

• Direct control of scheduling and routes

• Transparent pricing - no surprise broker fees

• Faster pickup and delivery

Cons:

• Limited availability if carrier fleet is small

• You might need multiple carriers if moving across many states (unless you work with a nationwide network like DisCarry)

💸 Real Example: The Broker Premium

A dealership needs to move five SUVs from Atlanta to Denver. A broker quotes $5,000 total - but pays the carrier only $4,000, keeping $1,000 as “service fee.”

The dealership waits 2 extra days because the broker takes time finding a truck. Total: More cost, more waiting, less visibility.

A direct carrier quotes $4,000 flat, picks up the same day, and updates you directly during transit

Simple math - brokers charge more, deliver less.

📞 Why Direct Communication Matters

Imagine this scenario: You’re waiting for a truck to pick up 10 vehicles before a weekend sale. You call the broker, who calls another dispatcher, who calls the driver — and you wait hours for a basic update.

Now imagine calling DisCarry: You get an answer in 10 seconds You get real-time driver updates And your cars arrive when promised

That’s the difference.

⚙️ When Brokers Make Sense (Rarely)

To be fair, brokers have their place - for small, one-time moves or rare lanes with little carrier presence. But for dealerships moving cars regularly, brokers are simply an unnecessary middle step between you and your shipment.

✅ Why Dealerships Are Switching to DisCarry

• Up to 100 available drivers nationwide

• Licensed and insured (DOT & MC verified)

• Dedicated dispatchers with dealership experience

• No broker markup

• Transparent pricing and reliable delivery times

In short: we’re not another voice on the phone — we’re the ones behind the wheel.

📈 The Bottom Line

Brokers find trucks. Carriers move cars. Dealerships that understand that difference save money, time, and stress

If you want to spend less time negotiating and more time selling - go direct Go DisCarry.