How carriers choose loads depends on six key factors: route profitability, vehicle size and weight, pricing competitiveness, pickup flexibility, seasonal demand, and special requirements. Understanding these factors helps customers make strategic decisions that speed up carrier assignment and improve their shipping experience.
What Is the Car Shipping Load Board System?
The car shipping load board system is a digital marketplace where auto transport brokers post available vehicles and licensed carriers search for loads matching their routes and equipment. Major platforms like Central Dispatch, Super Dispatch, and uShip connect thousands of brokers and carriers daily, functioning like a “job board” for vehicle transport.
How it works: When you book with a broker (most companies are brokers, not carriers), they post your vehicle details including pickup location, destination, vehicle type, dates, and payment. Carriers logged into these platforms search for vehicles along their planned routes, then contact brokers to claim loads that fit their schedule.
Bidding process: Multiple carriers may bid on attractive loads, with brokers selecting carriers based on price, licensing, insurance, reviews, and availability. High-demand routes see multiple bids within hours, while uncommon routes may receive few bids, requiring price increases to attract carriers.
Direct carrier booking: Some companies operate their own fleets, bypassing load boards. These carrier-owned companies (5-10% of the industry) offer faster assignment but cost 10-20% more and serve limited geographic areas.
What Factors Determine Carrier Load Selection?
Carriers select vehicles based on route alignment, profitability, vehicle compatibility, pickup flexibility, seasonal timing, and special requirements. Standard vehicles on popular routes with flexible dates and competitive pricing get assigned fastest.
| Factor | Impact on Assignment | Customer Control |
|---|---|---|
| Route Popularity | High-traffic: 1-3 days Uncommon: 7-14 days | None (fixed location) |
| Pricing | Competitive: Fast Below-market: Delays | High (can increase) |
| Vehicle Size | Sedans: Fast Oversized: Slower | Low (already purchased) |
| Date Flexibility | 5-7 day window: Fast Specific date: Slower | High (can adjust) |
| Season | Summer: Faster Winter: Slower | Medium (can time) |
| Transport Type | Open: Many carriers Enclosed: Limited | High (can choose) |
Route profitability: Carriers prioritize routes with return loads preventing empty backhauls. Shipping CA to TX is popular because carriers easily find return shipments. Conversely, Montana to Maine offers few return options, requiring higher payment to justify the empty return trip.
Load completion: Carriers prefer filling their 8-10 car trailers completely. Your sedan may wait for additional vehicles heading the same direction, allowing carriers to maximize profit per trip. Flexible dates help carriers hold your vehicle until they fill the trailer.
Payment terms: Carriers operating on tight margins prefer cash-on-delivery (reducing financial risk) over delayed payments. Brokers offering immediate payment attract carriers faster.
Why Do Some Vehicles Get Assigned Faster?
Some vehicles get assigned faster because they offer carriers the optimal combination of profitable routes, standard dimensions, competitive pricing, flexible pickup windows, and no special requirements. Standard sedans on popular routes with flexible dates typically find carriers within 1-3 days.
The “perfect load”: A Honda Accord shipping Los Angeles to Houston with a 5-day flexible window, priced at market rate ($900-$1,200), requiring open transport represents the ideal load. Dozens of carriers run this route weekly, the sedan fits anywhere on trailers, and flexibility lets them optimize schedules.
Problematic loads: A lifted Ford F-250 (8.5 feet tall) shipping Bozeman, Montana to Portland, Maine with a specific date, priced 15% below market, requiring enclosed transport creates multiple challenges. Few carriers serve this route, oversized trucks need special positioning, specific dates limit options, low pricing discourages bids, and enclosed requirements reduce the carrier pool by 90%.
Seasonal variations: Summer (May-September) sees higher demand from relocations and college moves, creating more competition. Your vehicle competes with thousands of others, so carriers cherry-pick the most profitable loads. Winter offers less competition, though northern routes face weather delays.
For understanding overall shipping timelines, see our car shipping timeline guide.
How Can Customers Get Faster Carrier Assignment?
Get faster carrier assignment by offering competitive pricing, providing flexible 5-7 day pickup windows, booking 2-3 weeks in advance, choosing open transport when appropriate, and ensuring your vehicle meets standard size limits.
Pricing strategy: Don’t automatically choose the lowest quote—severely discounted prices ($200-$300 below competitors) signal the broker will struggle finding carriers. Select mid-range quotes reflecting realistic market rates. If your booking doesn’t attract carriers within 3-5 days, authorize a price increase of $100-$150.
Flexibility advantages: Offering a 5-7 day window instead of a specific date increases your carrier pool by 300-400%. Carriers can fit your vehicle into existing routes rather than making special trips. This single change often reduces assignment time from 10-14 days to 1-3 days.
Advance booking: Booking 2-3 weeks ahead gives brokers time to find optimal carriers and allows carriers to plan your vehicle into upcoming routes. Last-minute bookings require carriers to deviate from planned routes, reducing your load’s attractiveness.
Open vs enclosed: Unless shipping luxury vehicles, classics, or extensively modified cars, choose open transport. Enclosed carriers represent only 5-10% of the fleet, dramatically limiting options. Open transport costs 40-60% less and assigns 5-7 days faster.
Route optimization: When possible, ship to/from major metropolitan areas. Carriers prefer routes connecting large cities where finding return loads is easier. If you live rurally, offering to meet carriers in nearby cities (50-100 miles) may speed assignment and reduce costs.
For vehicle preparation tips once assigned, review our complete preparation guide.
What Role Do Brokers Play in Load Assignment?
Brokers post your vehicle on load boards, negotiate with multiple carriers, verify licensing and insurance, coordinate logistics, and handle payment processing. Quality brokers maintain relationships with 1,000+ carriers, dramatically improving assignment speed compared to booking directly.
Broker advantages: Established brokers understand which carriers serve specific routes, what pricing attracts bids, and how to position loads competitively. Their industry connections and volume often secure carriers faster than individual customers could independently.
Broker limitations: Brokers don’t control carrier decisions—they can only make your load attractive. If your route, vehicle, pricing, or requirements create challenges, even excellent brokers may struggle finding carriers quickly.
Communication importance: Responsive brokers who actively monitor boards, answer carrier questions, and relay information facilitate faster assignment. Poor communication causes delays as carriers move to easier-to-coordinate shipments.
For selecting reliable brokers, explore our best auto transport companies comparison.
Conclusion: Understanding Load Assignment
Understanding how car shipping loads are assigned empowers you to make strategic decisions improving carrier assignment speed and overall satisfaction. The process centers on carriers selecting loads offering optimal profitability on existing routes, with standard vehicles, flexible dates, and competitive pricing getting priority.
Key takeaways: Expect 1-3 day assignment on popular routes with flexibility and competitive pricing. Accept 7-14 days for uncommon routes, oversized vehicles, or strict scheduling. Improve assignment chances by offering flexibility, realistic pricing, advance booking, and choosing open transport for standard vehicles.
Realistic expectations: No broker can guarantee specific timelines—they can only optimize your load’s attractiveness within the independent contractor carrier market. Understanding carrier selection factors helps you navigate the process confidently.
For additional insights, review our carrier operations guide and pricing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are car shipping loads assigned to carriers?
Car shipping loads are assigned through digital load boards where brokers post vehicles and carriers bid on shipments matching their routes. Carriers prioritize loads offering the best profit margins, with competitive pricing, flexible dates, and standard vehicles getting assigned fastest (1-3 days on popular routes).
Why hasn’t a carrier picked up my vehicle yet?
Delays stem from uncommon routes, below-market pricing, oversized vehicles, inflexible dates, or peak season competition. Routes between major cities with flexible 5-7 day windows assign fastest, while specific dates, rural locations, or oversized vehicles slow the process.
How long does carrier assignment take?
Popular routes (CA-TX, NY-FL) with standard vehicles and flexible dates see assignment in 1-3 days. Uncommon routes, oversized vehicles, or specific dates may take 7-14 days. Last-minute summer bookings can extend to 2-3 weeks.
What makes a vehicle attractive to carriers?
Carriers prefer standard-size sedans on high-traffic routes, with competitive pricing, flexible 5-7 day windows, and no special requirements. These loads fit easily on trailers, align with existing routes, and allow carriers to maximize profitability.
Can I speed up carrier assignment?
Yes, speed up assignment by offering flexible dates (5-7 day window), pricing at market rates (get 3-5 quotes), booking 2-3 weeks in advance, choosing open transport, and being flexible about meeting carriers in nearby major cities if you’re rural.
Do brokers or carriers assign loads?
Carriers choose which loads to accept from broker postings on digital load boards. Brokers facilitate by posting details, setting competitive pricing, and negotiating with carriers, but cannot force carriers to accept specific loads. Quality brokers improve speed through industry relationships.
What routes get fastest assignment?
High-traffic routes between major cities get fastest assignment: California to Texas/Florida, New York to Florida, and West-East Coast corridors. These routes offer carriers easy return loads, daily service, and maximum trailer utilization, resulting in 1-3 day assignment.
Why does enclosed transport take longer?
Enclosed carriers represent only 5-10% of the fleet, dramatically limiting options. These specialized carriers focus on luxury and classic vehicles, charge 40-60% premiums, and maintain lower-capacity trailers. This reduced pool typically extends assignment by 5-7 days versus open transport.
