Businesses that need to move vehicles across long distances are increasingly turning to open auto transport as a smart, cost-effective solution. In this friendly guide, we’ll explain what open transport means, how it works, and why it’s often the best choice for B2B vehicle shipping. We’ll also cover the key benefits, safety considerations, and tips for ensuring smooth pickup and delivery. By the end, you’ll see why open carrier shipping is widely highly recommended for companies looking to ship cars efficiently. Let’s dive in!
What Is Open Transport Car Shipping?
Open transport car shipping is the most common method of professional vehicle transport in the United States. In an open transport, cars are loaded onto a multi-level open trailer – the same kind you’ve likely seen on highways carrying new cars to dealerships. These open trailers have two decks and can haul many vehicles in one trip. In fact, a typical open carrier can secure around 8 to 10 cars at once, which maximizes efficiency and significantly lowers the cost per vehicle. Because multiple vehicles are shipped together on one truck, open transport is widely known as the cheapest way to ship a car over long distances.
During an open transport, the vehicles are exposed to the elements (sun, rain, snow, etc.) and road debris since there’s no wall or roof enclosing them. This exposure sounds concerning, but in practice it’s generally very safe. Industry experts note that open carriers are a safe and secure way of transporting your vehicle, with minimal risk of damage from weather or road conditions. Essentially, the conditions your car faces on an open carrier are no different than if it were being driven on the road itself – it might get a bit dusty or wet, but serious damage is rare. All reputable car transport companies also provide insurance coverage via the carrier, so any unlikely incidents would be covered. With thousands of vehicles shipped on open trailers every day, this method has proven its reliability.
Benefits of Open Carrier Shipping for Businesses
Choosing open carrier transport comes with several key benefits that appeal to business clients. Here are some of the top reasons companies opt for open transport:
- Affordability: Open carrier service is often the most budget-friendly car shipping service available. Because a single truck carries multiple cars, the fuel and driver costs get shared across all the vehicles. This economy of scale makes open transport the standard and least expensive option for nationwide car shipping. In other words, you get the cheapest way to ship each vehicle without sacrificing on service quality. For B2B shippers moving many units or managing tight budgets, these cost savings are crucial.
- High Capacity: If your business needs to ship several cars at once, open trailers are ideal. With their multi-vehicle capacity (often up to 10 cars in one load), an open carrier can transport your fleet or inventory efficiently. This beats organizing individual shipments and helps ensure each car shipment stays on the same timetable. Dealers, rental agencies, and fleet managers find this especially useful, as they can move multiple units in one go.
- Wide Availability: Open auto transport is by far the most popular mode of vehicle shipping, meaning there are many more open carriers on the road than any other type. For a business, this vast network of transport carriers translates into quick scheduling and faster turnaround. You won’t be waiting weeks for a slot – there’s usually an open carrier ready to pick up your cars within days. More carriers also mean more flexible routes and delivery times, helping you meet customer or project deadlines.
- Flexible Pickup and Delivery: With so many open carriers in service, it’s easier to coordinate convenient pickup and drop-off dates. Open transport offers a wider range of pickup and delivery windows to suit your schedule. Professional carriers will arrange to come as close as possible to your specified locations for door-to-door service. (If a 75-foot long truck can’t access your facility’s street, they’ll work with you to find a nearby large parking lot or other safe meeting point.) This flexibility in pickup and delivery logistics makes shipping easier on your business operations.
- Suitable for Most Vehicle Types: Open carriers can handle almost any type of standard vehicle — from compact cars and sedans to SUVs, pickup trucks, and even larger vans. Unless a vehicle is extremely oversized or requires special handling, an open trailer should accommodate it. This means that whether you’re transporting company fleet sedans or customer vehicles from an auction, you likely won’t face restrictions on the type of vehicle. The vast majority of everyday cars, including brand new models, ship just fine on open carriers. For businesses, it’s reassuring to know their inventory can all move together using one reliable method.
- Fast, Reliable Transit: Since open carriers are abundant and carry many vehicles per load, they tend to run frequent routes across the country. Your transit time can often be shorter compared to more specialized methods, simply because of how common open trucks are. With a well-planned route and multiple cars aboard, carriers can optimize their trips and minimize delays. Many companies highly recommend open transport for meeting tight deadlines, as it’s considered the fastest way to ship a car in the industry. Just be sure to communicate your timeline needs upfront so the carrier can plan accordingly.
By leveraging these benefits, businesses can keep vehicle logistics smooth and cost-effective. Open transport car shipping truly hits the sweet spot for price, speed, and convenience in most scenarios.
Ensuring Safety and Minimizing Risk
One understandable concern with open transport is that vehicles are exposed to the elements and potential road debris during the journey. While this is true, in reality damage during open transport is quite uncommon. Auto transport professionals take careful steps to ensure each car’s safety:
- Secure Loading: Trained drivers meticulously secure every vehicle on the trailer using heavy-duty straps or chains. They position cars strategically (for example, placing heavier vehicles on lower decks) to maintain balance. This prevents shifting or movement even over bumps in the road.
- Experienced Carriers: Reputable car shipping company partners thoroughly vet their carriers for safety records and require proper licensing and insurance. Drivers are experienced in handling all kinds of vehicles and navigating various road conditions. They know how to anticipate and avoid hazards like low bridges or severe weather whenever possible.
- Insurance Coverage: As mentioned, your vehicles will be insured during transit. Open transport carriers typically carry substantial cargo insurance (often $100,000 or more per load) to cover any accidental damage. It’s wise to double-check that your chosen provider’s policy covers the full value of the cars you’re shipping. This insurance gives peace of mind that even if a rare incident occurs, your company is protected financially.
- Vehicle Inspections: It’s standard practice to do a thorough inspection report before and after shipping your vehicle. The carrier will note any existing scratches or dents on each car at pickup, and you (or your receiving location) will do the same at delivery. This way, if any new damage is found upon arrival, it’s clearly documented for an insurance claim. However, because issues are so infrequent with open carriers, most often the post-shipment inspection shows the car in the same condition as it left.
According to industry data, it’s rare to sustain even minor cosmetic damage on open car carriers. Cars might get a layer of dust or an occasional bug splatter, but nothing a good wash can’t fix. Even the risk from road debris (like small rocks) is minimal, as serious impacts are uncommon and wind deflectors on the trailer provide some shielding. Essentially, your cars face the same hazards on a carrier that they would if driven normally on the highway – except they’re not accumulating mileage or wear and tear. By choosing a trustworthy transport partner and ensuring proper insurance, you can confidently transport your vehicle via open carrier with minimal risk.
How the Open Transport Process Works
Working with car transport companies on an open shipment is straightforward. Here’s an overview of what to expect from start to finish:
- Getting a Quote: First, you’ll reach out to a transport provider (like GB Cargo) to get a price quote. You’ll provide details such as the origin and destination, the type of vehicle(s) you need shipped, and your desired timeframe. Open transport is widely available, so you’ll likely receive a competitive quote quickly. Be sure to mention if you have multiple vehicles for a bulk rate.
- Scheduling Pickup: Once you approve the quote, the shipping company will schedule a pickup date. Thanks to open transport’s availability, you can often secure a pickup within days (depending on distance and route popularity). The carrier will coordinate a convenient location for loading. Door-to-door pickup and delivery is standard – the truck comes right to your business location or another specified address whenever possible. The driver usually calls a day in advance to confirm the meeting time and place.
- Vehicle Preparation: Before pickup day, you’ll want to prep each car. Remove any personal items or loose parts from the vehicles. It’s also a good idea to ensure each car has about a quarter tank of gas (not full, to reduce weight) and is clean enough to inspect. This preparation helps with a smooth hand-off to the carrier.
- Loading and Inspection: At pickup, the driver will carefully load all vehicles onto the open trailer. They will fill out an inspection report (Bill of Lading) noting each car’s condition – any pre-existing scratches, etc. This report is signed by your company’s representative on pickup and will be used again on delivery. Loading all cars may take an hour or two depending on how many and the trailer configuration. The carrier will then hit the road and begin transporting your vehicle(s) to the destination.
- In Transit Updates: During transit, many providers offer tracking or at least driver updates. Because multiple cars are on board, the route may include a few other stops, but you’ll have an estimated delivery window. Open carriers travel at normal highway speeds and must comply with driver hour limits, so cross-country trips typically take about 5-10 days. Shorter regional shipments can be as quick as 1-3 days. Your transport company can give more specific delivery times estimates based on the distance.
- Delivery and Final Inspection: Upon arrival, the driver will unload the vehicles at the agreed drop-off location. Your point of contact at the destination will inspect each car alongside the driver, using the original Bill of Lading to compare conditions. This is when you’ll verify that no damage occurred in transit. After confirming everything looks good, you sign off on the delivery and the process is complete. All that’s left is to give the cars a quick wash if needed, and they’re ready for use or sale.
Throughout this process, the key is communication with your carrier. A reliable provider will keep you informed at every step, making the experience hassle-free.
Why Businesses Choose GB Cargo’s Open Transport Service
Organizing vehicle logistics can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be a headache. GB Cargo specializes in open transport solutions tailored for business clients, and we’re here to make your life easier. Companies across industries – from auto dealerships and corporate fleets to rental agencies and auctions – highly recommend our services because we understand B2B needs:
- Dedicated Support: We provide a dedicated account manager to handle your shipments, so you get personalized service and updates. Whether you have one car or an entire fleet to move, our team will coordinate every detail and keep you informed on pickup schedules and delivery progress.
- Vetted Carrier Network: GB Cargo partners with a wide network of experienced transport carriers operating modern open trailers. All carriers in our network are fully licensed and insured, with proven safety records. We only work with professionals who meet our strict standards, so you can trust that your vehicles will be in good hands from start to finish.
- Competitive Pricing: We know that businesses care about the bottom line. Our open transport rates are extremely competitive, and we strive to offer the cheapest way to ship your vehicles without compromising on quality. By leveraging multi-car loads and efficient route planning, we help save you money on each shipment.
- Fast and Flexible Delivery: Need the cars delivered by a certain date? We’ve got you covered. Given the extensive availability of open carriers, we can often arrange expedited shipping or accommodate specific timeframes to meet your project deadlines. Our team will work with you to find the optimal schedule and keep transit times as short as possible.
- Real-Time Communication: From quote to delivery, GB Cargo prides itself on friendly yet professional communication. We’ll answer all your questions, provide status updates, and be accessible whenever you need. No worrying or chasing down info – we handle the logistics, so you can focus on your core business.
In short, our goal is to be a car shipping company partner you can rely on repeatedly. We’ve helped countless business clients streamline their vehicle transport, and we’d love to help your company next.
Ready to Ship? Contact GB Cargo Today!
Open carrier transport offers an efficient, open auto shipping solution for virtually any business that needs to move vehicles. It’s affordable, dependable, and supported by a vast network of carriers nationwide. If your company is looking for the cheapest way to ship cars without sacrificing on service, open transport is the answer.
Ready to get started? GB Cargo is here to assist with all your B2B vehicle shipping needs. We highly recommend reaching out to our team to discuss your next car shipment or to get a free, no-obligation quote. Let us show you how easy transporting your fleet or inventory can be with the right logistics partner. Contact GB Cargo today, and let’s get your vehicles on the road to their destination!
