— Terminology
Car shipping glossary
Short definitions of common auto shipping terms used across CarShippers.ai pages, quotes, and agent-readable markdown.
Also see our FAQ and markdown mirror.
- Open transport
- Multi-car open carrier (most common and affordable). Vehicles are exposed to weather; suitable for most daily drivers.
- Enclosed transport
- Covered trailer that protects from weather and road debris. Recommended for luxury, classic, or high-value vehicles.
- Door-to-door
- Pickup and delivery as close to the addresses as the carrier can safely access. May use a nearby meeting point for restricted streets.
- Bill of lading (BOL)
- Legal condition report signed at pickup and delivery documenting vehicle condition and responsibility during transport.
- FMCSA
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — U.S. agency that licenses and oversees interstate motor carriers and brokers.
- MC / DOT number
- Motor Carrier (MC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) identifiers proving a carrier or broker is federally authorized.
- Broker
- Licensed intermediary that matches shippers with carriers. CarShippers.ai is an FMCSA-licensed auto transport broker.
- Carrier
- The trucking company that physically transports the vehicle. CarShippers.ai matches jobs to vetted carriers.
- Price lock
- On CarShippers.ai, an expert-verified quote is locked for 7 days with no surprise fuel surcharges or bait-and-switch at booking.
- Terminal-to-terminal
- Pickup/drop at carrier yards instead of the curb. Often cheaper but requires the shipper to drive to/from the terminal.
- Inoperable vehicle
- A vehicle that cannot drive on/off the trailer under its own power. Usually requires a winch-capable or flatbed carrier.
- PCS (Permanent Change of Station)
- Military relocation move. Military shippers often need flexible dates and documentation suited to PCS orders.