The truck is very large
A full car hauler runs around 75 feet and needs serious room to turn and to load. Many residential streets simply cannot take one.
Resources
Understanding pickup and delivery
Door to door does not mean an appointment at your front door. Here is what it does mean, and why the difference causes most of the friction in this industry.
In auto transport, door to door means the carrier collects and delivers as close to your specified addresses as is legally and physically safe for a truck that is typically around 75 feet long. Narrow streets, low branches, tight turns, and local restrictions often mean meeting at a nearby open area such as a shopping center lot. Pickup and delivery happen within scheduled windows rather than at fixed appointment times, and an adult aged 18 or over must be present at both ends to inspect the vehicle and sign the bill of lading.
Expectations
Four things worth understanding upfront
Windows, not appointments
The driver is running a route with several stops. You get a window and a call ahead, not a guaranteed time slot.
Somebody has to be there
You or an adult you authorize, at both ends, to walk the vehicle and sign. This is not a step that can be skipped.
The inspection is the contract
Condition at pickup and condition at delivery. The difference between them is what any claim rests on.
In practice
What actually happens on the day
The driver calls ahead. Usually the day before, and again when they are close. Keep your phone available; an unreachable customer is the most common cause of a missed pickup.
You meet where the truck can operate. If your street is workable, that is your street. If it is not, the driver will suggest somewhere close by with room, typically a large retail lot.
You walk the vehicle together. The driver marks existing damage on the condition report. You check that it is accurate and complete, and you both sign.
Loading. The vehicle is driven or winched onto the deck and secured. This takes a few minutes.
At the other end, the same in reverse. Inspect against the pickup report before signing. In daylight if at all possible. If something is different, write it on the document before you sign it.
Frequently asked
What if the truck cannot reach my street?
The driver will arrange to meet you somewhere nearby that has room, most often a large shopping center parking lot. This is normal and is not a downgrade in service. It is a physical constraint of an 75-foot vehicle.
How much notice do I get before pickup?
Typically a call the day before and another when the driver is close. Windows are scheduled; exact times are not, because the driver is running a multi-stop route.
Can someone else receive the vehicle for me?
Yes, as long as they are 18 or older and you name them at booking. They will inspect and sign on your behalf, so make sure they understand that signing without looking is the thing not to do.
What if I find damage at delivery?
Note it on the bill of lading before you sign, and photograph it immediately. Signing a clean delivery receipt and raising the issue afterward makes a claim substantially harder to resolve.
What happens if nobody is there?
The driver cannot leave the vehicle without a signature. Depending on the situation this means waiting, rescheduling, or in some cases storage charges. If your plans change, tell us as early as you can.
Can I get delivery at a different address than I booked?
Usually, if you tell us early enough and the new address is on or near the route. A change requested while the driver is en route is much harder and may not be possible.
Ready when you are
Two ways to start
Businesses that ship regularly get lane pricing and portal access. Everyone else can price a single vehicle in about a minute.
I ship for my business
Movers, dealers, RMCs, auctions, fleets. Contract pricing and the Clutch Transport Portal.