Open transport, or open-carrier transport, is the most popular auto shipping method with its cost-effectiveness. The service gets its name from an open commercial truck carrier, which exposes your vehicle to outdoor elements during shipping.
Price isn’t the only factor driving the popularity of open auto transport, as socioeconomic trends and convenience are helping the service remain a valuable resource.
While exploring the upsides of open auto shipping, we’ll explain how the service works, when you might want to opt for enclosed car transport, and answer some frequently asked questions.
How Does Open Auto Transport Work?
When people think of open-carrier transport, they tend to envision a double-platform multi-carrier heading down a highway—and for good reason. These carriers can hold five to ten vehicles at a time, increasing the transport company’s profit per route.
While single-level open carriers exist, they’re less common than multi-level carriers. On average, a single-level carrier stores one to six vehicles. Automobile types on a single-level carrier may include larger vehicles like SUVs since the upper deck on a multi-level carrier typically holds smaller cars.
When dropping off your vehicle for open-carrier transport, shipping companies will evaluate and document your automobile’s condition inside and out before loading. For multi-level carrier loading, service providers will first load the top level using an upward ramp formed by lowering the back half of the top deck via hydraulics. These ramps contain metal treads that help cars drive onto the top deck.
After loading and raising the upper deck to its original position, loading the lower deck is more straightforward since a ramp isn’t necessary. Tiedown straps help secure loaded automobiles and prevent movement during travel.
Additional Benefits of Open Auto Transport
The American Journal of Transportation stated that around 90% of shipped vehicles use open carriers as their transport method, so there have to be more benefits to this service besides costs, right?
You’d be correct in this assumption. Another key factor driving this service’s popularity is its booking accessibility. Since open carriers accommodate more cars on average than enclosed carriers, companies will have more open slots, giving you greater scheduling flexibility.
To meet the public’s demand, more open carriers are available than enclosed trailers. While companies generally recommend booking a month in advance, you can often schedule open auto transport as soon as a couple of weeks out.
Open carrier transport is more suitable for everyday vehicles, whereas someone shipping a car like a valuable classic would typically benefit from paying a higher fee for an enclosed trailer.
Why Is Demand for Open Auto Transport Growing?
Socioeconomic factors influencing the public’s rise in demand for open auto transport include e-commerce trends like growth in online vehicle sales, urbanization, and relocation.
The online car buying market is expanding at a rapid pace, with Statista projections stating that the industry will experience a 17.5% compound annual growth rate during the next decade. Online vehicle purchases naturally need auto transport service since many customers want to complete their transactions from home from start to finish via door-to-door delivery.
Even if the buyer is willing to pick up the car, they often don’t want to drive far, and an increasing number of online sales are long-distance. In turn, dealerships and private sellers ship inventory with open carriers as a more cost-effective measure, but higher-value transactions may involve enclosed transport.
Some may be relocating, which is often tied to work, and corporate relocation packages can include auto shipping service. Others moving long distances for reasons like a lifestyle change might want to fly to their destination and have their car ready soon after they land.
Downsides of Open Auto Transport
While open auto transport can benefit drivers in more ways than one, booking the service requires some consideration.
Weather and road element exposure damage is rare but not impossible during open auto shipping. Inclement weather, like snow or hail, can cause damage along with road debris like small rocks. Your car is more likely to show up dirty than suffer damage from weather or road debris—especially during long routes, and car washes are a minor inconvenience compared to repairing weather or road element damage.
If you’ve settled on booking an open auto transport service but still have worries about possible damage from road elements, a company may be able to top-load on the upper level and increase its distance from the road.
Vehicles on an open carrier can face higher security risks since they’re more accessible than on an enclosed carrier. Still, it’s difficult for people to tamper with cars on an open carrier since reputable companies often load vehicles in a way that makes them difficult to access without special equipment. This difficulty is compounded by a carrier securing cars with tie downs.
Open auto shipping is probably the best option unless you’re shipping a high-value vehicle, like a high-performance sports car or a classic.
Open Auto Transport Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find quick answers to some of the most common questions about open auto transport below.
Is Open Auto Transport Faster Than Enclosed?
Open-carrier vehicle shipping is typically faster on average than enclosed since there are more carriers available with higher load capacities per trip.
How Much More Money Is Enclosed Shipping?
You’ll typically pay 25% to 40% more for an enclosed shipping service than for open auto transport. Some drivers may use the savings from open car shipping to expedite their route for faster pickup.
Can I Track My Car During Open Auto Shipping?
Most reputable auto shipping services will offer a tracking service for open transport to remain competitive within this growing industry. You’ll track your vehicle with a company’s GPS, website, or direct contact with the driver.
How Should I Prepare My Vehicle for Open Transport?
It’s best to wash your car inside and out before shipping on an open carrier to more easily spot any pre-existing damage you’ll want to document before departure. This condition documentation will serve as a reference to compare your vehicle’s condition upon its destination arrival.
You’ll also want to remove any personal items, perform a maintenance tune-up, and leave your gas tank no more than a quarter full. Additional gas will only add unnecessary weight.
