Broker or Independent Owner-Operator

When shipping business or industrial equipment, both large items, you can choose to go with a broker or small company/independent owner-operator.

A broker will ship your industrial or business equipment by contracting it out to actual carrier. This may relieve some of the difficulty of shipping, but you may not know much about their chosen transporter. A smaller company or independent owner-operator will offer you personal service for a good price.

What to Look For When Choosing a Transporter

Insurance
Haulers have to carry a certain amount of insurance. Depending on the value of your business or industrial equipment, you may want more coverage which is offered by third parties. Also, ask about the transporter’s claims-to-damage ratio, which should be below 1.5%.

Authority
Is the carrier authorized by the Department of Transportation? Ask your carrier for their USDOT and MC numbers and check them against the information at safersys.org. If you choose a broker, they will only have an MC number.

Company history
What do previous customers think of the transporter? Ask for references and check with the Better Business Bureau.

Delivery Time
What’s the estimated timeframe for shipping your business or industrial equipment? The shorter the time and lower the number of transfers, the better the transporter. You might also ask the company about its on-time delivery rate.

If you take the time in search for a quality business or industrial equipment transporter, the easier shipping your equipment will be.