I work for a company that has moved cars for Autotrail.
This company is a broker. If you call and sit on hold, you will hear about their "elite fleet" of trucks that move cars for sports figures, movie stars and judges. This company does not have any trucks (gee, no elite fleet?). They sub-contract the work out to companies that move cars. They are nice as pie when you fist call and place that order. I suggest you NEVER give them your credit card over the phone.inSIST on getting the contract first. Once you give them your credit card number, you are STUCK with them. (Laura, in their office is famous for getting that credit card number from those who do not want to commit... Do NOT be fooled by her!)
If you read the fine print of their contract (most people do not) you will see that the date you were promised over the phone is "only an estimate" and if for any reason you might need to cancel, you will be assessed a $250 administrative fee. Hmmm, $250 just for taking your phone call, not bad for 10 minutes work, huh?
Once you have placed your order with Autotrail, they put you on their list of cars that need to be moved. This list is placed on centraldispatch.com for trucking companies to see as well as faxed to trucking companies. If no one calls to say they have room to move your car, it might be placed on the ASAP list or get picked up by a towing company to sit until someone has room to move it. For example, Autotrail faxes Joe Blow Transport their list of cars. Your car is on that list. Stating that you want to be picked up on April 15. Joe Blow calls up Autotrail and says, well I cannot be there on April 15, but I have a truck picking up on April 20th that has an empty space. Autotrail says, 'YOU GOT IT' but no one calls you to let you know that you will be sitting at home for 5 days waiting for your car to be picked up. Meanwhile, you have made your flight for April 17th.
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