Table of contents
Quick answer
Ask for the carrier's name and the driver's phone number as soon as your car is dispatched. The driver is the one person who knows where the car is and when it will arrive. Some companies offer online tracking or GPS updates, but many do not, and a broker usually only knows what the carrier tells it. Trucks do record their location for federal hours-of-service rules, but that is not a tracking service you can see. Expect updates by phone or text, and a call from the driver a day or so before delivery.
Why there is often no live map
A parcel company scans every box at every depot. A car carrier is one truck with one driver making a string of pickups and drop-offs, and many carriers are small businesses. Unless the company has built tracking into its booking system, the only live record is where the driver is.
So the truck does know where it is, roughly. That data exists to show the driver stayed within federal driving limits, and it is not shared with customers as a matter of course.
Who actually knows where your car is
If you booked through a broker, there are two companies involved: the broker you paid, and the carrier whose truck has your car. The broker hands the job to the carrier and usually hears about progress only when the carrier updates it.
- The driver knows where the car is right now and when the next stops are.
- The carrier's dispatcher knows the plan for the truck and can reach the driver.
- The broker knows what the carrier reported and is responsible for keeping you informed.
How to get useful updates
- Get the carrier and driver details at dispatchAsk the company for the carrier's name, its USDOT or MC number and the driver's phone number as soon as a truck is assigned.
- Agree how and when you'll hear from themA text at pickup and a call the day before delivery is a reasonable ask. Constant calls to a driver who is on the road are not.
- Ask whether the company has online trackingSome do, through a customer portal or an app the carrier uses. If it exists, use it; if not, ask for updates by text.
- Expect the delivery window to firm up near the endTraffic, weather and other customers' pickups move the schedule. A precise time usually comes in a call a day or so ahead.
What normal progress looks like
A car does not move every hour of the day. Drivers are limited in how long they can drive, and the truck stops for other cars on the way. A day with little progress on the map is usually a day of pickups, deliveries or required rest.
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When you can't get an answer
- Call the broker or company you booked with first. Keeping you informed is part of what you paid for.
- If you have the driver's number and it has been a day or more, a short text is fine.
- Keep your booking confirmation and the bill of lading from pickup. They show who has the car and when they took it.
- If the car is well past its delivery window and nobody will say where it is, put your questions to the company in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track my car with GPS during shipping?
Only if the company offers it. Some provide online tracking or GPS updates; many rely on the driver to call or text. Ask before you book if live tracking matters to you.
Why doesn't my broker know exactly where my car is?
A broker arranges the move and hands it to a carrier. It usually knows only what the carrier reports. For a precise location, the driver or the carrier's dispatcher is the person to ask.
Broker vs. carrierCan I get the driver's phone number?
Usually, once a truck has been assigned. Ask for it along with the carrier's name and USDOT or MC number, and agree how often you will check in.
My car hasn't moved for a day. Is something wrong?
Probably not. Drivers stop for other pickups and deliveries and must take rest breaks under federal rules. If it is well past the delivery window, contact the company you booked with.
Car shipping delaysDoesn't the truck have a tracking device?
Trucks carry electronic logging devices that record their location for hours-of-service rules, roughly and once an hour while moving. That data is for enforcement, not a service customers can see.
Sources
Written and reviewed by the Haulwide editorial team. Editorial policy
