How to Become a Car Transport Driver

March 3, 2010

There are a couple of different ways to get a job as a car transport driver. Depending upon your goals, you may want to become a certified truck driver, by obtaining a CDL and haul several cars at one time. You also have the option of getting paid to drive one car at a time between dealerships. Transport driver jobs are available for people with the proper certifications, or for someone simply looking for part time work.

Decide Which Car Transport Job Interests You
In order to haul several vehicles as a car transport driver, you must have the proper training and certifications. Auto transport drivers of this sort will normally be hauling a large trailer with 6 to 10 (or more) vehicles on board. These may be brand new vehicles that still have paper on the roof and hood to protect the vehicle on its way to the showroom. This sort of transport will require a CDL (commercial driver license) and certifications for proper handling of expensive vehicles. On the other hand, local dealerships may require people to drive one vehicle at a time to a related dealership in another city or state. In this case, you'll only need proof of a clean driving record and the upstanding credentials required to obtain employment.

Look for Transportation Driver Jobs
Once you've decided which type of car transport you're interested in pursuing, it's time to look for a job. If you simply want to be a driver, you could contact local dealerships in your area to find out if they have a need for such an employee. Sometimes, local or privately-owned dealerships hire part-time or retired persons to drive a vehicle required for a swap. A dealership in another city or state may need a particular car of a particular color with certain options. If a swap is decided upon, you might be the right candidate to drive the vehicle to that other dealership and pick up the trade for return. This job generally pays a few hundred dollars per trip, depending upon the length of the transport. If you want a higher paid, full-time position driving a large truck with several vehicles on board, the best thing to do is to contact companies that specialize in hauling autos. Most will require a certain profile, but some will offer classes and certification to train the right people for the job. You could look for jobs in your local newspaper, or try a direct contact to some of the larger car transport companies. National Transport LLC and A-1 Auto Transport, Inc both specialize in this type of work. DAS Auto Shippers has information for employment right on their website. A quick entry into your favorite search engine should give you plenty of options for finding and pursuing car transport jobs. Just be sure you're dealing with a legitimate company before traveling or paying any sort of fee for work or training. Consult consumer reporting agencies, such as the Better Business Bureau, if you have doubts.

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