Quick facts
- Car hauling supports the busy personal vehicle industry.
- Professional car haulers must develop a special skillset to haul vehicles without damage.
- Drivers in this sector are a visible and vital part in the vehicle supply chain.
- There are possible financial risks to drivers in this sector due to vehicle damage; drivers need to understand the degree of this risk when they begin their careers.
Seasonality
While work in this sector is generally nonseasonal, summer is often the busiest time of year.
Method of pay
Drivers may encounter a variety of payment structures: hourly, by the distance (i.e. by the mile), by the task, or as a percentage of the load’s revenue.
Equipment and tasks
Car hauling requires specialized car hauling equipment and skills to ensure vehicles are safely loaded and transported, minimizing any potential damage to the load.
Equipment
In this sector, drivers may encounter a variety of equipment:
- Day cab and sleeper highway tractors
- Car hauling trailers
- Specialized tractors with racks for cars that tow trailers with a stinger hitch system
- Convertible trailers that can fold into flatbeds for different loads.
It’s also common to see smaller loads of cars being hauled on traditional flatbed trailers. Gooseneck trailers may even be pulled by lighter trucks, like pickups, that don’t require a Class 1 licence.
Tasks
Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks:
- City and highway driving
- Pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections
- Logbooks (paper or electronic)
- Cargo securement
- Customer service-related duties
Drivers in this sector may also:
- Have the specialized tasks of loading and unloading cars from trailers.
- Be expected to operate the hydraulic controls on the trailers to load vehicles, all while keeping the height within legal limits.
- Be required to load and unload vehicles on the street near dealerships, so situational awareness and a sense of safety are important.
Lifestyle in the industry
Professional car haulers generally work schedules that are similar to other long-haul drivers, but they have to learn the specific skills needed to handle vehicles as cargo. Attention to detail and patience are key to car hauling culture.
Work shifts
Shifts can be up to the maximum hours legally available to a driver (14 hours in a 16-hour window). These shifts are generally during the day, but often require early morning and nighttime driving. This is especially true when loading and unloading are scheduled outside of normal business hours to keep congestion low.
Physical demands
Drivers in this sector need to be physically fit enough to climb ladders on trailers, work in tight spaces, and carry the cargo securement equipment (like heavy chains) that’s needed to secure the cars.
Work/life balance
Depending on the employer, drivers can expect to be away more than they’re home unless they have a role where day runs are common (like in larger cities with rail yards). They may be home on weekends, but may be gone for long stretches of time and can expect to sleep in the truck’s sleeper when away.
Predictability
This work is generally predictable and planned out in advance, giving drivers reasonable knowledge of their schedules.
On call
Being on-call is uncommon.
Unionization
Unionization is uncommon.
Getting Started
Getting started in car hauling generally requires a formal application process that includes pre-hire safety checks. Given the specialized skills needed and the high cargo value, employers may be reluctant to hire an inexperienced driver and will want to see previous trucking experience.
However, drivers may be able to start at a hotshot company or a car hauler that uses lighter trucks and trailers that only require a Class 5 licence for car hauling. This can build driver experience and provide employment to a driver while they undertake the car hauler training needed to get their Class 1 licence. Employers with a variety of different equipment may be able to start someone as a labourer or Class 5 driver and then ease them into Class 1 car hauling, as they become familiar with the employee and assess their professional development.
Mandatory requirements
A Class 1 licence is needed for anyone operating a tractor-trailer unit with airbrakes. Some individuals may be able to work in this sector with a Class 5 licence if they are driving lighter, non-airbrake trucks and trailers. If driving into the USA, drivers will need to be at least 21 years old, be compliant with the USA’s drug and alcohol testing requirements, and be able to cross the border. Some employers may require a criminal record check.
Preferred skills & previous experience
For this sector, valuable skills include previous driving experience, customer service experience, familiarity with and an interest in cars, and farm experience. Important attributes include attention to detail (even minor damage to this type of cargo can have big consequences), a positive attitude, patience, and a tolerance for the risks inherent in loading and unloading cars from a trailer.
Red flags
There are many hazards and challenges present in car hauling. Drivers must load and unload vehicles and climb on trailers; this may all potentially be done on a public roadway. People interested in starting a career as a professional driver in car hauling should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):
- Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
- Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
- A lack of safety training and supervision, especially when new.
- A lack of support, especially when inexperienced and learning to operate car hauling trailers.
- A lack of training in commercial driving rules, like hours of service and vehicle inspections.
- A pay system that puts unreasonable amounts of financial risk onto the driver in the event of damage to the vehicles being hauled.
