These are the terms you will meet in a Rivalane quote, order confirmation or Bill of Lading, defined the way we and our carriers use them.
Broker
A company licensed by the FMCSA to arrange vehicle transport. The broker prices the route, assigns a carrier and coordinates the move but does not operate trucks or take custody of the vehicle. Rivalane is a broker.
Carrier
A motor carrier licensed by the FMCSA that owns or operates the trucks and physically transports vehicles. The carrier is responsible for the vehicle while it is on the truck.
Order and order confirmation
Your request for Rivalane to arrange transport, and the written confirmation we send with the vehicle description, pickup and delivery locations, dates and quoted rate.
Dispatch and dispatched
A carrier has accepted your order and the move is assigned to a specific truck. Rivalane's service is considered complete at that point and our fee becomes due.
First available date
The earliest date your vehicle can be collected. Carriers plan around it; it is not a guaranteed pickup date.
Pickup window and delivery window
The range of days in which pickup or delivery is expected. Windows move with road, weather and loading conditions, which is why dates are estimates rather than guarantees.
Guaranteed pickup date
A paid upgrade that commits the carrier to a specific pickup date. Delivery dates are never guaranteed.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
The carrier's document recording the vehicle's condition at pickup and delivery, signed by you or your agent and the driver. It serves as the receipt and the contract with the carrier.
Carrier form or condition report
Any inspection report, receipt or similar document the carrier issues at pickup or delivery, often the same thing as the Bill of Lading.
COD
Collect on delivery. The balance owed to the carrier is paid when the vehicle is delivered, in cash, certified funds, cashier's check or money order.
Dry run
A carrier arrives for pickup and cannot collect the vehicle, for example because nobody is present or the car is not ready. Carriers charge a dry run fee for the wasted trip.
Open transport
The vehicle travels on an open, multi-car trailer, exposed to weather. The standard and lowest cost option.
Enclosed transport
The vehicle travels inside a covered trailer, shielded from weather and road debris. Fewer vehicles per load, so it costs more.
Door to door
The carrier collects and delivers as close to your addresses as it can legally and safely get. On narrow or restricted streets that may mean a nearby lot or wider road.
Terminal
A yard where vehicles can be dropped off or collected instead of at an address. Rivalane does not operate terminals; shipping lines and some carriers do.
Top load
A paid option to place the vehicle on the upper deck of an open trailer, away from road spray and fluids from vehicles above.
Inoperable
A vehicle that cannot be driven onto the truck under its own power, for any reason. Inoperable vehicles need a carrier with a winch and may carry an extra fee.
Customer's agent
An adult you designate to hand over or receive the vehicle and sign the Bill of Lading on your behalf.
Related questions
- Is Rivalane a broker or a carrier?
- What is a Bill of Lading in car shipping?
- What does "dispatched" mean in car shipping?
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