Rivalane is a licensed auto transport broker registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 4178374 and MC-1608310. In practice that means we arrange the move: we price your route, post your order to our network of vetted carriers, assign the carrier that fits your dates and route, and stay in contact with you and the driver until the car is delivered.
The carrier is the trucking company that physically loads, transports and delivers your vehicle. Under our Terms and Conditions, Rivalane never takes custody of a vehicle, and the carrier is the party liable for the vehicle while it is in transit. Every carrier we assign holds active FMCSA operating authority and cargo insurance, and we confirm that coverage before pickup.
Why does the difference matter to you?
Three things follow from the broker model. Your quote reflects real carrier availability on your route rather than a fixed company rate. The Bill of Lading you sign at pickup and delivery is the carrier's document, so any damage claim is filed with the carrier, with Rivalane supplying the carrier's details. And the balance for the transport itself is paid to the carrier on delivery, while Rivalane's fee is due once a carrier accepts your order.
Most car shipping companies that advertise nationwide service work the same way. The honest ones say so. If you want to check any company, including us, look up its USDOT or MC number on the FMCSA SAFER system and read what kind of authority it holds.
What a broker is allowed to do, and what it is not
A property broker is licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to arrange transportation for compensation. The rules that govern brokers sit in 49 CFR Part 371, which among other things requires a broker to keep a record of every shipment it arranges, including the carrier used and the amount paid. A broker must also hold a surety bond or trust fund of at least $75,000 under 49 CFR 387.307, which exists to protect carriers and shippers if a broker fails to pay.
What a broker cannot do is operate the truck. Rivalane does not own car haulers, does not employ drivers, and does not take possession of your vehicle at any point. If a company tells you it is a carrier and its FMCSA record shows only broker authority, that is a mismatch worth asking about before you book.
What the Terms say: Rivalane is a broker that arranges transportation with licensed motor carriers and does not take custody of or transport any vehicle. The carrier is liable for the vehicle while it is in transit, and transit damage claims are filed with the carrier (Sections 2c, 2d and 9b of our Terms and Conditions).
How a Rivalane order moves through the two companies
You place the order with Rivalane and receive an order confirmation from us. We post the order to our carrier network, check the accepting carrier's authority and insurance, and confirm the carrier's name with you. From that point the carrier is responsible for the physical move: the driver calls to arrange pickup, inspects the car with you, loads it, transports it and unloads it at delivery.
Rivalane stays in the loop the whole way. Schedule changes, access problems and questions about the driver's progress come to us, and we coordinate with the carrier. The only things that go directly to the carrier are the Bill of Lading, the balance due at delivery, and any damage claim, because those belong to the party that had the vehicle.
Why a hybrid company is not a different model
Some companies describe themselves as both broker and carrier. In practice that means they own some trucks and broker the rest of their orders, and your shipment can go either way depending on where their trucks are. The paperwork does not change: whichever carrier loads your car issues the Bill of Lading and holds the cargo insurance.
Ask any company which carrier will actually move your car and whether that carrier's details will be confirmed in writing before pickup. The answer tells you more about how the company operates than the label on its website.
A quick way to check any company
Open the FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot, search by USDOT or MC number, and read the entity type and authority status. Rivalane's record is under USDOT 4178374 and MC-1608310. Then do the same for the carrier once we send you its name; its record should show active motor carrier authority and liability insurance on file.
The two checks take a few minutes and tell you exactly who is responsible for what on your shipment. We put the same numbers in the footer of every page on this site so you never have to ask for them.
Related questions
- Who actually moves my car when I book with Rivalane?
- How do I verify Rivalane on FMCSA?
- Is my car insured during transport with Rivalane?
Go deeper: Auto Transport Broker vs Carrier: What’s the Difference?.
