A new report on the state of vehicle transportation has cast a spotlight on the risks and operational friction plaguing a critical, yet often overlooked, corner of the automotive industry. According to the State of Transparency in Vehicle Transportation report from Auto Hauler Exchange (AHX), nearly one in three vehicle shippers—including dealerships, auctions, and OEMs—has experienced transportation fraud in the past three years.
The study, which surveyed 59 vehicle shippers in late 2025, provides hard data for an industry that has generally had limited transparency over the years. It reveals that the traditional methods of moving vehicles are falling short, leading to financial losses, inventory bottlenecks, and growing dissatisfaction among shippers. As time-to-sale and inventory turn become ever more critical metrics, the inefficiencies in vehicle transport are having a direct and measurable impact on profitability.
“Vehicle logistics has historically been opaque, and many shippers have had to accept that as the status quo,” said Royce Neubauer, Founder and CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange. “This report shows that dissatisfaction is growing. Shippers want clearer pricing, better communication, and more accountability, and the data shows where transparency gaps are having the greatest impact.”
Reliability and Fraud Emerge as Top Concerns
When asked about their primary challenges, shippers placed finding dependable carriers at the top of the list (46%), followed closely by cost (42%) and speed (34%). The overall satisfaction score for vehicle transportation services was a mediocre 6.8 out of 10, indicating widespread room for improvement.
A more alarming trend is the high prevalence of fraud. The study found that 29 percent of all shippers have been victims of transportation fraud. The most common forms are ghost carriers (53%), where a fraudulent entity poses as a legitimate carrier to steal loads or funds, and double brokering (47%), where a shipment is re-brokered to another party without the shipper’s knowledge, often leading to loss of control and liability issues. Stolen vehicles were also a significant problem, reported by 41 percent of fraud victims.
The data also showed a clear correlation between the type of transportation model used and the level of risk. According to the report, shippers using traditional brokers or load boards are 72 percent more likely to experience fraud than those working directly with carriers or through direct-to-carrier marketplaces. These intermediary-heavy models create layers of opacity that can be exploited by bad actors, leaving shippers with little recourse when something goes wrong.
Delivery Delays and the Expectation Gap
Speed and visibility are paramount in modern inventory management, yet the study shows a significant clash between shipper expectations and carrier performance. An overwhelming 98 percent of shippers expect vehicles to be delivered within eight days, and nearly half anticipate delivery in under four days. However, the reality often falls short.
Shippers using brokers were found to be 4.5 times more likely to report that their deliveries missed expected timeframes compared to those using direct-to-carrier marketplaces. A remarkable piece of data for how direct communication and clearer accountability can lead to more reliable scheduling. The demand for better visibility is nearly universal, with 69 percent of respondents stating they want more insight into expected vehicle arrival times, and 91 percent saying real-time updates are important or very important.
Despite the clear impact of delays on getting vehicles front-line ready, nearly half of the shippers surveyed admitted they lack insight into the actual cost of these delays. Furthermore, 15 percent of shippers could not even identify their total annual vehicle transportation spend, underscoring the deep-seated lack of financial and operational transparency in the sector.
As the industry pushes for greater efficiency, the AHX report suggests that the status quo in vehicle logistics is no longer sustainable. The findings advocate for a shift toward more direct shipper-carrier relationships, leveraging technology to eliminate opaque intermediary models that breed fraud and inefficiency. By treating time as a measurable cost and demanding end-to-end visibility, shippers can begin to close the transparency gaps that have long defined the vehicle transport landscape.
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