Jack Savov is the CEO of SGT Auto Transport, one of America’s top-rated car shipping companies. He leads our mission to make vehicle transport simple, transparent, and technology-driven.
His journey in the auto transport industry began at Montway Auto Transport, where he gained firsthand experience in logistics, customer relations, and market dynamics. That foundation inspired him to build something better — a company focused equally on innovation and integrity.
Over the past decade, he's helped shape SGT into a national leader known for reliability, technology, and customer trust — partnering with major affiliates, carriers, and tech platforms to redefine how people move their cars across the country.
Edwards: What are the biggest trends you see in the car shipping industry in 2025?
Savov: The biggest trends we’re seeing in 2025 include a slight decline in business, mainly due to economic uncertainty and fewer people relocating. At the same time, the entire brokerage sector we operate in is actively trying to utilize AI tools and implement them as helpful resources in daily operations. The customer segment also becomes more and more picky and less understanding of how the entire industry operates, and we invest heavily in customer service in order to meet their expectations.
Edwards: How have customer expectations changed when it comes to car shipping?
Savov: I’d say the biggest shift has come from generational change. Years ago, customers always wanted to speak with someone on the phone to feel reassured that everything would be okay with their “baby” — their vehicle. Now, we see more and more people avoiding phone calls altogether and choosing live chat, apps, and email instead. They simply don’t want to talk, and I believe that’s a generational shift.
On top of that, customers today tend to be less patient and expect everything immediately — the classic instant gratification mindset.
Edwards: How are economic conditions, like inflation and housing market fluctuations, impacting car shipping demand?
Savov: Well, as you asked this question, you already know everything is connected. When inflation is high and the market is unstable, people start avoiding non-essential expenses — like buying a new car, scheduling a move, or investing in extra services. This directly impacts our industry because it means fewer vehicles need to be transported.
However, as I mentioned earlier, we’re actively pursuing alternative segments to stay sustainable and keep growing despite these shifts.
Edwards: What statistic in the car shipping industry do you think would surprise most people?
Savov: I’d say one of the most surprising stats is that we’re currently seeing the lowest relocation rate in years, which directly impacts demand for auto transport.
Another eye-opener is that over 70% of all vehicle shipments are handled by brokerage companies like SGT Auto Transport, not by direct carriers — something most customers don’t realize.
It’s also very common for customers to accidentally double-book their shipment with multiple brokers, which causes delays and confusion in the dispatch process. As a result, the industry-wide cancellation rate is roughly 20–30%, and a large portion of those cancellations are caused by double booking and overlapping orders.
Edwards: How do you expect the housing supply to impact car shipping in 2025?
Savov: As I mentioned earlier, the decline in the housing market is directly affecting the auto transport industry. As long as this trend continues, we’ll see fewer people relocating, which naturally reduces demand for car shipping tied to household moves.
I expect this slowdown to last for a few more years before the market begins a gradual recovery. Because of that, we’re anticipating a continued decline in relocation-based shipments.
To offset the impact, we’ve shifted our focus and invested more in alternative shipping segments such as dealership transports, student moves, military relocations, seasonal routes, and other non-residential demand.
Edwards: What new challenges are car shipping companies facing this year, and how are they adapting?
Savov: The main challenge is that the market has shrunk a bit, and now there are more and more companies competing for less business. This has forced many of them to sacrifice their profits just to hold on to market share. The problem is, when companies start operating that way, their service quality drops — and customers end up frustrated.
By the time those customers come to us or give another company a second chance, they’re already dissatisfied. I understand why some companies chose that path — it was a survival strategy — but it created a tough environment. Competing with businesses that are unprofitable and drastically underbidding has been one of the biggest challenges.
Edwards: What’s your biggest prediction for where the car shipping industry is headed in the next five years?
Savov: My prediction is that fewer companies will remain in the industry, but the ones that do will be smarter and highly automated. Most transactions will become phoneless and handled completely online — similar to ordering something from the internet — where customers can self-serve from start to finish.
Of course, time will tell, and I could be wrong, but I believe that’s the direction the future is heading, whether we like it or not.
Edwards: What is the biggest myth people have about car shipping?
Savov: People think it’s as simple as pizza delivery — honestly, it’s not. Every vehicle shipment requires extreme attention to detail from both the broker and the customer to avoid miscommunication and delays. It involves complex coordination, strong customer service, and educating the customer about the process.
Most issues come from customers not being properly onboarded or informed. Another common myth is that we can move a car 3,000 miles in a single day — expectations like that are what create frustration and misunderstanding.
Edwards: What’s the biggest mistake people make when hiring a car shipping company?
Savov: The biggest mistake customers make is not doing their due diligence and choosing a company solely based on the lowest price. They often don’t look at customer reviews, whether the company is BBB accredited, how many years they’ve been in business, or what their track record looks like.
There are a lot of scams in this industry, and I strongly recommend that customers avoid companies with little to no online presence, very few reviews, or less than five years of experience.
Edwards: How has technology changed in the car shipping space in 2025?
Savov: One thing that I can see is that everyone is starting to invest more and more in technology, but I will still mention that, for me, the people are the driving force. A lot of CEOs, COOs are going into the tech side of the business, but still, the greatest asset of every company is the people. I’d like to take this chance to congratulate and thank my team and every single member of the SGT Auto Transport. You matter.
Edwards: Has the rise of AI and automation changed the way auto transportation companies operate?
Savov: Yes and no. I think most companies are trying to incorporate AI, especially in their call centers.
However, people still want to talk to other people — they want to feel empathy. We are emotional beings before we are logical ones, and you can clearly see that when customers interact with AI.
That said, AI is extremely useful for reducing wasted time and downtime by handling basic customer inquiries. As a CEO, I also use it to help with email replies, financial calculations, and even as an advisor from time to time. The main domain where AI rises is the IT sector — we cut times by using it for our code, etc.
Edwards: Is AI helping with logistics, scheduling, or customer service in the car shipping industry?
Savov: Definitely! AI has helped us tremendously in building software to track, manage, and instantly respond to customer inquiries, which indirectly improves customer service. The overall operational flow has increased dramatically since we adopted AI.
We’re able to learn, collaborate, and deliver projects faster, which directly impacts the customer experience. Real-time updates, shorter response times, and eliminating long phone queues or hours-long email delays have allowed us to go from waiting several hours to replying within seconds.
Edwards: How do you see sustainability and eco-friendly practices evolving in the car shipping industry?
Savov: Since we’re not the ones physically transporting the vehicles, sustainability on the road is largely in the hands of the carriers. However, I do see the industry moving in a few clear directions.
On the carrier side, we’ll see more adoption of electric and cleaner-emission trucks, smarter routing, and efforts to reduce fuel waste. Larger fleets will likely lead the way as regulations and fuel costs push them in that direction.
From the brokerage side — where companies like ours operate — there’s still a big role to play: eliminating paperwork by using digital software, reducing the empty miles by matching the loads more efficiently, etc.
Edwards: What do you think will be the most impactful innovations in the car shipping industry in the next three years?
Savov: That’s a really good question. Obviously, everything we’ve discussed will impact the industry — especially AI. I’m still concerned about what it’s capable of, and I think not only car shipping companies, but all businesses should be paying attention.
We may see things like autonomous vehicles, AI-driven customer service, robotics, and more becoming part of the landscape. We’ll see what the future brings.
Edwards: What advancements do you see in the car shipping space in the next three years?
Savov: The essential part of the AI in every operation, more and more automations, better smart and predictive pricing models. Autonomous vehicles and the rise of the electric vehicles, or their sunset. More transparent platforms where brokers, carriers, and customers can operate together.
At the end of the day, technology will move fast, but people will still make or break the customer experience. The companies that mix great people with smart systems will dominate the next three years.
Edwards: How is your company keeping itself a leader in the car shipping industry?
Savov: A long time ago, I attended a presentation — I believe it was by John Tschohl, who is well-known in the customer service world. He said something that has stayed with me ever since. He explained that in today’s world, you can copy almost anything: websites, designs, even software. But there is one thing you cannot copy — customer service.
You can’t duplicate how your team responds to customers, how they listen, how they solve problems, and how they communicate with other emotional human beings. That message still resonates with me today, and it’s a big part of why we’ve earned over 20,000 reviews and maintained a 4.7 out of 5 rating — which, in this industry, speaks for itself.
My philosophy is simple: take care of the people, and they will take care of the business.
Edwards: What is the top thing your customers say they like about your company?
Savov: It’s hard to avoid this question as a professional. I’d say this industry is run by humans, for humans — by people who love what they do, who love cars, and who enjoy delivering not just vehicles, but dreams.
From a small town in Kentucky to Madison Square Garden, our goal isn’t just to earn profits — it’s to earn advocates. We want to make sure we are more than just a company and more than just a service.
Edwards: What makes SGT Auto Transport different from competitors in the car shipping industry?
Savov: I believe I already touched on this in a previous answer. This is the driving force behind SGT Auto Transport. It’s simple — find people who love what they do. Find people who live and breathe logistics, car enthusiasts, and customer service professionals, and they will handle the rest.
On the other hand, automation and software give them the edge they need to outperform the competition. They also allow us to spot trends early, stay flexible, and not be afraid to try new things — even when those ideas sound absurd at first.
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