Expert Interview Series: 2025 Car Shipping Trends with Mark Scholl from Montway Auto Transport

Edwards: Has the rise of AI and automation changed the way auto transportation companies operate?

Scholl: Yes, the rise of AI and automation has changed the way car shipping companies operate. Auto logistics providers are exploring and investing in new technologies, including AI-powered solutions, to improve their operations and services.

Route optimization is a great example of AI changing the car shipping landscape. Not only does this save the carriers time when selecting their routes, it also helps them reduce unnecessary mileage on the road. This optimization makes the entire auto transport process run more efficiently so customers can enjoy a more seamless experience.

Edwards: Is AI helping with logistics, scheduling, or customer service in the car shipping industry?

Scholl: Yes, one of the ways AI is helping is with vehicle inspections, predictive maintenance, and route optimization. By leveraging AI to handle these parts of the auto transport business, carriers can operate more efficiently and focus on providing fast, affordable, and high-quality service to customers. Montway is also investing in a robust AI agent to field live chat inquiries. This will give customers fast, accurate assistance that they can access at any time online.

Edwards: How do you expect technology to change in the car shipping space in 2025?

Scholl: In 2025, technology is going to make the car shipping process smoother and more personalized for our customers. Montway is implementing a powerful customer management system (CMS) that will help us better understand our customers and provide more specialized, tailored services.

Vehicle tracking technology will also continue to improve, giving customers real-time shipment information at their fingertips. While this technology is already available on select shipments, there’s room for more features and improvements in the coming year. 

Edwards: What are the biggest trends you see in the car shipping industry in 2025?

Scholl: In 2025, shifting consumer demand is leading to new trends in car shipping. Used cars are in high demand, so people are buying from online auto marketplaces. The buyers are responsible for shipping these cars and often use an auto transport service if they buy from an out-of-state seller.

Additionally, new and used EVs have become more widely available, leading to an uptick in EV car shipping. Because EVs are heavier than standard vehicles, this trend is impacting the way auto transporters handle loads and plan their shipments.

Edwards: What statistic in the car shipping industry do you think would surprise most people?

Scholl: The trucks that deliver your car can often measure up to 80 feet long and weigh up to 80 tons. This is an important statistic because it impacts how and where your vehicle can be delivered. If a customer lives in a rural area with unpaved roads, or in an urban area with narrow streets, the truck may not be able to travel directly to their address.

This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to have your car delivered; you just might have to meet the driver at a safe location nearby, like a supermarket parking lot or rest stop.

Another interesting statistic has to do with vehicle pickups and deliveries. California, Florida, and Texas consistently have the most vehicle pickup and deliveries out of any state—and by a very wide margin. The order volume of the top three states is substantially higher than the fourth-ranked state, often exceeding 100% and, in many cases, 200% or even 300%.

Many of the shipments to and from California, Florida, Arizona, and Texas are seasonal travelers and snowbirds, who ship their cars to warm states in the winter and then back to their home state in the spring.

Edwards: How do you expect the housing supply to impact car shipping in 2025?

Scholl: Home purchases and relocations contribute to a portion of our moving business, so less home-buying means less demand to ship vehicles. Likely there will not be much impact as housing prices remain prohibitively expensive and car shipping often correlates with the moving season.

Edwards: What new challenges are car shipping companies facing this year, and how are they adapting?

Scholl: This year, car shipping companies are having to navigate a few big changes. First, like so many in the transportation industry, auto transport carriers are dealing with a driver shortage. So, companies are focusing on keeping their drivers happy with better pay and work-life balance.

Second, the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles is a game-changer. These cars are heavier and have different safety needs, so carriers are updating their fleet vehicles to handle the new demand. Fuel costs are always a factor, and with costs dropping, companies are using AI to adjust pricing in real-time.

Technology is playing a big role in all of this. We're seeing more AI and machine learning used for everything from inspections and route planning to matching carriers with loads. Plus, with customer demand shifting to used cars, companies are adapting their services to meet that need. Adapting to these challenges is about being flexible, embracing technology, and taking care of your people.

Edwards: What is the biggest myth people have about car shipping?

Scholl: A common misconception is that auto transporters use the same navigation tools and take the same routes as other drivers. However, professional drivers use specialized services that factor in truck dimensions, weight, fuel consumption, and average speed to create safe, efficient, and legal routes. The safest legal route for a truck driver will likely be different than the one you would take to the same destination.

People often assume that auto transporters take the shortest route to the destination. However, the driver will take the most efficient route to accommodate all pickup and deliveries while operating within the law, which may include necessary detours. Understanding these common misconceptions can help customers have more realistic expectations and a better experience when shipping their vehicles.

Edwards: What’s the biggest mistake people make when hiring a car shipping company?

Scholl: The biggest mistake people make is rushing the process. They see a super low price and jump on it, or they won't do their homework on the company. You've got to be wary of those too-good-to-be-true prices because they often are.

We advise everyone to confirm that the company is registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), read multiple reviews, get everything in writing, and don't pay a deposit until their vehicle is assigned to a carrier. Also, pay attention to how they treat your personal information—a reputable company will always verify your identity when you call.

Edwards: How is your company keeping itself a leader in the car shipping industry?

Scholl: We keep Montway at the forefront of car shipping by focusing on a few core areas. First, we prioritize customer satisfaction. We want to make shipping a car as easy and pleasant as possible, and our customer reviews show that it's working. In fact, we’ve earned an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 across 100,000+ online reviews.

We’re also able to provide real-time vehicle shipping updates on select orders, so customers always know their vehicle’s status while it's in transit. And while it’s a standard feature on nearly every car shipping site today, we were the first to implement an instant quote calculator back in 2014.

And finally, we believe in taking care of our employees. Happy employees lead to happy customers, and that's key to our success.

Edwards: What is the top thing your customers say they like about your company?

Scholl: We consistently hear from our customers about their positive experiences when shipping their vehicles—from the ease of getting a quote and booking an order, to the clear and consistent communication with our representatives and the simplicity of pickup and delivery. Providing a seamless, professional experience for every customer is our priority, and we’re always happy to see that reflected in the feedback we receive.