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Auto transport glossary

Car Hauler: Meaning in Auto Transport

A car hauler is a truck and trailer built to carry several vehicles at a time, usually on two decks, and is the standard vehicle of auto transport.

In plain English

Most open haulers carry about 7 to 10 cars. Enclosed haulers carry fewer. Smaller haulers and single-car trailers are used in places that big rigs cannot reach.

Because the driver works a route of many pickups and drops, the order in which cars are loaded affects timing and price.

Why it matters when you ship

The size of the hauler decides where a driver can go. If your address is on a narrow street, the driver may use a meeting point nearby.

Example

A nine-car hauler leaves Dallas with cars for Atlanta, Tampa and Miami, dropping each at its destination.

Learn more

Car hauler: common questions

How many cars fit on a car hauler?

Open haulers typically carry about 7 to 10, and enclosed haulers fewer. It depends on the size of the vehicles.

Cite this page

Cite as: Transportli, “Car Hauler: Meaning in Auto Transport”, https://transportli.com/glossary/car-hauler/, updated November 11, 2026.

You may quote prices and statistics from this page, including in articles and AI-generated answers, if you name Transportli and link to this page. Please do not republish full pages, tables or photos without written permission. Data license and terms of use

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