FRIENDLY AUTO TRANSPORT

What FRIENDLY AUTO TRANSPORT does

Friendly Auto Transport is a privately-held auto shipping brokerage headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, founded in 2018 by Jason Gay. The company operates as an intermediary between vehicle owners and a network of pre-screened, insured transport carriers, coordinating door-to-door shipment of cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, exotic and classic vehicles, oversized vehicles, and inoperable vehicles across all 50 U.S. states plus select international destinations (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and South Pacific ports). Its operating stack combines a customer-facing website and phone intake process with third-party platforms—Central Dispatch for carrier matching and DOT/FMCSA verification, Authorize.net for payment processing, and TransportReviews.com for review verification—rather than proprietary technology. The company's signature operational differentiators are a no-upfront-deposit policy (payment collected only after a carrier is secured and approved by the customer), self-validation of every carrier's Certificate of Insurance, and assignment of a dedicated shipping agent to each order who remains available throughout the transport lifecycle.

The revenue model is a transaction-fee brokerage: the company earns a spread/markup on each shipment it coordinates, with pricing quoted on a per-order basis that varies by vehicle type, distance, transport method (open vs. enclosed), and route. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across individual consumers (snowbirds, car collectors, traveling nurses, military relocators, residential movers, long-term vacationers, auto auction purchasers) and commercial accounts (auto dealerships, corporate fleets, remarketing companies). Go-to-market is sales-led and direct-to-consumer, relying primarily on Google reviews, TransportReviews.com presence, Facebook, the company website, and inbound phone leads. The company is bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, or subsidiary structure, and operates with a small team of fewer than 10 employees including founder/owner Jason Gay and lead shipping agent Jake Peterson.

Name

FRIENDLY AUTO TRANSPORT

Legal name

FRIENDLY AUTO TRANSPORT LLC

Website

https://friendlyautotransport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friendly Auto Transport is a bootstrapped, Fort Myers-based auto shipping brokerage that coordinates door-to-door vehicle transport across all 50 U.S. states and select international destinations through a network of pre-screened, insured carriers. It serves individual consumers and commercial accounts without requiring upfront deposits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Shipping Brokerage

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive / Vehicle Transport Brokerage (TLADAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Open Auto Transport (Door-to-Door) (HSAKAFAA), Enclosed Auto Transport (Door-to-Door) (HSAKAFAB), Classic, Exotic & High-Value Vehicle Transport (HSAKAFAG), Vehicle Pickup/Delivery & Concierge (Key Handling, Inspections, Condition Reports) (HSAKAFAL)

Keywords

• Auto shipping brokerage
• Vehicle transport services
• Car shipping coordination
• Enclosed carrier shipping
• Door-to-door auto transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Auto Transport Coordination Services: Coordinates vehicle transport between customers and vetted carriers. Revenue is generated through fees charged for brokering the transport service. Payment is collected at delivery (upon vehicle pickup by carrier) rather than upfront, reducing customer risk and building trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friendly Auto Transport is a vehicle shipping brokerage that coordinates transport for cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and specialty vehicles across all 50 U.S. states and select international destinations through a large network of pre-screened, 100%-insured carriers. The company provides door-to-door service as standard, assigns a dedicated shipping agent to each order, and operates on a no-upfront-deposit model with payment collected upon carrier pickup. Its differentiating focus is on customer service, transparent communication, and insurance validation in a category known for poor customer experiences.

Product overview

Friendly Auto Transport operates as a premier auto shipping brokerage that coordinates vehicle transport through a network of pre-screened, insured carriers. The core offering includes Door-to-Door Auto Transport as the standard service, with three carrier options: Open Carrier Shipping (cost-effective), Enclosed Carrier Shipping (premium protection), and Specialty/Inoperable Vehicle Carrier (for non-running vehicles). The company serves various vehicle types including standard vehicles (cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles), exotic/classic/show cars (handled via premium enclosed carriers), oversized vehicles, and inoperable vehicles. Services span all 50 U.S. states and select international destinations via maritime partners. The business model emphasizes no upfront deposits and dedicated shipping agent support throughout the transport process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Door-to-Door Auto Transport

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Maritime Partners (International)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic maritime partners referenced for international vehicle transport services, enabling shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and South Pacific destinations beyond standard domestic transport.

Scale indicators2 records

Others

• Central Dispatch: Industry-standard vehicle transport dispatch platform used by Friendly Auto Transport to source carriers. A critical infrastructure provider rather than a direct competitor, but shapes competitive dynamics in the brokerage ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Sherpa Auto Transport: Auto shipping brokerage positioned on customer service with a 'Price Lock Promise' and dedicated agents. Highly comparable operating model and target customer base (explicitly referenced in Friendly Auto Transport's own customer reviews).
• AutoTransport.com: Long-running auto transport brokerage offering door-to-door, open, and enclosed vehicle shipping. Competes in the same brokerage category with similar carrier matching and consumer-focused service model.
• Ship a Car Direct: Auto transport brokerage that publishes carrier performance ratings and emphasizes vetted carriers. Competes head-to-head with Friendly Auto Transport on trust and quality-of-service positioning in the same consumer and dealer segments.
• Easy Auto Ship: Auto shipping brokerage offering open, enclosed, and door-to-door transport across all 50 states. Same target customers (individuals, dealers, fleet operators) and same asset-light brokerage model.
• RoadRunner Auto Transport: Mid-sized auto transport brokerage coordinating nationwide vehicle shipping via a vetted carrier network. Directly comparable operating model and customer segments including dealerships and individual consumers.
• AmeriFreight: Established auto transport brokerage offering open, enclosed, and specialty vehicle shipping with a large carrier network. Comparable across product breadth, customer mix, and pricing structure.
• Montway Auto Transport: Largest US auto transport brokerage, offering door-to-door vehicle shipping across all 50 states with a vetted carrier network. Direct competitor to Friendly Auto Transport in the same brokerage model with national scale.
• uShip: Online marketplace for vehicle and freight transport where carriers bid on customer shipments. Operates as a listing/marketplace broker similar in function to Friendly Auto Transport's brokerage model, though with a much larger carrier base.

Emerging players

• Haul Bikes: Specialized motorcycle and powersports vehicle transport brokerage. Comparable brokerage model but narrower vehicle category; relevant competitor for Friendly Auto Transport's motorcycle offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendlyAutoTransport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FRIENDLY AUTO TRANSPORT