Auto Hauler Exchange aims to modernize vehicle logistics for dealers and OEMs by addressing longstanding issues in transport delays, limited visibility, and fragmented communication between shippers and carriers.
Founded by logistics veteran Royce Neubauer, the platform was built in response to growing dealer frustration with slow vehicle delivery times and the uncertainty that arises once vehicles leave the lot or auction. Neubauer, who joins us on the latest episode of Driving Solutions, has spent more than two decades in automotive logistics and says the traditional transport process often ties up dealer capital and jeopardizes customer satisfaction.
According to Neubauer, dealers frequently wait one to two weeks for vehicles purchased at auction or received from OEM partners, a delay that becomes especially costly when vehicles are already sold or nearing arbitration and depreciation thresholds. He notes that those delays can seriously compress a dealer’s selling window, particularly for stores aiming to maintain a 30-day inventory turn.
Auto Hauler Exchange was designed as a direct marketplace connecting shippers and carriers without the need for brokers. By removing intermediaries, the platform allows dealers and carriers to communicate directly, improving shipment visibility and reducing miscommunication. The company positions transparency and speed as its core value propositions, emphasizing real-time status updates and clearer accountability throughout the transport process.
Neubauer said the platform also focuses heavily on risk reduction and documentation. Dealers using the system are encouraged to follow stricter verification procedures at vehicle pickup, including identity checks and photographic documentation, to help protect against theft, damage claims, and insurance disputes.
“Our growth over the last 2 years has been primarily organic… 60% of dealers that come to us are from word of mouth.”
The company is also developing a driver-level performance grading system that evaluates service quality rather than carrier performance alone. The goal is to reward drivers who deliver consistently high service levels and give dealers more confidence in who is handling their vehicles.
Auto Hauler Exchange serves franchise dealers, dealer groups, and OEM shippers, with a focus on high-priority shipments, including sold vehicles, expedited deliveries, and concept vehicles for auto shows and trade events. Neubauer said that most former shipping partners switched to the platform after witnessing significant improvements in delivery performance and cost efficiency.
In one case cited by the company, changes to transport workflows helped reduce allocation-related overages tied to rail delays, generating significant cost savings within a matter of months.
Nevertheless, Neubauer acknowledged that change management remains a challenge in an industry accustomed to longstanding processes. However, he said that rising consumer expectations, shaped by e-commerce and home delivery, are forcing dealers to re-evaluate logistics as part of the customer experience rather than a back-end function.
As vehicle delivery increasingly becomes part of the retail promise, platforms like Auto Hauler Exchange are positioning logistics as a competitive advantage rather than a necessary inconvenience for dealerships.
