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How One Veteran Wholesaler Dropped Every Load Board Within 3 Weeks
Mark Harris had been in the business long enough to see every kind of load board and broker scheme. But after a few too many costly incidents, he made a switch and never looked back.
A Broken Process That Broke His Trust
Mark Harris is a seasoned vehicle wholesaler, buying and selling inventory nationwide with a focus on buy-here-pay-here lots. Like many in his position, he relied on traditional load boards to move vehicles, until those tools started causing more problems than they solved.
Load boards allow almost anyone to sign up. There's often no meaningful barrier to entry, no proof of insurance, experience, or safety record. It’s the Wild West. A guy could start a company yesterday and be hauling your car today.
“Obviously, I started having some issues with those,” Mark said during a video interview. He didn’t elaborate at length, but AHX Sales Director Jake filled in the gaps.
“He told me about damaged vehicles, insurance issues, payment disputes, even carriers holding deliveries hostage,” Jake said. “Like, calling after a 1,200-mile run demanding $500 more or they won’t unload. It was just chaos.”
For someone moving vehicles at scale, the lack of vetting, reliability, and oversight made the process unsustainable.
A Tip From Kansas City
Looking for alternatives, Mark called a few trusted dealers in the Kansas City market. “The first two or three reputable constituents I called, Auto Hauler Exchange was at the top of their list,” he said. “So that’s when I started experimenting with it.”
Within three weeks, AHX wasn’t just his preferred platform, it was the only one he used. “They became my primary in literally three weeks and I dropped the other boards.”
Mark’s onboarding was fast. “He didn’t need hand-holding,” Jake said. “But even for folks who do, our approval process takes about 15 minutes, and we walk them through their first posting. After that, they usually realize how easy it is to run things themselves.”
From Guesswork to Clarity
What made the switch so easy? According to Mark, it came down to workflow simplicity, transparency, and control.
“Using other boards, I’d have to be there to pay the carrier on the spot. The billing and paperwork were messy. And the pickup and delivery photos weren’t adequate so claims were difficult,” he said. “Auto Hauler Exchange just made everything cleaner and simpler.”
The platform’s track-and-trace visibility was also a big win. “He liked knowing where the vehicles were. Not just general updates, but like: it’s 3:30 pm on Monday, the truck’s in Detroit, so he can have the recon team ready,” Jake explained.
Built for the Do-It-Yourself Operator
Mark isn’t the kind of guy who likes waiting around for someone else to find his loads.
“I’m a do-it-yourself guy,” he said. “I’d rather just put my vehicles on the platform myself and manage it, early mornings, evenings, whenever I have time.”
AHX’s self-serve dashboard, automated documentation, and vetted 5,500+ carrier network aligned perfectly with that mindset. And perhaps most importantly, AHX handles the payments, so Mark doesn’t have to track down W-9s, cut checks, or worry about insurance gaps.
“I asked him what his biggest headaches were,” Jake said. “And I’m pretty sure we’re solving all of them.”
An Advocate in the Forums
Mark now frequently promotes AHX in Facebook groups and online dealer chats, especially when others complain about problems he knows all too well.
“When I see guys complain about lost loads from other boards, I always promote Auto Hauler Exchange,” he said.
And it’s not just talk. He’s brought several of his preferred carriers onto the platform, sending them loads directly through the Exchange. “He’s even flagged carriers that didn’t meet his standards,” Jake said. “And we watch that. If there’s a pattern, we remove them.”
On Autopilot and That’s the Point
Today, Mark barely needs to contact AHX. Mark uses AHX’s lane pricing history to set fair but competitive rates.
“He’s on autopilot,” Jake said. “He knows his pricing, uses our lane data, and works the system better than most. That’s the goal, to empower guys like him so they don’t need us unless something unusual comes up.”
The Takeaway
Mark Harris didn’t just switch platforms. He made vehicle logistics work for him: transparent, accountable, and under his control.
And he’s not alone.
Auto Hauler Exchange is helping dealers and wholesalers nationwide ditch the broken broker model and take control of their shipping.
If you’re tired of gambling on unvetted carriers, chasing down payments, or wondering where your vehicle is, it’s time to make the switch.
