Dealing with damage during transport

[jm020]

I’m wondering if anyone has dealt with damage during open transport from any of the big transport brokers. If so, I’ve reached out to file a claim, and I’m hoping to properly set expectations with myself to how this may play out.

I transported a 2025 Optiq Loaner via Montway, which arrived yesterday. Today, I noticed the following (see photos below):

1. Series of cracks on the moon roof
2. Small dent on upper roof side rail

I’ve reached out to Montway to explain, and they’ve since emailed the trucking company to respond, but I have no idea what to expect in terms of whether they will take fault vs try to say the damage was there already. I do have a video walk around from the dealer before I purchased, but the angle wouldn’t allow to see any roof damage.

I failed to notice the damage during pickup, mainly since it’s very hard to see unless the sun shade is open. It is also hard to notice from the outside of the car unless you know it’s there and you’re tall enough to see it. Additionally, the driver was of course in such a hurry and basically handed me the keys, had me sign, and left. I did a quick walk around, but didn’t look on top of the car.

As an aside, the communication during the transport was awful. Since this was during a work day, I was hoping for a very tentative ETA (e.g. morning, afternoon, or evening) or at least for the driver to let me know when he was close. Montway provided me the driver and dispatchers phone. The driver didn’t answer any calls or texts the entire time, which made coordinating with the dealer difficult and left me in the blind on when it was arriving until he showed up (and I had to rush to the meetup spot). The dispatcher number provided didn’t even ring. The entire time, I was promised by Montway that the driver would call when close, but this never happened.

I’ve used montway before without issue, and realize these things happen, and hopefully they’re willing to step in and reimburse for damages.

[Batistuta]

Dispatcher must be sending you and Montway photos of the delivery. We are in 2026. Ask for those. It’s going to be tough fight, good luck.

[jm020]

Yea I saw the driver asnapped a photo of delivery, but it won’t be nearly close enough (or from high enough of perspective) to show the damage. E.g. the photos I took when he dropped it off.

[mrhills]

I went through similar this spring. Either at loading or unloading, it looked like the approach or departure angle was much too steep, and the asphalt took a nasty “bite” out of the drivers side rear corner of the bumper cover and diffuser back there. I was not thrilled, but stuff happens, people make mistakes and getting angry is not a solution. Took many photos, and the driver had a tablet where we documented the damage with text and photos before I accepted the car. Was on the phone with the dealer I’d purchased from who’d arranged transport for the entire time.

Dealer was great, they told me to select a repair shop and they’d pay for the repair. To be fair and transparent, I got four estimates, shared all with the dealer, and selected the shop with the median estimated cost. The shop would not accept payment from a third party, so the dealer overnighted me a check for the repair ($2,300) that arrived the day before the repair was done.

I was a little nervous the dealer would just go dark on me as once I authorized the repair I was responsible for the cost and gave up all my leverage, but it was no problem. They treated me right and I would buy from them again — Bishop Maserati in the DFW area.