The consolidation stop is normal though, that part isn't really the broker lying. Most big carriers run terminals in places like Omaha or Kansas City where they swap cars between trucks, and that's how they keep costs down on long hauls. The real problem was the 8 days of silence, not the stop itself. A good broker tells you up front that your car might sit a couple days at a hub waiting for a full load, and the driver should still be reachable the whole time. The 5 day quote was probably the no-stop best case, which they should've said out loud. Asking for the driver's number and a GPS link is smart, but I'd also ask right at booking whether the route includes any terminal stops and how long they expect the car to sit there.

For years I told people to support their local shop no matter what, even when the prices were higher and the drive was longer. It felt like the right thing to do for the hobby. Then I watched a guy at my own shop do almost the same thing with a Batman variant, pulling it for a buddy who walked in after me. I stood there holding my pull list and felt like a sucker for being loyal. These days I just preorder online or wait for the trade, and my wallet is happier for it. A shop owner who plays favorites is basically telling you your business does not matter.