I am trying to figure out the best way to transport cakes. Small ones haven't been a problem but all this practicing and experimenting I've been dong for friends and family is in preparation for my brothers wedding. I made the largest cake yet last weekend and it was a disaster... mostly. I assembled the 12 & 10 and then the 8 & 6. My husband drove and my brother held the top 1/2 while I held / carried the bottem (heavier) 1/2. It was going to turn out perfect until we hit a bump and my brother's 1/2 shifted. I had doubled the plates in between and doweled all 4 layers as well as a rod thru the middle of each 1/2. It didn't shift much and I was going to still assemble and fix once we got there but it also cracked down the side. As I'm attempting to put the 8 & 6 onto the 10 I'm realizing its not stable enough to hold up for the night so I give it to the kitchen to serve and simply add more flowers to the 10. Its in my pictures. Here's my dilema/ question: what's the best way to transport. Should I get boxes and how to tackle that? I'm just so overwhelmed and I don't want to have to hold any more heavy cakes for a ride of any length (this one was 20 minutes but my brothers reception is 45 minutes away). I'm close to calling off the favor for my brother if I can't figure this problem out. I thought the dowel through the center would keep it from shifting during th ride but I guess nothing is fool proof. And why is it that my layers arrived fine (and mine were the heavier ones and harder to hold) and my brothers turned out so badly. Grrrrr!
Sorry so long. I just dont know what to do and its frustrated me to the point that I haven't even been motivated enough to make my daughter's first birthday cake 
Thanks for the support.
Each layer needs several dowels to hold the tier above. Stacked cakes are more risky to transport, especially with bumps. All cakes should be in boxes. I use non skip fabric between the bottom of the cake and the bottom of the box.
If you use double boards, they need to be stuck together. They can easily slide apart.
If you can, transport the tiers each separately, each in a box, then stack them on site.
Each layer needs several dowels to hold the tier above. Stacked cakes are more risky to transport, especially with bumps. All cakes should be in boxes. I use non skip fabric between the bottom of the cake and the bottom of the box.
If you use double boards, they need to be stuck together. They can easily slide apart.
If you can, transport the tiers each separately, each in a box, then stack them on site.
I agree that the use of non-skid matting under the cake works great. My question is -- how do you take out the cake from the box if the cake borders are virtually at the edge of the cake board?? I always seem to mess up the border whilst putting the cake in the box or removing the cake from the box.
The trick I have found to be very useful is keep the cakes very cold up until delivery.Place skid proof matting in the back hatch of my suv and set the cakes like you did holding them.My guess is they were semi warm and when you hit the bump it shifted.I keep a large container full of fondant cut out flours,embelishments etc..on standby and also carry a emergency repair kit with the color icing etc...Hope this helps!
I transport with the cakes on a flat surface with the rubber shelf lining under them. If stacked, I definitely place a dowel rod through them. The only time I have had a problem was when the 3 tiers were offset and (I think) due to the dowel not being centered adn not into the bottom boards (my bad!), it tipped over.
I too "dismantle" the box but usually only the front then use my metal spatula to lift it up enough to get under it.
An idea for those cakes who's borders are right to the edge of their boards - attach the cake w/ it's board to a larger board below with buttercream. Use a box sized for the larger board.
This will keep the cake from sliding around in the box as well as protect the borders from general handling of the outer box.
Also holding the cakes might be more risky than placing them on a flat surface in the car - your body will move differently and in different places, possibly causing MORE shift than if it's sitting flat in the car.
Thank you soooo much for all the advice! Look at my most recent of the baby shower cake. Transport went just fine and I actually feel kinda silly because it was so easy. Don't I wish I'd have known to do this for the big wedding back in February. Went with the perfect size box with the non-skid pad underneath in the back of the mini van. PERFECT! THANK you again!!!
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