Abstract: A motorized transport cart and a system and method employing one or more of such carts. The carts may be used to transport assembly parts or other items of interest within a desired area. Each cart includes its own drive system, including a drive motor and drive wheel assembly that propels the cart along a guide rail assembly affixed to the transport area floor. Power for the drive motor is transferred from a conductor rail of the guide rail assembly through a contactor assembly of the cart. The drive system includes a sensor that is used to signal a drive controller of the cart drive system to de-energize the drive motor and halt motion of the cart when a trailing cart gets within a certain distance of a leading cart in a row of carts. Carts may be automatically arranged into properly spaced rows with little user interaction, and the carts of a given row will automatically move forward when a lead cart of the row is removed.