4 Reasons a Freight Exchange Opens Doors in Haulage

In the behemoth that is international transportation, all players, big and small, are looking for leverage. A fresh approach, a new angle, a clever way to deliver efficiency – anything that can give an edge over the competition in the marketplace is highly prized.

The advent of online forums and communities that bring together thousands of import/ exporters, potential clients, subcontractors, and firms has opened doors to new rates to success in this industry.

Firms Need Not Turn Down Work

In a competitive market, the more work you can take on the better. Small firms and independent contractors, in particular, will stretch themselves to ensure that it is their vans and trucks that carry a client’s cargo to its desired destination. But the impediment of success is that as you corner the market you need to expand to meet demand. Since this is costly in haulage, a freight exchange offers a great avenue to meet demand by opening doors to subcontractors. Even smaller firms and independent drivers can easily negotiate passing on work to a reliable subcontractor while still maintaining part of the financial reward and the client’s trust.

Owner Drivers Develop a Strong Network

It is sometimes daunting to feel like a small fish in a big pond. Large transport firms and well-connected import/ exporters have their roots dug deep into a broad network of the transportation world. An independent contractor, however, may feel a little disconnected from this world, but a freight exchange can help. It offers efficient and cost-effective means to open the door to a vast community of potential clients. By regularly using it, even a sole owner driver can make contact with an effective network of clients and subcontractors.

Work with Reliable Clients

When your role in the industry is effectively one of a liaison, connecting those with vehicles to those with cargo, a freight exchange can seem like competition. But in actual fact they are geared towards the business of import/ export personnel and freight forwarders. Many firms and clients rely on the expertise of these personnel to connect them to these websites and navigate the sea of potential contracts for them. For import/ exporters, these online communities have a special advantage over many other networks in that many offer vetted and feedback-based systems of ensuring reliable members. This means the standard of clients is higher, which makes life easier for the import/exporter.

Efficiency is Prioritised

Ultimately, a freight exchange opens doors in the same way the Internet generally does for business – by prioritising efficiency. The difference between a community of haulage clients and businesses meeting dockside to that of thousands networking online is a vast savings in time and resources. Even an independent operator with a single van can enter this marketplace using simply their smartphone. Hence the savings in marketing, networking, and branding time and resources alone opens doors for all players.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for haulage work in the express freight exchange industry. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.