Freight Exchanges: Greater Flexibility for Your Business

If you work in the haulage industry, joining a freight exchange offers the potential for growth and increased profits, but also gives your business the opportunity to become far more flexible. In a complex and swiftly-moving environment like the haulage industry, flexibility can mean the difference between profit and loss. Flexibility means having options, and an online exchange can provide your business with plenty of them.

Get the Right Supplier

A reputable freight exchange will have thousands of active members – which means potentially tens of thousands of postings on load and vehicle boards. With so many options to choose from, you can shop around for the right one for your business. Online exchanges allow you to communicate with thousands of potential subcontractors at the touch of a button and you can negotiate rates and payment terms directly.

Get the Right Vehicle

Becoming a member of an online freight exchange gives your business enormous flexibility when it comes to your fleet. Imagine that you have a small or medium-size load to deliver, but only large, high-volume lorries available to take it; or, conversely, maybe you have an enormous load slated for delivery, but only small vehicles currently available. Rather than invest in a larger fleet, which will raise your overhead costs, you can find the appropriate-sized van or lorry listed online on the exchange’s vehicle boards. Exchange platforms afford the facility to browse your options to find one that’s right for you.

Get Return Loads for Every Trip

Long-haul deliveries can be inefficient for your business if the driver is making the return journey with an empty truck. With an online freight exchange, live vehicle boards can let potential customers in the delivery area know that there’s an empty vehicle available for the return leg of the trip - giving your business the flexibility to pick up loads anywhere and anytime, increasingly profit and cutting waste.

Make a Range of Valuable Contacts

As soon as you begin using a freight exchange, you will have the opportunity to vastly expand your business network. With thousands of members trading delivery work, back loads and empty vehicles they offer the perfect opportunity to acquire some valuable contacts. Having a larger network gives your business more options when it comes to subcontracting as well. As the haulage and logistics industry can be quite competitive, it’s always a good idea to have a network of people you can rely on.

In a deadline-centric industry like haulage, your business needs to have the flexibility to overcome obstacles and find a way to get the job done. With online exchange platforms, you'll have access to thousands of contacts, vehicles, and drivers – and that means more options. Exchanges keep your business flexible, adaptable and more profitable.

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.