How Haulage Companies Can Make Money in the Metropolis

Big cities form the hubs of transportation. More and more people are moving to cities, and the trucks, trains, ships and lorries are following them. This means even small to medium enterprises must learn not only to transport cargo between cities or within cities, but also manage a combination of both.

If this is done wisely, there is quite a fair amount of money to be made.

Trucks to Vans

Certain vehicles are better investments for certain uses and haulage companies should diversify their acquisition of vehicles based on this understanding. For example, for long-haul trips between Brussels and London, larger and longer trucks will carry more cargo more efficiently than vans or smaller trucks. On the other hand, smaller vehicles can take specific packages to specific clients within the convoluted web of inner-city streets. As you pick up more clients and fill your long-haul journeys between cities, it is prudent to invest in a number of vans based around a depot so you can transfer goods more effectively.

Up to Date Equipment

Technology and equipment make up a significant proportion of cargo, yet haulage companies need to also be aware that having smart, up-to-date equipment is vital for managing the demands of a business that links cities. From quality suspension to high-tech loading gear, it is important that you don't shrink from making an investment in equipment that will not only stand the test of time but is efficient enough to handle the many different scenarios faced when moving goods around and into the city. Whether or not you are picking up large crates, transporting goods from vans down narrow alleys, or dealing with logistics and measurements at borders, up and coming companies should keep abreast of the latest technological advances.

Real-time Communications

Communication beats at the heart of almost any industry. There are many communication specialists and specialities, but haulage companies need to be clued in to the particular skills and technologies that will assist them. Major firms have extensive communication and logistics networks, which most small to medium sized organisations cannot afford. But from online exchanges to advanced GPS apps, there are an abundance of smart choices for the discerning budget that make the complexity of logistics between big cities much easier.

Alternate Routes

As haulage companies begin to get to know the routes between cities, they should measure and treasure this knowledge. There are a plethora of options between most major metropolises, and each has its own setbacks and benefits. Navigating through tollways and heavy-vehicle weighing stations and road closures is part of the art of knowing how to link city to city with your cargo chain. Once this art becomes a skill your firm can save money and increase the eventual payoff.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching haulage companies or drivers with jobs and to buy and sell road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets. Over 3,000 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.