Haulage Companies in the Internet Age: What Has Changed?

The Internet. Ever since its appearance in the early 1990s – and subsequent 'boom' over the past decade or so – it has become part and parcel of Westernised human life. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine a life without the numerous ways of connecting to the Internet available to us today – and yet, for many young adults of the current generation, it was their reality growing up. These same adults, however, were quickest on the uptake when Internet 2.0 came about, quickly figuring out how best to make the most of its virtually unlimited resources.

But while at an individual level Western society is becoming more and more used to the online world, in the realm of business the reality is somewhat different. Many companies are still slightly mystified by the Internet and its potential, and, as a result, lag behind the times where an online presence is concerned. Unsurprisingly, those who are au fait with online commerce will see business picking up as a result of an up-to-date website or Facebook and Twitter interactions.

The Transportation Example

One of the industries that can benefit most from a savvy online presence is haulage. Haulage companies can profit from clever use of the Internet in more ways than one, and the fact that technology has been slowly expanding across the field in recent years should come as no surprise.

For instance, a progressively larger number of haulage companies have been realising that setting up a website and social media accounts can broaden their horizons and expand their reach in a way a simple telephone number can not. The Internet allows people from all over the world to access any given site at any given time, and while most of these companies don't hope for more than nationwide reach, that can already be considerably more than they would have achieved otherwise. By putting themselves out there through the use of online resources, smart haulage companies can reach a wider market and exponentially increase their business.

Exposure is, however, not the only way in which an online presence can help. The Internet is also an immensely helpful tool for connecting with a demographic. In the case of businesses, this means handling complaints and bookings, as well as making the public aware of offers and promotions. In a field such as road transport, one must add the possibility of offering immediate quotes for any given query.

These are just two examples of how an understanding of how the Internet works can help modern haulage companies subsist and expand in the new digital age. Plenty of businesses in this and other sectors have already picked up on this, and it is expected that, as technology moves forward, online management will eventually become the norm rather than the alternative.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry in the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in 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.