Tips on Launching Your Own Haulage Service

Nowadays, because of technology, it seems that almost any task can be accomplished in a streamlined manner, including the transportation industry. Despite economic recessions, many haulage companies have continued to run successful businesses. There are countless items consumers need delivered, and much of the time they employ a third party to do the job for them. If you're thinking about starting your own haulage business, here is some expert advice.

Prepare a Solid Business Plan

All successful haulage companies started with a plan - but not just any plan. A good business plan is well thought out, probably revised a few times, and then polished further. When coming up with a business plan, you need to keep an open mind and consider a host of factors to be able to list realistic and achievable goals within specific time frames. For instance, listing a goal of expanding your business within a year of operations is not only vague, but it is also not based on factors affecting the business. In other words, making a business plan doesn't mean just writing down a wish list.

Consider the Cost of Everything

Starting a business is a serious enterprise, and before you can even begin to think of all the profits you're going to reap, you need to consider the cost of operations and other expenses. No successful haulage companies start with a ready-made bank of clients bringing in pots of money. Business owners need to be smart enough to think about the ratio of how much they need to spend on vehicles and manpower to the return of profit. Another factor when considering costs is how long it will realistically be before you actually start earning money. You have to be realistic - you are not going to earn back all your capital within just a few months of operation. You need to ensure you have sufficient cash flow in order to continue operating while building the business up.

Be Innovative in Marketing Your Business

Once you've ticked off the important things and you're ready to launch, you need to begin thinking about how you're going to market your business to stand out from existing haulage companies. Before you even begin, however, you need to solidify your target market - knowing who your potential clients are will lead you to ideas on how to reach them and attract their attention. You'll then need to be innovative in your approach, and one way of doing that is by utilising the swathe of online social media available to you. This includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and especially an online exchange designed especially for the transport industry.

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.