What is Haulage?

Haulage is the enterprise that involves transporting merchandise, vehicles or personal possessions by road, rail, and sea. Part of haulage is the horizontal transport of goods which is called drayage or cartage. It also involves vertical transport of goods through cranes called hoisting.

There are a lot of companies offering this service and you may have to do your own research before you decide to work with any of them. To help you determine which haulage company is best to work with, here are a few things you need to consider.

• A wide selection of vehicles and trailers. It is best to choose a haulage company who runs a regular service in the UK and Europe with a wide selection of vehicles in various sizes. For instance, Cotswold Carriers offer UK and European haulage with their fleet of small vans right up to 44-tonne trucks.

• Several years of business experience. It is worth noting that a haulage company with several years of experience is a requirement to ascertain its trustworthiness. If they have experience in transporting exhibition stands, festival production equipment and theatrical stage sets, the better!

• Vehicle Transportation. If you need to transport vehicles like lawnmowers, classic cars, or motorbikes in the UK or Europe, it is essential to find a company that is capable of delivering them safely and timely. Their vehicles must be equipped with car ramps and straps to secure your vehicles while it is in transit with then haulage company.

• Strict rules and regulations. The company you should work with must implement strict rules when it comes to shipping. If you need the crates to be fumigated, make sure they can cater to it as well.

• Shipping containers. If you need to move goods in bulk, it would be better to send them via freight in groupage containers. Enquire if they can collect your goods, export-wrap or crate them and ship them abroad. If they can give you advice on complex insurance and customs procedures, that would be best!

• A proud member of an association of road transport operators. The federation serves as the ‘the voice of the road haulage profession’ and represents the company you are planning to work with. Some of the road haulage federations in the UK are the British Association of Removers and Road Haulage Association.

Cotswold Carriers is a proud member of the British Association of Removers. The group is solely dedicated to the promotion of professional excellence in the removal and storage industry.

Whether you’re a homeowner planning to move in the UK or another country or a businessman looking for a reliable commercial removal, make sure that the haulage company you choose is a member of the British Association of Removers. Members of this group are highly professional, reputable and financially protected.

The British Association of Removers currently has more than 450 members, more than a thousand branches, and more than 250 associates from abroad. Members of this group undergo a series of strict inspection to guarantee the level of service and professionalism that is required. This will require the members to adhere to the Code of Practice, provide Advance Payment Guarantee and offer Dispute Resolution Service.

All British Association of Removers members are supervised by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute as well, allowing you to feel confident whenever you employ any of their members’ removal services and giving you peace of mind in the process.

What is the Road Haulage Association?

The Road Haulage Association is the only trade federation committed to providing the needs of road transport operators in the UK. They are a highly respected partner and champion to the interests of its members. Just like the British Association of Removers, they also provide activities which enhance the members’ and public’s knowledge and awareness about the road haulage industry.

To keep the standards of their association high, all of their members are encouraged to access their wide resource, which includes virtual training courses, free webinars, legal advice or support, annual reports and accounts, news and updates about their industry, and more.

Did you know that more than 80% of the goods within the UK are transported through the road? The industry of road transport is a dynamic one and the economy of the UK, or any other country, depends highly on the success of this business sector. So to keep the industry afloat, federations like the British Association of Removers and Road Haulage Association were initiated.

How much does haulage cost?

Haulage today is way different from what it was decades ago. Back then, the majority of products transported were raw materials like metal and coal. Nowadays, this type of service is generally offered by larger businesses however, small players can still capture a considerable percentage of the market by offering niche services and keeping the overall costs low. As a matter of fact, the rise of niche logistics providers is providing great outcomes for logistics as an industry.

The cost of haulage depends on several factors, some of which are fixed and variable. To keep their business afloat, the haulage company will calculate the overall cost of the intended service by getting the sum of the following overheads.

• Type of goods to be delivered

• Partial or full packing service

• Location of delivery

• Number of personnel required for the service

• Type of vehicle to be used

• Vehicle fuel

• Vehicle Excise Duty

• Vehicle maintenance and repair

• Insurance

• Storehouse or stockroom rent

• Vehicle sanitation or disinfection

• Others

To put it all together, the best way to choose a reliable haulage company is to determine if the company has many years of experience in the haulage and storage industry, can provide simple and innovative solutions to all of your domestic or business needs and is a proud member of a road transport operators federation. In addition to that, if you can negotiate a price that is profitable for both of you, that’s the company you should go for!