A new online freight exchange has been launched in a bid to reduce empty running and increase vehicle utilisation.
Haulage Exchange is the brainchild of Transport Exchange Group, the team behind Courier Exchange, one of the largest freight marketplaces in the UK.
The exchange enables shippers to post jobs (from three pallets to full loads) on a website (www.haulageexchange.com), which can be accessed by carriers looking to fill trucks.
The return journey system, which allows hauliers to flag up empty runs back to base, automatically filters and matches requirements to relevant new loads, which are then sent back to hauliers by email or SMS, said md Lyall Cresswell.
"We have created a real sense of community among the 1,500 subscribers to Courier Exchange and with the experience and understanding of how electronic marketplaces work, we believe we have created a truly collaborative network built on real success." To join, there is a monthly subscription of about £60.