Running a haulage company is not easy. There are many legal, logistical and commercial challenges to overcome. Therefore, if you’re to keep your firm on the road, it’s really important that you are savvy in your approach. Here are some of the major issues to bear in mind.
Make full use of technology
Increasingly, businesses operating in this sector are relying on advanced technology to help them maintain a competitive advantage. If you don’t keep pace with the various technological developments taking place within the industry, you risk being left behind by your competitors.
One of the areas to focus on is communication. By taking advantage of the relevant systems and gadgets, you can ensure that you are able to stay in touch with your personnel more regularly, effectively and cheaply. For example, you might benefit from getting in-vehicle WiFi installed in your fleet. This can make it easier for your drivers to pass on and receive information while they are away from your depots. It is now easy to access these solutions. For example, Airangel offers self-contained, easy-to-fit units. It even provides versions that can simply plug into cigarette lighter sockets.
Because of the impact it has on communication, mobile web technology can also help your firm to improve customer service. By keeping in regular touch with your drivers, you can ensure you are able to provide your customers with more reliable and accurate information concerning deliveries.
Recruit the best personnel
Of course, making full use of technology is not enough in itself to help your haulage firm stay on the road. Another issue to consider is recruitment. The industry has an ageing workforce and there is a shortage of skilled and experienced younger personnel. This means that, if your firm is to enjoy lasting success, you’ll have to focus on attracting suitable employees.
Competitive remuneration packages and effective personnel management policies are therefore a must.
Stay on the right side of the law
In addition, it’s vital that you remain on the right side of the law. Many different forms of legislation apply to the haulage industry and if you don’t keep a constant focus on this, you risk encountering a range of problems. For example, you’ll need to make sure you always comply with operator licensing rules, working time regulations, vehicle maintenance laws, regulations governing the construction and use of vehicles, loading restrictions, driver conduct rules, employment documentation stipulations and much more. Things get even more complication if your drivers travel overseas.
If you lack the necessary expertise within your organisation, it may pay off to enlist the services of specialist consultants to help you conform to all the regulations. This does cost money, but it can prove to be a savvy investment. After all, if you’re found to be in breach of any of these laws, you might find that your firm is subject to potentially long and costly legal proceedings.
As well as the financial impact of these cases, it’s important to bear in mind the harm it could cause to your businesses’ reputation. While it can take many years of hard work and skill to build up a respectable profile in the haulage industry, it doesn’t take much to destroy this.
A bright future
Functioning in the haulage industry will never be easy, but by making sure your firm benefits from the latest and best technology, you have the right team in place to drive innovation and uphold standards and by conforming to all your legal responsibilities, you can boost the chances that your company will enjoy a bright future.
