How to find haulage carriers in less than 4 minutes

When a load comes in, the clock starts ticking. Whether you’re a freight forwarder juggling customer demands or a large haulage company subcontracting extra work, finding the right haulage carriers quickly can make the difference between winning and losing a contract.

Traditionally, this has been slow and unreliable. Mailing lists go stale, WhatsApp groups are unverified, and Facebook groups are chaotic at best. Even if you get a reply, you can’t be sure about compliance, paperwork, or reliability.

That’s where Haulage Exchange changes the game. With over 50,000 vetted haulage vehicles across the UK and Europe, it connects you instantly to the carriers you need — and with an average response time of just 4 minutes, you’ll never be left waiting.

Here’s how it works, and why it’s faster, safer, and more scalable than any traditional method.

The problem with finding reliable carriers

For years, many freight forwarders have relied on phone calls, email lists, and closed online groups to cover urgent jobs. Large haulage companies subcontracting specialist loads often face the same issue.

But these traditional methods come with serious drawbacks:

• Limited networks – a mailing list or WhatsApp group may give you access to a few hundred operators, compared with tens of thousands on HX.
• Lack of verification – anyone can join a Facebook group, but not everyone is insured, licensed, or compliant.
• Slow responses – by the time someone replies, you might already have missed the opportunity.
• High risk – when moving high-risk freight or specialist jobs like walking floor and bulk transport, working with unknown operators can expose your business to penalties and reputational damage.

The reality? Finding a carrier isn’t the hard part — finding one you can trust is. That’s why HX combines fast access with compliance you can prove.

Why HX is different: Trustd compliance built in

On Haulage Exchange, every carrier is verified with Trustd, the UK’s first compliance platform certified under the Government’s DIATF framework.

Trustd checks and stores all the documents you need to keep loads legal and customers reassured, including:

• Operator licences
• Goods-in-transit insurance
• HGV insurance
• Identity and trading status

It also sends automatic alerts before documents expire, so you’ll never subcontract to someone operating out of compliance. For haulage customers and freight forwarders alike, this removes the uncertainty of working with strangers on informal groups.

When you work with a carrier on HX, you know exactly who you’re working with — and you can prove it to your customers.

Step 1: Hit ‘Post Load’

Once logged in, hit Post Load. It’s simple and fast, designed for busy operations teams.

Whether you’re moving pallets locally, arranging lorry types for construction materials, or subcontracting cross-border work to international HGV drivers, the same process applies.

Step 2: Add load details

Next, you’ll see a popup box asking you for certain details about the load. So, add the details.

Let carriers know:

• The load pick up point
• The load pick up time
• Where the load should be delivered
• When the load should be delivered
• The kind of vehicle you need (LWB? Curtainsider? Add it in.)
• Any special instructions, such as ULEZ-compliant hauliers for London jobs

Step 3: Post the load

Your load is now visible to thousands of haulage carriers nationwide. HX automatically matches your job to the most relevant operators, whether that’s Birmingham haulage companies covering the Midlands or transport companies in London serving the capital.

No more cold calls. No more endless waiting.

If you’re posting a repeat load, even better: you can hit ‘Post Load & Save for Repeat Use’. That way, you won’t need to fill in the load details the next time the job comes in.

Step 4: Wait 4 minutes

This is where HX really shines. On average, it takes just 4 minutes for quotes to start coming in.

By the time you’ve checked your emails or made a coffee, you’ll already have multiple offers — from trusted road haulage companies that fit your requirements.

Step 5: Take your pick of haulage carriers

Once the quotes arrive, you can choose based on:

• Price
• Carrier feedback and ratings from other members
• Verified compliance through Trustd

This combination means you’re not just choosing the cheapest option, but the safest and most reliable. For high-risk freight, this is non-negotiable. For time-sensitive jobs, it’s peace of mind.

Scaling your operation with the right haulage carriers

HX isn’t just about one-off jobs. It gives both freight forwarders and large haulage companies a way to build scalable, resilient operations without the overhead of expanding fleets.

• Respond to changes in seasonal demand without leaving loads uncovered.
• Win bigger contracts by proving access to nationwide coverage.
• Subcontract confidently when customer requests go beyond your own fleet.
• Use Freight Vision to track every subcontracted movement in real time.

It’s how many members use HX to grow your freight forwarding company without the risk of idle vehicles or excessive fixed costs.

Technology that goes beyond finding carriers

Haulage Exchange is more than a marketplace. It’s a complete operating system for subcontracting work.

• Freight Vision: track shipments live, share ETAs with shippers, and keep everyone updated automatically.
• Digital PODs: store and access proof of delivery instantly, no paperwork chasing.
• SmartPay: pay multiple subcontractors in one place, with up to 80% less admin.
• Data insights: monitor demand trends, benchmark rates, and see which carriers deliver the best performance.

By centralising everything — from compliance to communication — HX helps you run a more efficient, professional operation.

Extra benefits when you find haulage carriers on HX

To recap, here’s what you get when you post loads on HX:

• Quotes in 4 minutes, not 4 hours
• Verified and compliant carriers for every job
• Nationwide and European coverage, from small vans to HGVs
• Flexibility to handle one-offs, peaks, and specialist loads
• Confidence that every subcontracted movement is monitored and compliant

That’s why thousands of members — from independent forwarders to global brands — use HX every day.

Frequently asked questions