Nathan Smith didn’t originally set out to build a logistics company.
But, when a friend needed help delivering doors for his new business, Nathan and his dad saw a business opportunity. So in 2021, they started Smith & Sons Transport.
“We got a truck and operated that for about a year. Then a van. And we just grew from there.” says Nathan.
As the business grew, they faced a familiar challenge: empty return legs were costing them time and money – and putting pressure on margins.
In December 2024, Nathan found himself at a stalemate with it all. That’s when he turned to Haulage Exchange to help fill the gaps and reduce dead miles.
Since joining HX, Smith & Sons Transport have generated a massive £200k in revenue, simply by filling dead miles. Now, they’ve set their sights on even bigger growth.
Here’s how they did it.
Approach
In the early days, Nathan and his team managed everything from the family’s sitting room. Two laptops handled all their job bookings, paperwork, and daily operations.
The work was steady, but heading out with full loads and returning empty was making it harder to stay profitable – especially with rising fuel costs.
“We hit a bit of a stalemate over Christmas 2023. We were running jobs out and coming back empty – it was a big hit, especially with fuel.” he says.
After hearing about Haulage Exchange from a local haulier, Nathan decided to sign up and give it a try.
They began using the platform to find return haulage loads and fill dead miles. The results were immediate.
Without Haulage Exchange, it would be near enough impossible to fill those empty miles. Now, nine times out of ten, we’ll get a load coming back.
Nathan Smith, Founder, Smith & Sons Transport
Happy with the results, Nathan started testing out more of the platform’s features. The built-in diary helped streamline job management, while exporting invoices directly to their internal systems cut down admin time.
As Nathan puts it, “it allows us to what we want to do in the business… run the trucks, earn more money”.
They also started subcontracting through the Exchange, which has become “vital to us” says Nathan.
Knowing they’ve already been vetted through Trustd means Nathan can be confident that the reputation they’ve worked hard to build is protected.
“Even if haulage subcontractors costs a little more, you know you’re going to get a good service” Nathan adds.
Results
Since joining Haulage Exchange in 2024, the impact on Smith & Sons Transport has been transformative.
In under a year, they’ve generated over £200,000 in additional revenue, just by filling those dead miles. That additional revenue has allowed them to accelerate their future growth plans.
1 year
On the Exchange
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Positive reviews
They’re currently building a brand-new 30-bay truck stop, complete with office space, showers and a wagon wash.
The investment marks a huge step forward for the business – one that wouldn’t have happened as quickly without the Exchange.
It’s definitely helped us grow. £200,000 pounds of income over the last year is a massive achievement, from nearly gone bust!
Nathan Smith, Founder, Smith & Sons Transport
Conclusion
By joining Haulage Exchange, Smith & Sons Transport went from stalemate to success in just under a year. They all but eliminated their dead miles, significantly boosted profits and brought forward their growth plans.
Asked to sum up their experience of HX so far, Nathan doesn’t hesitate.
Trusted, reliable, and easy.
Nathan Smith, Founder, Smith & Sons Transport
