What does a haulier do?
A haulier is the company which offers haulage services. In short, they are the ones transporting the goods.
Hauliers come in all shapes and sizes, from small, independent businesses to large-scale companies which have bases at ports across the UK – just like us here at Infinity.
Hauliers will have their own team of drivers who will load trailers or containers onto their lorries, ready to transport them wherever needed.
Depending on the type of good being transported, this could require specialist vehicles like refrigerated lorries for food and drink.
What types of haulage work are there?
Haulage isn’t a one size fits all service. Services can differ greatly dependent on the needs of the client. Different types of haulage include:
General haulage
This is what people typically picture when they think of haulage. This is all about loading up lorries with goods that can range from food and drink to machinery by road.
Heavy haulage
This refers to much larger loads which can often require special permission to transport. This typically is transported by larger vehicles which have speed limits applied to them for the safety of other road users.
Plant haulage
Just like with heavy haulage, this refers to large loads which require specially adapted vehicles to transport them. Its name refers to the type of load – with the service used to carry the likes of excavators or large pieces of plant machinery.
Abnormal loads
An abnormal load is a large, oversized piece of equipment that falls outside the other parameters of haulage. These loads are normally transported with the help of police escorts, road closures and speed restrictions and can range from wind turbines to cranes and sections of bridges which weigh more than 44 tonnes.
Hazadous goods haulage
When you see a lorry plastered with stickers about explosives, gas or radioactive substances, it’s a haulage driver transporting hazardous goods. Drivers will need specialist training to qualify to transport these materials, which can range from chemicals to explosives and beyond.
Vehicle haulage
The last on our list, vehicle haulage is as its name suggests – and is used by commercial customers to transport their vehicles from ports and production plants to showrooms nationwide.
How do I find the right haulier?
Finding the right haulier depends on where you are, what you want to transport and how much of a budget you have.
The most important thing to consider is reputation. There are haulage contractors across the country offering their services – with dozens upon dozens operating on the doorsteps of major ports like Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton.
Make sure to do your research and ensure the haulage firm holds all relevant licences and certifications to carry out the work.
If you’re in need of haulage services and would like a hassle-free quote or advice, get in touch today. The Infinity Container Logistics team is here to help.
