What Are Container Haulage Services?
Container haulage services play an essential role in the transportation of goods across the country through designated road and rail networks. According to the Road Haulage Association, 2.5 million people in the U.K are employed in the haulage industry, making this sector the country’s fifth-largest employer.
Categories of Container Types
The haulage industry covers many different product areas and services. Some of the main categories of container types include the following:
General Haulage
This includes food products, electrical items, furniture, medical equipment, building supplies and agricultural products.
Hazardous Substances
Haulage companies transport hazardous substances such as chemicals, gases, flammable liquids, explosives, weapons, toxic and radioactive materials and fertilisers. Companies must obtain the necessary licences required by law to transport such dangerous materials and their staff must be trained to handle them appropriately. Specialised vehicles are also required to transport hazardous substances.
Machinery
This category covers anything from household equipment, such as lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners, to plant machinery, like excavators, forklifts and cranes. The haulage vehicles must be specially fitted to allow them to transport such equipment securely and without causing damage.
Vehicles
Haulage services are required in the car and motorbike industry to transport vehicles from manufacturing sites to showrooms.
Waste Disposal
Haulage vehicles are also used for the disposal of large quantities of waste and recyclable material. They are specially fitted with drainage facilities and containers that can collect such waste as well as dispose of it.
Package Delivery
Haulage vehicles are used for the express or next-day delivery of packages and parcels for companies.
Fragile Equipment
Container transport is also needed to move fragile or breakable goods such as PCs, laptops, flatscreen TVs and glass. The staff will be trained to handle such equipment and vehicles will be designed to transport it safely.
Livestock
Haulage companies often transport animals such as horses, pigs, sheep and cattle to farms, markets and abattoirs. Such vehicles are fitted with feeding and waste removal facilities.
If you are looking to hire the services of a container haulage company, one of the questions to ask them is which industries they cater to.
Is Haulage the Same as Freight?
Unlike haulage transport that only makes use of road and railway networks to transport goods, freight also uses shipping and aircraft as a mode of transportation. As container haulage is limited to land, the distances are usually shorter, whereas freight cargo, which is transported across land and water, allows goods to be delivered further.
The cost of transporting a shipping container will vary greatly depending on many factors such as the weight, distance and destination of the freight being transported and the delivery time required.
Due to the enormous number of shipping container sizes available, as well as the various modes of transport ranging from road to air, freight transport is an efficient method of transportation that allows goods to reach a greater number of destinations in a shorter time.
If you would like to discuss our container haulage services, feel free to get in touch today or call our experienced team on 01359 271882.