Case Studies

Study of Freight Planning Processes across UK Road Haulage and Freight Forwarding Companies

The client was a leading European Internet-based freight exchange service provider. Following initial desk research to evaluate the size and structure of the UK freight industry and the relative importance of road haulage, the project turned its focus towards gathering detailed feedback from hauliers and freight forwarders. The main objective was to understand the various ways the different types of freight companies went about load planning and scheduling, and the potential or current role played by Internet freight exchanges.

Face-to-face interviews were conducted with Operations and Planning personnel within 20 companies representing a cross-section of the road haulage industry. Views about the need for/economics of back loads, new business sources, technology solutions and the usefulness of commercial freight exchanges were collected and presented, so that the client could make an informed decision about the future of its UK business.