Haulage

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What is Haulage?

Haulage refers to the transportation of goods by road or rail, forming a key link between production sites, distribution points, and end customers. It covers a wide range of movements, from standard freight to specialised or time-sensitive deliveries, supporting reliable cargo flow at scale across regions and countries.

Day-to-day supply chain performance is supported by haulage. By enabling distribution, last-mile reach, and time-sensitive replenishment. When managed well, it improves service reliability and cost control through efficient routing, capacity planning, and fewer empty miles.

Haulage performance is influenced by driver availability, regulatory requirements, and infrastructure conditions such as congestion and road quality. These factors can affect transit time, cost, and the ability to meet delivery windows.

Types of Haulage

  • General haulage: Non-perishable, non-hazardous goods that are packaged for transport.

  • Specialised haulage: Cargo such as liquids, chemicals, or oversized items requiring specific equipment and expertise.

  • Refrigerated haulage: Temperature-controlled transport for perishables such as food and pharmaceuticals.

  • Heavy haulage: Oversized or high-weight loads (for example, industrial machinery) that need specialised vehicles and permits.