Online freight exchanges sees huge rise in activity in August and September

More and more transport operators recognise benefits of The Transport Exchange Group’s freight exchanges

Transport Exchange Group, the company that operates the busiest online freight exchanges available to the UK road transport industry, has seen a huge rise in activity in August and September.

The company, which runs the Courier Exchange and Haulage Exchange services, had the largest number of posted loads and confirmed bookings for one day in its nine-year history on September 17th.

In addition, bookings made through the exchanges were up by 13.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year. There was a whopping 74 per cent rise in haulage loads – loads suitable for vehicles of 17 tonnes or more – on Haulage Exchange in August, and in the same month the overall ‘goods to move’ postings were up by 12 per cent year on year.

Lyall Cresswell, Managing Director of the Transport Exchange Group, said that the continuing economic downturn had led to greater recognition of the benefits of freight exchanges.

He said: "We have seen a significant upsurge in activity on Courier Exchange and Haulage Exchange during the summer.

"As the recession continues to penalise operators struggling with high fixed costs, transport operators are increasingly recognising the many benefits our transport exchanges provide.

"Using our services, transport operators can work together and share the cost burden of rising fuel prices, congestion charges, tolls and complying with onerous legislation. Our solutions also help businesses reduce their carbon footprints and make their distribution greener. With the environment becoming increasingly important to more and more customers, this can provide them with a competitive advantage."

Using TEG’s exchanges, operators can post loads and available capacity, enabling them to find vehicles on which to move their goods, or find cargo to fill empty vehicles. TEG’s exchanges provide a seamless trading hub that enables member companies to do everything from book loads and confirm orders to approve invoices and make payments electronically.

The services enable member companies to virtually eradicate empty journeys and unprofitable backloads, and share the many costs of transporting goods.

TEG has seen double-digit increases in loads posted on their exchanges every month this year, and a major industry publication said that freight exchanges, such as those operated by TEG, could be the key to transport operators beating the recession.

The Transport Exchange Group, which celebrates a decade in business in 2010, has more than 2000 member companies who use the company’s secure, flexible, visible, real-time services every day to maximise the profitability of their supply chains.

As well as Courier Exchange, for the sameday courier and express freight industry, and Haulage Exchange, for loads of 7.5 tonnes and more, the Transport Exchange Group has a Regular Runs service, where operators can post their regular journeys enabling them to spot opportunities for collaboration within each other’s schedules.

In addition to the fundamental service offering, TEG has built a unique and sophisticated set of easy to use solutions to further increase the benefits of the exchange for members. These include providing electronic trading, from order confirmation to invoice approval and payment, an interactive map of loads and journeys available along a route, eliminating the need to scroll through lists, and a mobile solution which enables businesses to use the exchanges on the move.