Forming Business Relationships With a Freight Exchange

Whether you’re an owner-driver or work for a larger haulage company, joining a freight exchange is not only an excellent way to maximise your efficiency and profits, but also an equally good way to expand your business network. Most online exchange platforms offer accredited memberships, simple communication channels, and feedback tools so you can make and keep those valuable industry contacts.

Accredited Members

When you’re deciding on an online exchange, take the time to find out more about the site’s accreditation process. A reputable site will ask all applicants to provide relevant documentation, such as copies of insurance certificates, operator licences, proof of address, or a certificate of incorporation. The documents will be inspected by the exchange’s administrative team and kept in the system as a record. You will be responsible for making sure all your documents are kept up to date. While it may sound like a tiresome process, remember that all your potential contacts on an online exchange platform will have to go through the same procedure – meaning you’ll only be communicating with bona fide drivers, haulage companies, and freight forwarders.

Exposure

The most immediate and obvious business benefit you can receive from a freight exchange is visibility. Advertising your load or vehicle online will instantly boost the audience you can reach. With load and vehicle boards updated in real time, online exchange platforms make it a lot easier to find delivery work and available vehicles, simply because you are reaching a bigger audience.

Industry Contacts

Once you’ve successfully registered with a freight exchange, you’ll have thousands of industry contacts at your fingertips. The exchange gives you the opportunity to work with a wide variety of industry professionals to trade delivery work, back loads and empty vehicles. Members who work well together may find themselves forming long-lasting business relationships that are profitable for both parties.

Member Feedback

After you have completed a job, a good freight exchange platform will give both parties the facility to leave feedback. To cultivate productive business relationships, it's valuable to leave detailed feedback and applaud work well done. You will be able to view ratings of all other members on the site, so you can rest assured that you’re working with accredited and capable subcontractors with a verifiable track record.  

Working through a freight exchange allows a community to come together to form a network so that individuals can find exactly what they're looking for. Members that fulfil certain requirements form a potential "match" and an online exchange platform can match people with similar goals to assist in forming long-lasting relationships to benefit both parties.