Haulier
What is a haulier?
A road haulier, also known as a trucking company or a carrier, is a business or individual that transports goods by road using trucks or lorries. Hauliers play a vital role in the transportation industry, moving goods between locations such as warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, ports, and retail stores.
What are some of the largest road hauliers in the United States?
Some of the largest road hauliers (trucking companies) in the United States include:
- UPS Freight
- FedEx Freight
- XPO Logistics
- YRC Worldwide
- Schneider National
- JB Hunt Transport Services
- Old Dominion Freight Line
Some carriers provide FTL services while others offer LTL for smaller shipment volumes.
What are some major European road hauliers?
Several major European road hauliers (trucking companies) operate across the continent, providing freight transportation services within Europe and internationally. Some of the notable ones include:
- DHL Freight
- DB Schenker
- GEODIS
- XPO Logistics Europe
- Kuehne + Nagel
- Dachser
- Rhenus Logistics
There are many other hauliers providing road freight transport across the continent.
What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric or dimensional weight is used in the determination of pricing by road hauliers for LTL shipments. It serves as an estimated weight based on the volume of the goods being shipped. It is compared against the actual weight, and the greater value is used to determine the price of transport. It was developed to ensure lightweight goods occupying large volumes of space are charged accordingly.
How to calculate volumetric weight for road freight
- Measure: Measure the length, width, and height of the package in centimeters (cm).
- Calculate Volume: Multiply the length, width, and height measurements together to get the package's volume in cubic centimeters (cm³).
- Convert: Divide the volume by 5,000 (or the number provided by your carrier) to convert from cubic centimeters to kilograms (kg). This gives you the volumetric weight.
- Compare: Compare the volumetric weight with the actual weight of the package. The higher of the two is typically used to determine shipping costs.