Brokers vs. Direct Carrier Hire in Heavy Haulage Transport

It is important to choose the right heavy haulage transport for your goods to ensure fast delivery, safe transit and reasonable fees. Hiring is also more favourable than purchasing heavy freight vehicles because it reduces the total operation costs for the business and safeguards the working capital. There are important factors that should be considered before engaging a haulage company (such as SC Heinrich & Co Pty Ltd). These include capability, insurance, reputation and the equipment available for handling heavy goods such as construction equipment. In addition, you will have to choose between engaging a transport broker and hiring a carrier directly. Here is a short comparison of these two options with regard to the important aspects of heavy haulage transport.

Transport Selection

It is important to determine your haulage options for your heavy goods depending on the specific requirements. For instance, you can choose open or enclosed transportation vehicles when shipping construction equipment depending on the weather, possible hazards and the vulnerability of the machine. The transport broker does not perform the shipping tasks; they resell the job to a carrier. This is an advantageous choice because brokers have pre-approved lists of carriers that you can use. You will have a wide range of shipping options with regard to vehicle types and haulage packages. When dealing with direct carrier hire, you will have to research and contact individual companies to find transportation options that match your requirements. This activity is time-consuming especially when you require specialty vehicle shipping services.

Costs

Direct carrier hire is beneficial in terms of the cumulative costs of heavy haulage transport. The elimination of the broker means that there will be no extra charges for the middleman services. Additionally, if you cancel the request for transportation prior to pick-up, most carriers will refund the deposit made on the order. Brokers will often attempt to get their clients lower rates than quoted officially. However, these are easily offset by their fee and even exceed the total when compared to direct hire. You will also be expected to pay a deposit when making the haulage order and this amount is generally non-refundable when you cancel the application.

Liability

It is crucial to understand who will be liable for your heavy freight when damaged during transit. If you hire an insured carrier directly, the transportation company will typically take responsibility for the loss. On the other hand, some brokers will have insurance while others will just have a bond. If the contract is ambiguous, the broker and carrier may deny liability causing you to incur extensive losses.