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How to reduce empty Miles in UK Haulage and find backloads faster

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:41 GMT

A problem many carriers and hauliers will be familiar with is empty miles. When you deliver your goods to a destination, your vehicle must go back to its original destination empty. Empty miles mean wasted fuel, higher carbon emissions, and tighter margins.

We discuss how you can avoid empty runs in road freight logistics and improve your business. TIMOCOM can help to avoid empty runs by helping carriers and hauliers find truck loads through the TIMOCOM Road Freight Marketplace.

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What are empty miles in trucking?

Empty runs, empty miles or dead hauling are trips by atransport vehicle without any freight loaded. In the UK from 2022 to 2024, the overallempty running rates were 30%, meaning one in three kilometres travelled by UK trucks involved an empty vehicle.

What are backloads?

Backloads or return loads mean that when the goods (load) are delivered at their destination, new freight is now loaded, which is returned to the place of departure. HGV backloads prevent logistics companies from doing empty runs. Searching for backloads in the UK is one of the most common ways hauliers optimise fleet utilisation.

How to calculate empty miles?

You may not realise how much empty miles or dead miles are eating into your margins, so calculating any empty miles can help you optimise your operations. You probably have software that tells you how far you have travelled without freight. Once you know this figure, subtract the load miles from the total miles travelled. You must also include the ‘hidden costs’ such as fuel, labour, and maintenance.

The resulting figure is how many empty miles you are travelling. When you do this for each vehicle, the cost to your business could be high.

These empty vehicles are deducting from your revenue, but they can be avoided.

How empty runs impact your logistics business

By undertaking empty runs, you are increasing your costs, along with other causing other issues for your business.

High operating costs

When your fleet undertakes an empty run, it means there is no revenue being earned from that trip, but you still have those costs. The cost of labour, the cost of wear and tear on vehicles, and fuel costs.

With rising fuel costs due to the current disruption, this is an even bigger problem than before. There has been an increase of 44% in diesel prices from oil volatility, with one Welshhaulage operator reporting it’s adding £64,000 a week to its fuel bill.

In another case,empty running accounted for up to £5,800 with driver costs and up to £5,700 per unit in certain scenarios.

With this cost significantly impacting hauliers, empty mileage will have an even bigger impact on margins than previously.

Environmental impact of empty runs

The transport sector and road freight contribute significantly to carbon emissions. There is increasing pressure and legislation on the logistics sector toreduce their emissions by around 20% by 2030. Empty runs add to carbon emissions because vehicles are still burning fuel, producing almost the same emissions as a fully loaded vehicle, but without any economic value. Empty runs also mean the total emissions are spread across fewer delivered goods.

Not only do empty runs raise your carbon emissions, but they can also damage your reputation and be off-putting to investors.

Capacity shortages

Empty runs mean the amount of usable transport capacity in the system is reduced. If a vehicle is travelling without backloads, it creates an artificial shortage of available capacity. That vehicle is still unavailable for other jobs, decreasing the total number of deliveries, and driver hours are being used inefficiently.

When flexibility is key to running efficiently, empty runs reduce this because when demand spikes, fleets are unavailable.

How to avoid empty runs

There are several solutions toreducing empty miles and making your operation more cost-effective and more resilient to economic shocks.

Finding backloads is the best way for reducingempty running by trucks, but there are other strategies for reducing empty miles in trucking operations.

Find backloads on a freight exchange

By finding backload solutions, you are ensuring you are utilising all the space you have to maximise profits. A report found that by trimming 1% ofempty miles from one long haul truck, you could save over £450 in fuel. By collaborative shipping with other businesses, consolidating smaller shipments through Less Than Truckload (LTL), and building relationships with vetted partners, you can find backloads, which gives you lower costs per mile.

Finding partners on a haulage exchange is the best choice because partners are vetted. With TIMOCOM’s freight exchange, you can find UK backloads, either partial or complete loads or offer your vehicle space. This helps you to build relationships and expand your market. It also helps with driver retention as they prefer to have optimised schedules.

Route optimisation

Byoptimising routes, it means you can budget accordingly and find a backload that matches your route.

You can incorporate multistep routing, which means your vehicle is consistently filled with cargo along the route to minimise empty runs.

Route optimisation helps in many ways, including understanding what is happening in real-time, so if there are delays, you can react quickly. It helps you keep costs down, and the transparency also helps to improve customer service because you can ensure faster turnaround times and provide a reliable service.

Forecasting

Using data to optimise your processes can significantly improve your efficiency. By using data to forecast freight demand, you can ensure you are making the most of that demand and also reduce empty running costs.

Sustainability

By reducing empty runs, you will improve your sustainability by reducing carbon emissions. It will help you comply with legislation and make you more attractive to investors. Implementing sustainability also helps to improve your reputation, as consumers are increasingly choosing companies that are mindful of this.

Communication

Good communication is essential to avoiding empty runs and finding backloads. Communicating with partners to find the right backloads when you need them will help to optimise your operations.

How TIMOCOM can help you find backloads

TIMOCOM’s freight exchange supports you in finding vetted partners throughout Europe and the UK. You can find available loads for vans or offer vehicle space to more than 58,000 verified companies. An Italian start-up company GreenRouter, showed that by using TIMOCOM,vehicle utilisation rates increased by 30% and saw a 15% profit increase by avoiding empty runs.

Vetted partners

Social media is often used to find backloads but without any regulation or security, this could cause a lot of problems. If you are trying to find return loads on Facebook, how do you know if these people or companies are legit? With TIMOCOM, you can be sure the companies you deal with are above board because they are vetted beforehand. TIMOCOM also supports security when using the Marketplace by using a two-factor authentication and legally binding transport orders. For example, after you have negotiated and selected your preferred partner, you can confirm the transaction directly in the TIMOCOM Marketplace, either via a Deal or via a legally binding Transport Order. This means that confirmation happens without detours via email, and you are better protected against fraud and misunderstandings.

Communication

We also recommend you to use TIMOCOM’s Messenger to ensure secure and efficient communication with other companies on the TIMOCOM Road Freight Marketplace. TIMOCOM Messenger protects all messages and data in accordance with the TIMOCOM Marketplace standards and thus promotes confidentiality and security. You can control who has access to the communication and you can be sure that your contact has a registered TIMOCOM account.

Empty runs can significantly impact your business, so by joining TIMOCOM's network, you can reduce these and maximise your revenue. If you want to find backloads and turn your unused capacity into profit, then start testing the Marketplace today.

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New UK visitor visa rules for hauliers and HGV drivers

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:40 GMT

If you are an HGV driver or transport company operating cross-border road freight into the UK, new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rules will apply from 2026. Understanding these UK ETA requirements is essential to avoid refused entry, shipment delays and operational disruption. From February 2026, most non-UK and non-Irish HGV drivers travelling to the UK will need a valid ETA before boarding transport. Logistics managers, freight forwarders and carriers must ensure full compliance with these new UK immigration rules to maintain reliable operations.

Can EU HGV Drivers work in the UK with an ETA?

A newElectronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required for visitors to the UK from February 2026. The new mandatory ETA has been implemented to provide a more streamlined, digital immigration system for those travelling through the UK border. Its aim is to be quicker and more secure, including for HGV drivers crossing into the UK.

What is the UK ETA for HGV Drivers?

The UK ETA is a digital travel authorisation linked to a driver’s passport. It allows travel to the UK but does not guarantee entry and is not a work visa. Border authorities still decide whether a driver can enter the UK, even if an ETA has been approved. Most HGV drivers travelling from visa-free countries will require an ETA unless they qualify for an exemption.

UK Work Visa Requirements for HGV Drivers

The ETA becomes mandatory from 25 February 2026 for non-UK and non-Irish nationals travelling from visa-exempt countries, including EU HGV drivers. The ETA is linked to a specific passport, meaning drivers must travel with the same valid passport used during the application process.

What activities are allowed under a UK Visitor Visa (ETA)?

HGV drivers entering the UK under an ETA are permitted to transport goods between the UK and other countries.

Allowed activities include:

Delivering goods to or from the UK
Attending business meetings or training
Negotiating or signing contracts

However, drivers are not allowed to work directly for a UK employer or undertake paid employment within the UK. The ETA is not a lorry driver work visa.

UK Immigration Rules for Drivers and ETA Restrictions

Drivers without a valid ETA will not be allowed to board transport to the UK and may be refused entry at the border. In addition to ETA compliance, drivers must:

Hold a valid driving licence
Comply with UK drivers’ hours regulations
Carry correct identification and documentation

Who does not need a UK ETA?

The following individuals are exempt from ETA requirements:

British and Irish citizens (including dual nationals)
Individuals with an existing UK visa (e.g. Skilled Worker visa)
Travellers entering the UK from the Common Travel Area (Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man)

How HGV Drivers Apply for a UK ETA

Applying for a UK ETA is a digital process via the official UK ETA app or website. According to the UK Home Office, most applications are processed within minutes, but drivers should apply at least three working days before travel.

To apply, drivers must:

Pay the application fee
Provide passport and contact details
Upload a photo
Answer security and suitability questions

How much does a UK ETA Cost?

The current cost of a UK ETA is £16.

It allows:

Multiple entries into the UK
Stays of up to six months per visit
Validity for up to two years or until the passport expires

The UK government has indicated a potential increase to £20, although no date has been confirmed.

Can EU HGV Drivers work in the UK?

EU HGV drivers can continue transporting goods into and out of the UK with an ETA. However, they cannot undertake paid employment for a UK-based company.

Are there changes for UK Drivers travelling to the EU?

There are currently no major visa changes for UK HGV drivers travelling to the EU.

However, drivers must:

Have at least six months validity on their passport
Comply with the 90/180-day rule for short stays
Check whether an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required in certain countries

What happens if a Driver does not have a valid ETA?

Non-compliance with ETA requirements can result in:

Refused boarding at ports or terminals
Entry refusal by UK Border Force
Shipment delays and missed delivery slots
Contractual penalties and financial losses

Even small administrative errors can lead to operational disruption.

ETA vs skilled worker Visa: what is the difference?

A Skilled Worker visa allows individuals to live and work in the UK for an approved employer. The ETA only allows short-term business visits and transport-related activities. HGV drivers are generally not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for standard freight operations.

Operational risks for Transport Companies

Failure to comply with UK ETA rules can have direct operational and financial consequences, including:

Delayed shipments
Driver downtime
Customer dissatisfaction
Reputational damage
Increased administrative workload

As customer expectations for reliability continue to rise, compliance becomes a key operational requirement.

How Transport Companies can prepare for ETA Compliance

To minimise risks, logistics companies should:

1. Update internal travel policies

Include ETA requirements as a standard part of driver planning processes.

2. Monitor driver documentation

Track passport validity and ensure drivers carry the correct documents at all times.

3. Plan ETA applications in advance

Apply at least three days before travel to avoid last-minute issues.

4. Train drivers and staff

Ensure all stakeholders understand ETA rules and compliance requirements.

5. Use digital tools for visibility

Implement systems that track driver status, documentation and routes.

How TIMOCOM supports compliance and operational efficiency

Managing cross-border compliance is becoming increasingly complex for logistics companies. Digital platforms like TIMOCOM help reduce this complexity by improving visibility, communication and planning with your own selected companies on the Marketplace.

With TIMOCOM, you can:

Communicate securely via TIMOCOM Messenger and reduce fraud risks
Track shipments in real time using Live Shipment Tracking
Plan routes and calculate costs while factoring in restrictions and documentation requirements
Work with verified partners across mainland Europe and UK to reduce compliance exposure

This helps you maintain operational control, avoid delays and ensure smoother cross-border transport.

Start optimising your cross-border transport operations

Stay compliant with UK ETA requirements and improve your logistics efficiency with TIMOCOM. Get your free trial of TIMOCOM today – it takes just two steps and comes with no obligation.

Start finding loads or transport on TIMOCOM

Logistics Industry Trends UK 2026 | Transport & Supply Chain Outlook

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:39 GMT

Previously, we discussed what this year would bring and gave our 9 predictions for the transport industry in 2025. We predicted skilled drivers and dispatchers would continue to remain in short supply. This was correct with a decline of1.9% HGV drivers in the UK compared to 2024.

As we predicted, there arefewer hauliers in the UK in 2025, with a decrease of 4%. There were also rising energy costs, more part loads, and closer collaborations to avoid bottlenecks. We predicted limited use of electric and hydrogen lorries, but there was an increase in zero-emission HGVs. This was due to the number of models available on the market and due to government-backed projects and funding for infrastructure development, such as the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID).

There was no significant increase in single wagon or group wagon traffic by rail, and there was an issue with cybercrime as we predicted.

Why Logistics Industry Trends in the UK matter in 2026

From stricter sustainability requirements and advances in artificial intelligence to growing cybersecurity risks and compliance obligations, logistics trends directly influence how efficiently goods are planned, transported and delivered across the UK and Mainland Europe. Businesses that anticipate these developments early can better control costs, reduce operational risks and respond more flexibly to market fluctuations.

This overview highlights the most relevant logistics industry trends in the UK for 2026 and explains why proactive preparation will be a key success factor for logistics and transport companies in the year ahead.

1.Sustainable logistics

With increasing legislation around sustainability, this area will continue to be a major influence in 2026. Legislation that will impact the logistics sector includes the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which, from 2026, will not only cover carbon emissions but also other greenhouse gases. This means shipping companies will be required to surrender allowances for 100% of their verified carbon emissions on journeys between EU/EEA ports. Other legislation includes the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), making carbon-intensive materials more expensive.

There will also be stricter regulations on CO2 emissions for new heavy goods vehicles, with the intention for zero-emission HGVs. Under the EU’sAlternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), high power stations will be installed every 60 – 100 km along the main trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

Circularity and reverse logistics will become more important with supply chains expected to handle the flow of used or unwanted materials back from consumers to producers. Sustainable logistics is not just about compliance but about enhancing reputation with customers and being cost-efficient.

How to navigate sustainability in logistics:

Carbon-led procurement
Collaborate with “green partners”
Diversify supply chains
Invest in electric or alternative fuel vehicles
Use real-time tracking

2.AI in logistics and supply chains

It’s no surprise that AI will continue to shape technology trends in logistics. With 38% oflogistics companies using AI, this will only increase to help with decision-making and optimising processes. With ongoing staff shortages, particularly with truck drivers, port staff, and warehousing, AI will become increasingly useful in mitigating these challenges to continue doing business with the resources you have.

Ruth Waring, a transport and compliance consultant and founder ofWomen in Logistics UK, says, “The increasing influence of AI will affect all aspects of operations and include the use of AI for safety in warehouse environments, such as walking in an FLT area. There will also be AI advances in the way orders are processed and picked with greater emphasis on goods being moved as close as possible to their final destination. This will mean more small urban warehouses with more local deliveries done by electric vehicles.”

From real-time tracking to optimise routes, to generating quotes faster to adjust dynamically based on risk, and more advanced AI such as, digital twins and next-gen shipping, AI will impact every area of logistics.

How to navigate AI in logistics:

Route planning
Platforms with TMS or ERP integration
Budget planning and can get quotes faster to optimise profit margins

3.Elastic logistics

Elastic logistics is creating a flexible supply chain strategy to allow you to quickly scale up or down as needed. This means you can predict supply and demand and ensure smarter resource allocation, optimise your workforce, and meet customer expectations.

With trade volatility, tariffs and disruption to traditional shipping lanes, such as the Red Sea, logistics companies need to become more flexible. This can be done through flexible workflows, last-mile delivery, having a modular supply chain, and nearshoring to move production closer to end markets.

How to navigate elastic logistics:

Improve communication through platforms like TIMOCOM’s Messenger
Build relationships through freight exchanges

4.Cybersecurity in logistics

Cybersecurity remains one of the fastest-growing risks in European road freight transport. According to the Transport Asset Protection Association (TAPA), 49,366 criminal attacks on supply chains were recorded over a period of 273 days in 2023. For logistics companies, the most common risks include cargo theft, vehicle hijacking, lack of transparent communication, and fraud involving fake carriers or manipulated transport listings. As logistics processes become increasingly digital and platform-based, cyber risks are no longer limited to IT systems alone. They directly affect partner selection, order allocation and daily communication. For this reason, cybersecurity in logistics must focus not only on technical protection, but also on trust, transparency and verified collaboration within logistics networks.

To reduce these risks, companies should work with secure digital platforms that combine technical safeguards with organisational checks. This includes encrypted data transmission, two-factor authentication and clearly defined access rights. In addition, identity verification and continuous fraud monitoring play a crucial role in preventing unauthorised access and fraudulent behaviour.

Learn more about TIMOCOM's safety measures

How to navigate cybersecurity in logistics:

Improve communication
Ensure vetted partners
Implement secure systems
Real-time tracking

5.Logistics compliance

With increasingly complex compliance, it is important to ensure your company avoids unnecessary stress and consequences for not meeting regulations. It’s essential to work with partners and carry out due diligence on carriers, hauliers and overseas agents to ensure compliance.

Platforms like TIMOCOM’s freight marketplace vet partners thoroughly to take this pressure of you. You can also invest inbonded warehouses to create a controlled customs environment and clear audit trails can help ease the burden of compliance.

How to navigate logistics compliance:

Bonded warehouses
Freight marketplace

How TIMOCOM can help your logistics business

TIMOCOM supports your logistics business with digital solutions that improve efficiency, transparency and planning reliability across European road freight transport. With possibilities such as the Road Freight Marketplace, Routes & Costs, secure partner communication and Live Shipment Tracking, TIMOCOM helps freight forwarders and carriers optimise daily operations and reduce avoidable costs. With access to over 55,000 vetted business partners across Europe, transport orders can be assigned in as little as 20 seconds, all within a secure and trusted platform.

Freight marketplace

The freight exchange on the TIMOCOM Marketplace allows you to find and assign transport orders quickly. With up to 1 million vehicle or freight offers daily, around 82% of our customers assign freight within 15 minutes. TIMOCOM supports your business with freight management by providing features such as, TIMOCOM AI. You can automatically generate a freight offer based on the data from PDF documents, screenshots or e-mail texts within already 20 seconds!

Logistics Routes & Costs planner

With TIMOCOM Routes & Costs, customers can easily calculate routes and journey costs for individual vehicles – a real benefit for freight forwarders, carriers and their clients. Customers can determine the optimal route directly from a freight offer, transport order or tender. Both journey-related and ancillary costs are calculated transparently, enabling more accurate cost estimates and better pricing decisions.

Key benefits of Routes & Costs include:

Automatic consideration of truck restrictions and driving bans
Clear display of toll roads and toll costs
Precise route and cost calculation based on individual cost rates
Improved cost transparency for better planning and budgeting

This allows customers to plan routes more precisely, optimise costs and increase reliability, even on complex international routes.

Messenger

TIMOCOM Messenger allows fast, secure and efficient communication between partners to reduce waiting times, protect all data and allows you to verify email addresses to avoid security risks.

We recommend you to get your free trial of TIMOCOM to test the Road Freight Marketplace for your company. Or sign up for our newsletter for the latest news in logistics.

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Or sign up for our newsletter for the latest news in road freight and logistics.

How to improve Cargo Security in Road Freight

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:37 GMT

ICS2 Regulations explained: What Road Freight Operators need to know

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:36 GMT

Supply Chain Risk Management in the UK: Digitalisation, Cyber risks and Resilience

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:34 GMT

Here’s how: methods and approaches for risk management

Transparency, flexibility, cyber resilienc are specific measures companies can take to secure their supply chains, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and respond to digital threats.

How to implement AI in your logistics business

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:29 GMT

Studies vary, with one citing only 25% of transport and logistics firms across the US, UK, and Germany appear to be using AI technologies, but another states 62% of people who work in the logistics industry and regularly handle information use AI. Whatever the real statistic is, AI in freight forwarding is here to stay and will increasingly be used in logistics. And there are many benefits for the logistics sector with studies showing thatAI-driven approaches can create significant cost savings, reduce waste, and improve competitiveness.

We discuss how AI in logistics and the supply chain could reduce your costs by up to 20% along with other benefits. TIMOCOM’s AI-driven freight entry can help you reduce costs by uploading 30 freight offers in under 20 seconds at the same time.

Get your free trial of TIMOCOM today and start working directly with TIMOCOM AI. You only have to register your company to get started.

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What is AI in logistics?

AI in logistics is simply a way of using technology to enhance your business through optimizing processes.

In logistics, this can also be referred to asLogistics 4.0. This means using the latest technology to create a more efficient and transparent logistics network. This includes AI along with other technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Logistics 5.0 is emerging as the next stage in the evolution of the logistics industry, which aims to create a more responsive, resilient, and environmentally conscious approach to logistics.

How logistics companies use AI to optimise workflows

There are many benefits to usingAI in freight services, all of which can help optimise your processes for a more profitable business. These include:

Route optimisation

AI can analyse lots of data in real-time, which studies show can substantially improve delivery performance, reducetotal travel distance, fuel consumption, co2 emissions, and improve route efficiency.Improve logistics forecasting with AI

AI can run lots of different scenarios and analyse which is the most likely and most advantageous according to your needs. It can more accurately forecast demand to reduce overstocking or understocking, which means less money is wasted on redundant inventory.

Inventory management

With AI, inventory management can be continually controlled and analysed. This can help with better order accuracy (as it reduces human error), overstock optimisation, and fulfilment efficiency.

By implementingautomated handling processes, it can also reduce loading and unloading times by 30%, streamline delivery operations, and increase overall productivity.

Supply chain automation

You can integrate TIMOCOM into your system, your customers can use it without leaving their TMS/ERP system, which saves time, avoids duplicate entries and reduces costs. TIMOCOM offers in total 5 APIs. For example, with the Freight Exchange Offer API, you can create freight offers in your logistics software and send them from there to the TIMOCOM Freight Exchange.

Real-time tracking

With real-time tracking, you can react quickly to situations and offer customers better transparency. TIMOCOM Live Shipment Tracking calculates the ETA and gives automatic notifications to reduce the time spent communicating with business partners. You can get a live demo of this product for free.

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Risk management and planning

Plan your time and costs better with AI. Whether you have one vehicle or a fleet, you can predict when they will need maintenance and ensure you have scheduled this without losing money.

Dynamic pricing

In a turbulent market, it’s important to react quickly and ensure your prices reflect what’s going on externally. Investing in AI or tech can help you price based on real-time conditions and demand.

Better service for logistics customers

With automated processes it gives staff more time to deal with customers. There are many ways AI can help improve customer service, such as transparency with real-time tracking and chatbots to provide answers immediately. You can also ensure returns are handled quickly and completed automatically, and you can let customers know when their products will arrive for enhanced customer service.

Customers also responded positively to AI, with customers oflast-mile logistics services, positively evaluating AI, reporting they liked the efficiency, helpfulness, empathy, speed of action, and service quality. With AI-optimised processes, studies found it improved delivery time reliability, which also helps customer satisfaction as consumers are increasingly demanding.

Staff management

Staff management can be handled better when you can reduce the amount of manual or repetitive work that needs to be undertaken. With AI automating processes, staff can focus on areas that need their skills and attention most.

Whenadvanced analytics provided actions to improve retention and talent development for employees, it helped reduce costs by up to 20%.

And since there are continuedstaff shortages, this is a great help in overcoming that obstacle.

Sustainability

AI can help meet your sustainability goals by helping with route planning to reduce emissions, optimizing processes, and reducing waste through more efficient practices.

Route optimization with AI, alone, showed a 25-30% gain inenvironmental sustainability and operational precision.

With sustainability an important issue for consumers and investors, businesses need to show they are embedding sustainability into their business model.

Challenges to AI adoption in logistics

While there are many benefits to using AI or new technologies, there are considerations before implementing any new process in your business.

Cost to implement AI in logistics

AI or new technologies can be expensive, and often, cash flow is a problem for logistics businesses. However, there are options to help with this, such as grants or cloud-based services that are subscription-based.

Training staff on AI in logistics

People can be resistant to change initially, and AI is no exception. There are those who will embrace it, but there will be those who think it may lead to job losses. Training staff in how AI can be used to enhance their work and how to use it properly is important to get them on board.

AI or other tools are only as good as the people using them, so the more your staff are confident and knowledgeable using AI, the more likely it will help to optimize processes.

Integration of AI in logistics systems

You probably have many different systems, and another one is going to make things more complicated. However, AI can usually integrate with whatever system you are using.

Privacy and security

As a business, you need to ensure you are compliant with GDPR and any other legislation, which can change relatively quickly and across various locations. Ensuring you have privacy and security processes in place can reduce the risk of any problems.

TIMOCOM vets all companies using their platform, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with companies that are not reliable.

Should you adopt AI in your logistics business?

The future is AI. If you don’t get on board now, you will be behind competitors. AI can enhance your processes and make your business more efficient and more profitable.

How TIMOCOM can help streamline your operations

TIMOCOM AI helps you automatically upload transport requests to the freight exchange and create freight offers with all your specifications in less than 20 seconds. And with TIMOCOM’s Golden Deal, when you assign at least three complete freight orders via the TIMOCOM Marketplace, you will automatically be entered into a prize draw. Just for doing your usual daily work!

The TIMOCOM Road Freight Marketplace also offers route planning, real-time tracking, and lots of other services to help you optimize your processes. With over 55,000 potential business partners across mainland Europe and the UK, it’s easy to streamline your business with TIMOCOM. We recommend you to speak to one of our experts to explore more opportunities for your business.

Optimise transport costs: Here's how to do it

Paula Bongers — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:21 GMT

How TIMOCOM Helps Transport recyclable Materials efficiently

Tram Trinh Thanh — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:18 GMT

If your business produces waste or recyclables, you must ensure you are transporting recycling materials properly. There are various challenges with transporting waste, including ensuring legal obligations are met, along with sustainability issues, and finding a reliable partner to transport your waste.

A freight exchange can help you find vetted and trusted partners to ensure your waste is transported properly and connect you with reliable waste transport services.

TIMOCOM’s Road Freight Marketplace helps to streamline your recycling logistics. We ensure flexibility with on-demand and reliable transport partners. Our freight exchange also helps you route plan to reduce your carbon emissions and achieve your sustainability goals.

It takes 2 minutes to register forTIMOCOM, and you can start using it today to provide waste management solutions for your business. Get your free trial here.

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Challenges faced when finding waste transportation

There are many challenges to consider when disposing of business waste.

Waste and recycling regulations

While you may outsource to waste transportation companies, you still need to understand your responsibilities when it comes to disposing of your waste or recycling.Waste and recycling transport is subject to local, national and even cross-border regulations.

Your obligations include:

Reducing, reusing, recycling or recovering waste where possible
You must sort and store your waste safely and securely. Some waste logistics partners will provide storage containers for you or lease them to you.
You will need to ensure the company you choose to transport your waste has a waste carriers’ licence and is certified to handle the specific types of waste you are disposing of.
The waste sites that receive your waste or recyclables must have an environmental permit or be registered for waste exemptions. You can check this on the public register through theEnvironment Agency.
As a producer of the waste, you need to have awaste transfer note. This is an annual document which your business needs to fill in that gives the waste transportation provider permission to collect your waste.
If you are getting rid of hazardous waste, you must have a consignment note completed correctly and retained, and you must store it securely in suitable containers and label them with the type of waste they contain.

If you do not meet your commercial waste obligations, then you can suffer damage to your reputation, fines or legal action. With TIMOCOM’s freight exchange, our partners are vetted to ensure you connect with reliable partners. This saves you the time and stress of having to find reliable waste and recyclable transport providers.

Sustainability

More businesses are increasingly under pressure to be sustainable. This is due to increasing legislation as well as investors and consumers putting pressure on businesses to be environmentally friendly.

Waste is a great opportunity to reduce costs and be sustainable. Simply educating staff on the issue can help reduce waste in the first place. You can also pair up with other businesses that can use your waste in their business, which creates circular economy logistics.

Ensuring you find a waste transport provider that understands these values and helps you to meet your sustainability objectives is important. Issues like inefficient route planning can lead to more carbon emission,s or illegal dumping can damage your reputation. TIMOCOM provides route planning to ensure transportation companies optimise their routes to be more sustainable.

Reliable waste transport solutions

You need a trusted waste transport provider that can transport your waste materials properly.

Groningen, a specialist inpaper recycling, had four or five transport companies that they used to pass the loads further to others. Then Groningen started using TIMOCOM.

They can easily find another truck when their existing partners postpone deliveries of their products. Using TIMOCOM, they can find good truckers to help with loads their main transport partners couldn’t cover, and they can find them within an hour. This meant they could be more flexible and provide a better and quicker service to their customers.

Type of waste transport required

The type of waste you need to be transported will dictate the type of vehicle you need. You need to ensure the right vehicle type is selected, otherwise there could be contamination issues or waste loads rejected at recycling facilities. However, your waste transport provider will be able to advise you of the type of vehicle you will need.

Different types of waste require specific vehicles. For example:

Walking floor trailers: ideal for plastics, paper, light recyclables
Tipper trucks: suitable for rubble, metal, soil
Curtain side trailers: best for sorted palletised recyclables
Skip lorries: small-scale or frequent waste collection
RoRo vehicles: large-volume industrial waste

The vehicle needed also depends on volume, weight, and your location. TIMOCOM’s partners can advise you on the best options. Start your free trial to find out more. You can test our freight exchange without any obligations.

Walking floor trailers

Most walking floor transport is suitable for bulk and light recyclables like paper, compost and light construction waste. The walking floor trailers have a moving floor conveyor that moves the material out the back without the trailer needing to tip.

Rear loader

Most general waste collection vehicles are rear loaders. The bins are loaded and lifted at the rear of the vehicle and are tipped up into the hopper.

Tipper trucks

These vehicles are best for heavy waste such as rubble, soil, and metal. They have a hydraulic ram that lifts the bed to tip the material out.

Skip lorries

For general waste or small-scale recycling, these are useful for collecting skips and have a hydraulic arm to lift and transport the skips or large waste containers.

Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vehicles

These are best for high volume waste products of industrial waste, large demolition projects or bulk transport recycling. They are larger than ski lorries and handle bigger containers that are rolled on and off the back of the truck.

Curtain side trailers

These vehicles are useful for palletised recyclable materials and have side curtains that can be drawn back for easy loading and unloading.

How TIMOCOM can connect you with transport partners

TIMOCOM’s Road Freight Marketplace means you can build relationships with vetted and trusted partners all over Europe and the UK and ensure your transport of your waste properly. Start building up your waste transport network.

How to register and test TIMOCOM

It’seasy to register. It takes 2 minutes and there are 2 steps.

Firstly, you fill in your company registration details and a contact person.
Then we check your company data.

Your free trial begins.

How to post loads

To post a load, you simply include relevant information such as the weight, date of pickup, required vehicle, location, and other details. Once you publish this, anyone on the platform can send you their offer.

To search for loads, you simply search for suitable freight. You can use filters to quickly find the right transport. When you see one that is of interest, you can submit a quote to enable efficient contact.

You can also build relationships by using the TIMOCOM closed freight exchange to speed up your processes. This enables you to show offers to only your trusted group of transport partners.

How to connect with transport partners

All TIMOCOM members undergo a security check, which ensures any transport partners on our platform are trusted and vetted. You can useTIMOCOM’s messenger, a communication channel on the freight marketplace, to communicate with partners. It is fast and secure and allows you to directly reach the other business.

How TIMOCOM can help with waste transportation

TIMOCOM’s freight exchange has 55,000 potential business partners across Europe and the UK. You can post your loads on waste or recycling materials in just 20 seconds with TIMOCOM AI, increase efficiency, and ensure you meet relevant regulations. With this option, you can create automatic freight offers via file formats such as JPG, PNG, WebP, PDF and Excel. You can also copy and paste text or screenshots into the input field. This saves a lot of time in finding suitable transport partners such as, freight forwarders and hauliers. Are you interested in learning more about TIMOCOM? We recommend you to follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about how we have helped other companies succeed with transportation management.

Agile logistics processes of Krämer Bau GmbH

Benedikt Stasch — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:19:33 GMT

About Krämer Bau GmbH

Krämer Bau GmbH offers the entire spectrum of services when it comes to civil engineering and demolition. In addition to its core expertise in earthworks, cable construction, sewer construction, road construction and industrial construction, Krämer Bau specialises in the systematic dismantling of building complexes and wind turbines. With more than 120 employees, the family-run company from the Eifel region works on numerous projects for its customers throughout Germany.

Keeping the construction site moving: Logistics requires flexibility

“Change of plan!” Especially in logistics, where every cog has to mesh seamlessly with the others, these three words are sure to send shivers down the spine of anyone in charge – especially when time is short. Bernd Rehles, a graduate in industrial economics who works as a technical purchaser responsible for logistics processes at Krämer Bau GmbH, is also familiar with the fast pace of logistics. “There are always new challenges,” he says about logistics, which has become his main area of responsibility during his 32 years with the company.

Construction site delivery in particular is a fast-moving business. As a civil engineering and demolition company, Krämer Bau GmbH has to adhere to tight schedules. Whether pipes, container systems, construction fences or 40-tonne excavators – everything has to be on site on time to keep the construction site from coming to a standstill. Storage is also an issue, as there is usually only limited space available on construction sites, meaning prompt collection is required. Unforeseeable events such as weather conditions, delivery difficulties, traffic problems or authorisations ultimately result in a change of plan.

According to Bernd Rehles, “Sudden changes can occur on construction sites. Tools and machines may have to be organised or removed again, or one or two Euro pallets of construction fencing may need to be delivered to cordon off a demolition site, all within the space of a day.”

Krämer Bau GmbH faces yet another challenge – but this time for positive reasons: it has experienced major growth in recent years. The “Repowering of wind turbines” business segment was developed and has expanded across Germany. Bernd Rehles’s colleagues are responsible for setting up the transport infrastructure and demolition work as part of projects in which old wind turbines are replaced with modern ones. More and more journeys beyond the region were pushing the company’s own fleet to its limits and significantly increasing the time required for external transport.

As time went on, it became more difficult to cover all transport operations with the company’s own fleet – and the transport partners from the surrounding area were no longer sufficient either.

Responding to the fast pace of logistics with agile processes

For a year now, the hassle of having to spend a long time searching for transport partners available at short notice has been a thing of the past for Krämer Bau GmbH. So much so that Bernd Rehles says: “Sometimes I wonder how we ever managed before!” Since February 2023, he has been using the TIMOCOM Marketplace to meet logistical challenges.

TIMOCOM has become an integral part of his day-to-day work. Transportation of demolition vehicles, barriers, fences, pipes – everything is handled via the freight exchange in the marketplace. Only the specialised heavy-duty transportation of construction site vehicles weighing more than 40 tonnes is unsuitable for the marketplace due to the high requirements.

He is happy to support his contractors with his experience as a lorry driver: “Some construction sites that are somewhat off the beaten track are not easy to find. I research the conditions and coordinates in advance to ensure the transport runs smoothly and the driver can manage.”

“The first time I used TIMOCOM to find a transport company for a job, I had 100 calls and 70 emails within an hour – I was amazed at how quickly it worked,” says Bernd Rehles. He now prefers to use digital communication: “It keeps me more organised and I get on very well with it.”

Agile logistics processes save both time and money

All in all, Bernd Rehles sees the TIMOCOM Marketplace as the answer to the fast-paced construction site business. The company has successfully met the challenges and become more agile. “The cost savings, the time savings and the strong transport network,” are what he considers to be the most important advantages. For him, logistics is not a game of chance, because “if you do it well, there are only winners!”

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