One of the fundamental principles behind the success of the haulage industry, and which has helped position it as one of the most rapidly expanding sectors of business, is the fact that at any given point in time there will inevitably be an individual or company with goods to move. The boom of this industry was made on the back of simply offering an affordable, quick and easy way for people to move said loads without having to resort to their own means.

The fact that many of the loads presented by parties with goods to move are of considerable size has caused this term to be frequently connoted with large volumes of cargo. A layman or woman who thinks of a haulage load will inevitably envision cardboard boxes or furniture, since these do seem to be some of the most common types of goods to move in Western society. And while this is not always true – some cargo may be of slightly smaller size – it certainly is not inaccurate either, as the list of common types of loads listed below clearly demonstrates.

Furniture

As noted above, furniture is one of the most common types of cargo for a haulier or man-and-van operator. More common in office or house moves, this type of freight is usually large and cumbersome, requiring the large cargo hold of a lorry or van.

Shipments

Shipments – of whatever product – are by far the most common type of goods to move for corporations and commercial companies, as well as the bread and butter of the haulage industry. Many of these establishments even have partnerships with local hauliers or courier companies, and keep them on retainer for whenever they need freight hauled.

Produce

Produce is another very common type of cargo, especially in rural areas or for farmers who grow their own fruit and vegetables. However, in this case, the farmer will often be the one driving the goods to market, with haulage companies usually out of the picture.

Animals

Animal breeders and traders are another demographic in frequent need of a haulier. Whether it is cattle being taken to the slaughterhouse, horses to a race, or even a wild animal being moved from one zoo to another, hauliers sometimes find themselves with a living organism in the back of their lorry. However, as with produce, this type of service is most commonly undertaken by the owners of the animals or institutions themselves, through their internal transportation systems.

There are, of course, many other types of loads hauliers come across in the course of their everyday work. These are, however, by far the most common among them.