Uber for livestock? Auction website adds haulage feature

Farmers using the online marketplace SellMyLivestock can now use the site to put out an online tender for the haulage of purchased livestock.

The company has announced a partnership with transport directory Haulage Exchange which will allow dozens of firms to bid for business without the farmer needing to pick up the phone.

The venture, officially titled SellMyLivestock Haulage but dubbed Moober by staff, will allow farmers to request and track the pick-up of livestock bought through the SellMyLivestock website.

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Following a purchase, buyers will be given the option to request a quote for pick-up or delivery within a time window and hauliers will then have 24-hours to submit a quote for the load.

The buyer chooses which quote to use and the website takes a commission direct from the haulier, the company said.

SellMyLivestock says this should provide a wider choice of operators, with 50 already signed up across the UK, and claims it will also make livestock transport more efficient by reducing the number of empty vehicle movements.

All hauliers listed are Red Tractor approved and verified by Haulage Exchange. 

Reducing emissions

One-way haulage is a big issue for transport firms which lose money on return journeys when their vehicles are empty.

But transport movements for firms already signed up to Haulage Exchange are visible to a wider online community, making them more likely to attract custom for return routes.

Haulage Exchange claimed that its average empty running levels are just 9%, compared to an industry average of 29%, also helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Doug Bairner, CEO at parent company Hectare Agritech said: “This partnership means farmers are able to access a cost-efficient, secure and regulated haulage solution, at a competitive price, all around the country.”