In an ideal world, it would easy for everyone to get their proverbial piece of the pie. There would be more than enough resources open to all businesses in such a way that one person’s loss does not mean another’s gain.

The reality, especially in tough industries like transportation, is that you need to compete, and compete well. There are many strategies you can employ as a small to medium sized business, but some are more intriguing than others.

Unusual services

A common way for haulage companies to fight for a larger market share is to target the most popular services. After all, transportation is an age-old industry, and it has become fairly clear which goods and services are the most utilised in its trade. From cows to cargo, consumer products to cartons, the items and the clients who demand the most work seem to be the best to target. But if you offer unique, diverse and specialised services, you can often out-compete others simply because they lack the ability, know-how and connections to provide the same services.

Market the corners

Likewise, it is usual practice to target the heart of your market when you seek to advertise. There is certainly wisdom in broadcasting your brand as loudly and as clearly as possible to the wide spectrum of prospective clients in the most popular sections of the marketplace. However, haulage companies can also benefit from getting their name out in the less-trumpeted corners. Niche markets have their benefits, since it is possible, once you’ve established a reputation, to out muscle and out voice the competition, relatively cheaply, and effectively become a big fish in a small pond. The smaller sectors of the market place have smaller numbers but still provide regular work and allow SMEs a greater chance to act as a big player.

Handing out Work

The heart of remaining competitive would appear to be taking on more work, not turning it down. When the competition is tough, it may be tempting to take on more than you can handle. In fact, haulage companies can benefit from diverting work and giving away jobs at busy times. Outsourced work not only allows you to keep your head above water and not be drowned in a competition-driven flood of work, but also allows you to continue to benefit from the hard work you put into securing those clients.

Reputation at a Distance

The traditional picture of how to develop a good reputation hinges upon trust. Even though haulage companies can have a good name that reaches many an ear, ultimately, SMEs often rely upon clients meeting them before trust is developed – yet this is often time intensive. By utilising online communication tools – such as online exchanges – businesses can showcase their reputation and develop a degree of trust and positive feedback at a distance, all within the online community.