Thanks for all the feedback, makes for interesting reading (some of which provided laughs 
). Your thoughts and questions have been addressed below… keep them coming:
tommyboy1289:
What’s your research behind this figure?
This is based on ‘market research’ of self employed drivers. Questions about their pay, how often they have empty journeys etc, then calculated using basic accounting techniques.
As for your other comments, read my below thoughts, which should clear some/all of them up. And no, I have never seen Shipping Wars I’m a management and marketing chap, with knowledge of developing and connections in that industry.
I’m well aware of the various haulage exchanges and have spoken to people who have used them, who give fairly negative feedback. In my opinion, their business models are outdated and of self interest… not thinking about hauliers and companies moving goods, theres no real emphasis on optimising the whole process for all parties involved, just trying to shortcut one issue and in reality only driving down prices.
This absolutely would NOT be a bidding platform! The goods company inputs data about the load i.e. size, weight, movement requirements (i.e. pick up and drop off location and timings) and a price is calculated. Suitable vehicles would then be suggested.
With regards to how this would make money, it would add on a percentage (less than 2%) of the total load price and charged to the company wanting goods moved. This wouldn’t be an issue for them as they wouldn’t need to hire as many logistics staff when using this platform so would save them money.
As for load prices being set, they would be set rates to some degree, but would move based on variables (using algorithms) such as fuel price changes, where you can fill up, channel crossing prices, even based on what finances you have on your vehicle. The algorithms would match suitable loads with suitable hauliers. Loads drop into your schedule, ensuring that hauliers always have a trip both ways and are never sat still, empty. The sky really is the limit in terms of the platform capabilities, I believe that a complete all in one platform that tracks and manages every aspect of your business/finances/vehicle automatically and simply is the key.
The real hurdle is that I think the only way that this idea could work is if EVERYONE was on board with it… thats the difficulty!
robroy:
Another good way of increasing driver’s wages, and cutting out middlemen/parasites, get rid of [zb] agencies and make companies employ all drivers direct…instant 20% pay raise. 
…I thank you. 
I agree with the theory of this 100%, but in practicality… smaller companies can’t afford to run vehicles, bigger companies don’t want the financial commitments of running vehicles as they’re practically sunk costs and there will always be some people that want the freedom of being self employed.
098Joe:
What happens if you fail a load (held up at previous delivery or load refused etc). Who covers the load instead of you and if you are committed to the load, but the only other haulier who can do it for you wants more than you are getting paid, do you take the loss (to retain a customer who you may never do another job for) or throw the load back?
Again this comes down to the algorithm. If you can’t make a load (due to being held up), then its the hauliers responsibility to cancel the load (which will then be given to another suitable haulier, no backlash), then a new load will be selected for you based on your new time requirements. As for loads being refused, we would employ support staff that would sort out these issues, reaching the optimum outcome for all parties involved with the load.
Everything I have mentioned above is 100% possible, this is a genuinely feasible idea. But as I mentioned above, the only real hurdle with it is getting enough people on board.
Your feedback is a great help, keep it coming.
