Twelve containers landed at Felixstowe this morning
The vessel berthed overnight. Twelve of your containers are on it, for eight importers. Some are cleared and released, some are waiting on customs, one has a hold from the carrier because freight has not been paid. The importers' warehouses each have their own delivery windows. You work with four hauliers, each with different capacity at that port this week.
The operator spends the day on the phone and email: checking releases, asking warehouses for slots, asking hauliers for availability, and copying the agreed times back into the jobs.
Why port haulage is so manual
Getting a container from the terminal to the importer's warehouse depends on several parties, and none of them share a system. The operator is the one holding it together.
- Release status sits with the carrier, the terminal and customs, and each is checked separately.
- Importers' delivery slots are agreed by email.
- Haulier availability changes daily and is only known by asking.
- Terminal booking systems add another step and another reference.
- Changes after booking, like a slot moved or a container not released, restart the conversation.
What the phone day costs
Containers that sit at the terminal because the booking was not ready run up storage and eat into free time. Operators spend their best hours coordinating instead of dealing with real problems. Hauliers are booked at the last minute and are less willing to help when you are stuck. And importers get vague answers about when their container will arrive.
The haulage desk we build
- Every import container is listed with its expected arrival, discharge and release status, taken from carrier and terminal data and your customs team's updates.
- Importers are asked for their preferred delivery slot through a simple link as soon as arrival is confirmed, rather than by email.
- Once a container is released and a slot agreed, a booking request goes to the haulier you choose for that importer or area, with all references. Hauliers reply through a link or their own system where it connects.
- The haulier's terminal booking and collection time are recorded against the container.
- Delivery and empty return are tracked, and free time warnings go to whoever needs to act.
- The operator works from one board showing every container's stage, with problems at the top.
| Step | Phone and email | Haulage desk |
|---|---|---|
| Is it released? | Check carrier, terminal, customs | Status on the container |
| When can the warehouse take it? | Email the importer | Slot requested by link |
| Which haulier? | Ring round | Request to your chosen haulier |
| Where is it now? | Ask the haulier | Tracked on the board |
After
Containers move from release to booking faster because the slot and haulier questions were asked earlier. The operator deals with the exceptions, such as a hold or a failed slot, rather than every container. Hauliers get better notice and complete references, which makes them more willing to find a truck for you on the difficult days. Importers know when their container is coming and can plan labour for unloading.
If you run your own trucks for some deliveries, the same board can allocate to them as well as to subcontracted hauliers.
Checklist
- Port haulage is booked by phone every day.
- Containers wait at the terminal while bookings are arranged.
- Release status is checked in several places.
- Importers' delivery slots are agreed by email.
- Hauliers get late notice and incomplete references.