Road haulage
UK road haulage: full loads, part loads and dedicated transport
Full loads, part loads or a dedicated vehicle, moved on our own liveried fleet, driven by our own drivers and tracked to delivery. A dedicated contact who knows your account, not a broker passing your job down the chain.
Our own fleet, your direct contact
Some hauliers are really brokers: they take your booking and sub-contract it to whoever's available that day, which means no single company is accountable for the load. We're not that. We've run our own liveried fleet since 1973, with our own trained drivers, so the vehicle that collects your load carries our name on the side. One company accountable for the job, and a dedicated contact who knows your account. We're not the cheapest, and we'll say so upfront: what you pay for is a load that arrives, on a truck we own, driven by our driver.
Full loads (FTL) and part loads (LTL)
We handle general haulage of all kinds, full or part loads:
- Full load (FTL): the whole vehicle for your freight, point to point, no transhipment. Best when you're filling a trailer or moving time-critical or high-value goods.
- Part load (LTL or groupage): your freight shares the vehicle, so you only pay for the space you use. Best for smaller consignments that don't need a full trailer.
- Dedicated transport: a vehicle assigned to your job alone, whatever the size, when timing matters.
As a rough guide, under about 10 pallets a part load is usually the cheaper option, and over 15 a full load is faster and often better value. Around the middle, ask us. Tell us the load and where it's going and we'll work it out with you.
The fleet
From vans to rigids to articulated lorries, so we can match the vehicle to the job rather than send the wrong one. Tail-lift vehicles are available for sites without a loading bay (up to 750kg, or 1,000kg with lift assist), and every vehicle carries live tracking.
North West based, nationwide reach
We're based in Manchester, on the M60 and M62, with quick access to the M6 and the national motorway network. We cover the whole of the UK, strong on North West collections and running national routes daily, so you get a local operator with national reach. For smaller consignments on pallets, see our palletised distribution service. Need storage as well as haulage? See our warehousing and 3PL service. Running to a production schedule? See our manufacturing and JIT supply chain service.
Tracked to proof of delivery
Every vehicle is tracked and every consignment gets live tracking and proof of delivery (POD) via the My Sims portal. You can see where your load is and pull the POD once it's delivered.
Accreditations
Members of BIFA (the British International Freight Association) and the RHA (Road Haulage Association), FORS accredited and ISO 9001 certified, with 53 years moving freight.
1973
Moving freight since
53 years
Moving freight
UK-wide
National routes daily
Hazardous and specialist loads
We carry dangerous goods on ADR-equipped vehicles. See our hazardous freight transport service. Moving freight into Europe? See our European road freight service.
What our customers say
We contacted Sims a few years ago when we were having issues with another company, and have not looked back since. The service they provide is first class, all the staff in the office are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. They are an excellent company to do business with.
Questions, answered
- What’s the difference between a full load and a part load?
A full load (FTL) books the whole vehicle for your freight, point to point. A part load (LTL or groupage) shares the vehicle with other consignments, so you only pay for the space you use. As a rule of thumb, under about 10 pallets a part load is usually cheaper, and over 15 a full load is faster and better value.
- What is general haulage?
General haulage is the transport of standard, non-specialist freight by road, in full or part loads, nationwide. It covers most commercial goods that don't need specialist equipment or hazardous handling.
- When should I use a dedicated vehicle?
When timing, security or handling matter: a dedicated vehicle carries your load alone, direct from collection to delivery with no transhipment.
- What vehicle sizes do you run?
Vans, rigids and articulated lorries, so we can match the vehicle to the load. Tail-lift available for sites without a loading bay.
- Do you have tail-lift, and what weight?
Yes, up to 750kg, or 1,000kg with lift assist for sites with no loading bay.
- Can I track my load and get proof of delivery?
Yes. Track it live through the My Sims portal and pull the POD once delivered.
- Can you move hazardous loads?
Yes, on ADR-equipped vehicles. See our hazardous freight transport service.
- Do you cover Europe?
Yes, on regular routes across the continent. See our European road freight service.
Get your freight moving
Tell us the load and where it’s going, and we’ll get it there.