How to make money on a freight exchange? Practical ways to cut costs
High Costs, Low Margins – How to Make Money on a Freight Exchange?
A freight exchange is not just a place to find loads — it’s a key to optimizing your entire transport business.
This year, Teleroute, the European freight exchange, celebrates its 40th anniversary. With decades of experience, the platform knows the logistics industry inside out. As Marcin Kutzmann, Field Sales PL & EE at Teleroute, highlights:
“Transport is a fight for every penny. Process optimization is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.”
Let’s explore the tools that help carriers earn more and reduce operational costs.
1. Time savings = higher profits
In road transport, every minute counts. That’s why it's worth relying on technology that speeds up freight matching.
Teleroute offers route-based freight search, allowing carriers to:
- Avoid empty runs
- Plan routes more efficiently
- Find the most profitable offers faster
As Joanna Zielińska, Sales Director PL & EE at Teleroute, points out:
“Carriers no longer have to scroll through hundreds of listings. The system now matches the best loads to their preferred routes.”
This means not just convenience — but real savings in time and fuel.
2. Eliminate empty runs — cut direct costs
Industry data shows that up to 25% of all truck journeys in Europe are non-revenue-generating. Every unloaded kilometer is a direct financial loss. With freight exchange tools, this can be significantly reduced.
Example: A carrier transporting goods from Warsaw to Paris can leverage Teleroute to find a backhaul from France to Germany, and potentially another leg to Poland — increasing route profitability and fleet efficiency.
3. Automatically offer available truck capacity
Teleroute enables carriers to automatically publish their available vehicle capacity to shippers and freight forwarders.
With just one click while searching for loads, you can place your vehicle on the desired route — allowing freight forwarders to instantly see your free capacity and offer a matching load.
4. TMS integration – automation is the future
Digital transformation is accelerating in logistics. Integrating Teleroute with your Transport Management System (TMS) via API unlocks new levels of automation. As Marcin Kutzmann notes:
“Thanks to our API, we can eliminate human errors and speed up decision-making processes. It’s a game changer.”
With integration, companies can quickly search for loads, publish capacity, and manage their fleets — without manual data entry.
5. Direct loads = better rates, higher profitability
Many carriers lose a portion of their profit to intermediaries. Teleroute enables direct contact with shippers and freight forwarders, making it easier to negotiate better rates and reduce long payment terms.
As Joanna Zielińska notes:
“Getting a direct load may require more effort, but if you’re optimizing every part of your transport and looking for savings everywhere — it would be a mistake not to fight for that rate. Even a slightly higher rate per kilometer can significantly improve the bottom line in such a low-margin sector”
Direct loads also mean fewer intermediaries, and therefore — shorter payment cycles and more control. Which brings us to the next point: liquidity.
6. Payment Guarantee – financial security
The transport industry continues to struggle with late payments and bad debts. In 2024 alone, over 31,000 TSL companies in Poland were in arrears, with total outstanding debts of 1.5 billion PLN.
That’s why Teleroute offers a Payment Guarantee, protecting carriers from delayed payments and insolvent contractors.
“In 2024, the financial crisis in transport is a reality. The Payment Guarantee gives carriers peace of mind and the ability to grow without risking their cash flow,” adds Joanna Zielińska.
Summary: earn more with a freight exchange
A freight exchange can be a powerful tool for cost optimization and profit maximization.
With features like:
- route-based freight search
- elimination of empty runs
- automated capacity offers
- TMS integration
- direct loads access,
- payment guarantees
carriers can increase their income while minimizing operational and financial risk.
Don’t leave your profits to chance — tap into the full potential of the Teleroute freight exchange today!