Software for container and port haulage

Keep container work moving before demurrage starts counting

Container work runs on the clock. Free time at the terminal, a return slot for the empty, and a driver who needs the right box from the right port. HaulierMagic keeps port collections, driver jobs, tracking and proof of delivery on one board, so the day is planned around the clock, not against it.

  • Planned around free time, not a planner’s notes
  • Empty returns tracked, not left to memory
  • Truck-safe routing, so a low bridge never ends the run
A driver checking a container on a skeletal trailer at a UK port terminal

Trusted by UK haulage operators

The sector

The volume runs through a handful of ports, and every hour at the terminal has a price.

UK container trade is concentrated, with Southampton and London Gateway carrying much of what Felixstowe does not.

Felixstowe alone handles around 4 million TEU, roughly 40% of UK container traffic.

Sit past free time and demurrage is charged per box, per day. Miss the empty return and detention follows. Both come straight off the margin.

~4m TEU through Felixstowe a year DfT / industry
~40% of UK container traffic at one port DfT / industry
Per day demurrage and detention accrue, per box shipping-line tariffs

Sources: DfT Port Freight Statistics and industry rankings, 2024/25. Demurrage and detention rates vary by line and port.

The problem, and the fix

The margin leaks at the terminal gate and in the paperwork.

Running on spreadsheets, paper and messages

  • Free-time deadlines live in a planner’s notes, so boxes overrun.
  • Drivers are sent to the wrong terminal or the wrong box.
  • Low bridges and unsuitable roads are found the hard way.
  • Empties sit past their return window and pick up detention.
  • Proof of delivery lags, so invoicing and any charges lag too.

Running on HaulierMagic

  • Jobs and windows sit on a shared board, planned against the whole day.
  • Full job detail reaches the driver’s app, with routing built in.
  • NavigateMagic gives truck-safe routing that avoids low bridges.
  • Return legs are planned and tracked, not left to memory.
  • Signed ePOD triggers same-day, accurate invoicing.
Who it's for

Two operators, one clock.

Growing operator

Fewer surprises, fewer charges

Run port work off spreadsheets and phone calls, and the demurrage clock becomes your biggest hidden cost.

  • One board to plan collections and empty returns around free time
  • A driver app that carries the full job detail
  • Truck-safe routing, so a low bridge never ends the run
Transport manager

One platform, port to door

Container operators often stitch together a TMS, a tracking tool, a nav app and an ePOD system. HaulierMagic consolidates them into one application.

  • Planning, truck-safe navigation and driver tracking
  • Verified walkaround checks and ePOD
  • Built UK-first, around UK regulation, UK ports and UK accounting
Truck-safe routing

Routing that knows it is carrying a container.

Bridge strikes are a live, expensive risk on high-value box work.

Network Rail found 43% of lorry drivers do not measure their vehicle before setting off.

NavigateMagic gives HGV-safe routing built into the platform, not a sat-nav strapped to the dashboard. It is a chargeable add-on.

1,666 bridge strikes in Britain in 2024/25 Network Rail
~£13k average cost per strike Network Rail
43% of drivers skip measuring their vehicle Network Rail

Source: Network Rail, 2024/25 bridge strike figures.

Fits your setup

Works with the tools you already run.

Keep what works. Drop the double entry.

Accounts
  • Sage 50 and Sage 200
  • Xero
  • Sage 50 and Sage 200 both.
Telematics
  • Webfleet
  • and other common vehicle tracking systems
Industry systems
  • Transporeon
  • plus API access for custom integrations
Driver messaging
  • WhatsApp
  • plus API access for custom integrations
Proof

Hear from operators like you.

Since adopting HaulierMagic in 2006, we have seen real, measurable improvements in our day to day operations and to our bottom line. Our entire fleet is fully tracked and our client facing and office-backed technology is among the most advanced in the industry.
Peter Brown Managing Director, Jack Richards & Son
Questions

Container haulage software: common questions.

How does HaulierMagic help avoid demurrage and detention?

Collections and empty returns sit on one shared planning board, so jobs are planned around terminal free time rather than kept in a planner’s notes. Live status and tracking mean return legs are not forgotten until a charge appears.

Does it give drivers truck-safe routes to and from the port?

Yes. NavigateMagic provides HGV-safe routing that avoids low bridges and dimension limits, built into the platform and called from the driver’s normal job flow. It is a chargeable add-on.

Is HaulierMagic built for UK container work specifically?

HaulierMagic is UK-first, designed around UK regulation, UK ports and UK accounting, rather than a European platform configured for the UK market.

Can the office and customers see where a container is?

Planners get live status on the Arrivals Board, and customers can track their own deliveries through the client portal without phoning in.

Does it connect to our accounts and telematics?

It connects to Xero, Sage 50 and Sage 200, common telematics such as Webfleet, and messaging tools including WhatsApp, with API access for custom integrations.

How long does it take to go live?

Most operators are live within two to four weeks, with migration, driver onboarding and training handled alongside day-to-day operations.

Take the next step

See your port work on one platform.

A 30-minute walkthrough, tailored to your ports, your boxes and your workflow. No obligation.

  • No sales pitch
  • 30 minutes
  • Tailored to your operation

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