Transportation company directories bring various transport information together into a single place. By using transport directories, you can quickly find resources that correspond directly to your needs. There are two common types of transportation directories: link directories and transportation broker directories.

Both kinds of transport directories are useful to most companies. Link directories bring website links for many types of transporters together into a single website. Broker directories have listings of loads for carriers and places where companies can advertise for haulers. Consider the following when looking for either kind of transportation directory:

1. Directories of transportation are useful for finding new companies quickly.

2. Transportation broker directories become a common source for companies to advertise jobs and transporters to find work.

3. Most directories of transport focus on overland companies, but some directories specialize in waterborne or air companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the links in a transport directory to find specialized companies

The links in transportation directories have companies from all over the spectrum of material transport. In many cases, transporters are listed several times in every area they work. Some directories have profiles for the companies in addition to their website link.

I recommend: What The Transportation Directory lacks in interface it makes up for in quantity of links. It features links pertaining to nearly every area of transportation. The Directory for Transportation has similar set-up and categories but a less complete link list. Its interface is more user-friendly, and its search function is more informative.

Utilize a transportation broker directory to hire a transporter to efficiently move cargo

Broker directories allow companies to post loads of cargo that need to be shipped to other locations. Truck owners can then log on and find loads in their area--that way they don't need to travel with an empty trailer.

I recommend: Since the majority of overland shipping was deregulated, the quality of some shipping companies has fallen. The Redbook Transportation Broker Ratings lists many broker companies and rates them based on several "real world" factors, such as business practices and time to payment. RayTrans is a hauler-centric broker directory with links to hundreds of clients.

Look for a specialized directory of transport for air and water-based companies

Most transport directories specialize in overland transportation. Specialized directories have listings for air and water companies. These specialized directories are more likely to have additional information about the companies.

I recommend: The Air Transportation Directory features a list of all airlines with active routes. CreditRiskMonitor may seem like an unlikely transport directory but it features a listing of all active international waterborne carriers along with information on their financial situation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many transportation directories charge a fee for a company to put its name on their list. While this means that inactive companies are automatically removed as soon as they miss their payment, it also means that some companies may not be represented. Looking at free local directories, including a basic phone book, may help find a local shipping solution outside of the directories.