Our offices maintain an intensive local network of transport companies. On one hand for door delivery to or pick up at inland destinations. On the other hand, for local deliveries by truck within their own country / continent. In Europe we have our own (container) trucks in operation. Because of explosive growth in the annual container moves through the port of Rotterdam we were forced to set up our own trucking operation. We could not find constant quality trucking services against a reasonable rate. Now we arrange part of our transports with our own trucks.
We have several transport companies on contract. We use them to secure a large part of our daily regular work. Next to this we work through several cargo and transport ex-change programs on the internet (only accessible for transport companies). Here supply and demand come together in order to allow us to be efficient and competitive (reduction of empty kilometers).
In any case, you always pay the best local market rate.