haulage
C1Formal/Business
Definition
Meaning
The commercial transport of goods by road, rail, or canal, especially over longer distances.
The business or industry of transporting goods; also, the charge or fee for such transport.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a UK term; in US contexts, 'trucking' or 'freight transportation' is more common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'haulage' is the standard term for the commercial road transport of goods. In the US, the term is rarely used outside of specific legal contexts or in the phrase 'haulage contractor'; 'trucking', 'freight', or 'shipping' are preferred.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, industrial. US: Slightly archaic or specific to heavy industry/rail transport.
Frequency
High frequency in UK business/logistics; low frequency in general US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the haulage of goods)Adj N (road haulage)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'haulage']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The haulage company secured a new contract for cross-border freight.
Academic
The study analysed the environmental impact of the road haulage sector.
Everyday
The strike caused disruptions to haulage across the country.
Technical
The vehicle's axle weight is regulated for heavy haulage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Note: 'haulage' is not a verb. The verb is 'to haul'.]
American English
- [Note: 'haulage' is not a verb. The verb is 'to haul'.]
adverb
British English
- [No adverbial form]
American English
- [No adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- haulage business
- haulage operator
American English
- haulage contractor (rare)
- haulage rates (rare)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Big lorries are used for haulage.
- The price includes the haulage of the furniture to your home.
- Rising fuel costs are a major concern for the haulage industry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HAUL (a large amount) being moved over a long distance, with the suffix -AGE indicating the process or business: HAUL-AGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCE IS A JOURNEY (Goods are travellers on a road/rail journey, facilitated by the haulage industry).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'haul' (verb) meaning to pull/drag. 'Haulage' is a specific business noun.
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'грузоперевозки' in US contexts; use 'trucking' or 'freight' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'haulage' as a verb (e.g., 'We haulage the goods').
- Using 'haulage' in general US English where 'shipping' or 'trucking' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'haulage' most naturally used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but is rarely used in everyday American English. Terms like 'trucking', 'freight', or 'shipping' are far more common.
Typically, no. 'Haulage' strongly implies land-based transport, especially by road and sometimes rail. For sea/air, 'shipping' or 'air freight' are used.
'Haulage' specifically refers to the physical movement of goods. 'Logistics' is a broader term encompassing the entire process of planning, storing, and transporting goods.
No. The related verb is 'to haul'. 'Haulage' is only a noun.