It also tried to restrict competition, by charging a £2 entrance fee to non-local residents, while those in the Merseyside area could join for 5 shillings.
Membership reached a peak of 5,083 in 1910, but thereafter began to decline, along with horse-drawn carts in general.
By 1920, it accepted drivers of motor vehicles into membership, and renamed itself as the Liverpool and District Carters' and Motormen's Union.
In contrast to other local road haulage unions, it "developed a high degree of cohesion and job controls within its geographical jurisdiction".
In 1934, it worked with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association and United Road Transport Workers' Association to achieve a national agreement on terms and conditions, but this soon fell apart, as the other unions were unable to prevent individual employers from offering worse terms.