Pallet firms act on ADR shake-up
2005 looks like being a year of transformation in ADR, as Palletline members rush to join new specialist hub network. Rates are more likely to rise than fall.
Palletline this week announced a “strategic alliance” with The Hazchem Network and will stop handling dangerous goods on February 18. The alliance has seen around 14 Palletline members join The Hazchem Network, which is a dedicated ADR network. Members already signed up include Geoffrey Reyner, John Hackling Transport and Van Hee Transport; joining this month include: JH Davies, CS Ellis, Anglia Freight, Edge Distribution, Stiller Group and Taskforce. Palletline members who do not join the Hazchem Network will input their freight through their local Hazchem depots, many of which are from Palletline. The two operations will continue to operate separately, with no IT or sales integration. The Hazchem Network managing director Jim Scanlan says: “We are working closely together but Palletline is not taking us over – it’s nothing as dramatic as that. We have had discussions with almost all the other networks and are confident that they will also work with us on some level.” Palletline has handled UN classes 3, 4, 8 and 9 for many years but says a review found that changes to legislation made it essential that ADR be handled through a separate specialist network. Palletline MD Glyn Jones says only 1% of its freight, around 80 pallets a night, falls under the scope of ADR regulations. Palletline members have been delivering freight on their own vehicles which the network could not legally handle but will switch much of that traffic to the ADR specialist network. “Rates won’t go down,” Jones predicts. “Hopefully, the fact that there is more value for customers through the specialised service will help ease rates forward slightly. However, people will only pay what the market allows them to pay,” Jones adds. “This alliance demonstrates our determination to stay at the forefront of industry developments. It is a robust, professional solution to a rapidly growing challenge and represents an important and positive move for the road haulage industry.”
Russett ‘happy to step back’ Bob Russett, Palletline’s pioneering founder, has stepped down from his position of chairman and is replaced by non-executive director Ken Hackling, who is MD of network member Hackling Transport, writes Jack Semple. Russett (pictured) has accepted the role of president, offered in recognition of the contribution he has made to the business. Currently on holiday in South America, he told MT this week: “After 13 years, I am quite happy to step back. We have employed Glyn Jones as MD and he has a stronger team than ever before.” Russett confirmed that he was disappointed when the “superhub” scheme was shelved early last year, but adds that the figures “just didn’t work”.
