Pall-Ex offers support for UK Mail pallets partners and customers
Palletised freight network Pall-Ex has said it is offering assistance to hauliers and customers affected by the closure of UK Mail Group’s palletised freight business. UK Mail Group announced yesterday that it will close its UK Pallets business after years of declining profitability.
Leicestershire-based Pall-Ex said today that it is working with UK Pallets to support 73 hauliers as well as customers, and will be recommended as the palletised freight network of choice by UK Mail Group.
Pall-Ex, which operates a UK and European palletised freight network, said it would meet UK Pallets members and customers as part of the process.
Pall-Ex founder and CEO Hilary Devey said the newly proposed deal was a “natural move” for the network, which could move quickly when an opportunity presented itself.
“Integrity”
“Our ability to rapidly step-in and support both hauliers and customers who may be left exposed by the UK Pallets situation is testament to this mindset, as well as a reflection of our advantage over multi-shareholder owned networks, which tend to be mired in bureaucracy,” she said.
“We will be delighted to lend our assistance to those qualifying hauliers who we anticipate being able to flourish within Pall-Ex: demonstrating financial and operational integrity, as well as proving a cultural and ethical fit.”
Pall-Ex was launched in 1996 as a hub-and-spoke network of around 100 palletised freight hauliers. It currently has a turnover of about £65m a year.
The company expanded its network to continental Europe in 2009 with the launch of Pall-Ex Italia, and since then the network has been joined by Pall-Ex Romania, Pall-Ex France and Pall-Ex Polska. It is now looking for partners to expand the network to other European countries, with plans to launch in the Benelux region and in Bulgaria in the first quarter of 2015.
Managing director Kevin Buchanan said his company had expressed an interest in getting to groups with the UK Pallets customer base when it was advised of the closure.
“Since taking the reins at the end of 2014, I’ve made no secret about the fact that I want Pall-Ex to become the clear market leader in the sector and this potential new deal takes us a step closer,” he said.
