Pall-Ex has designs on Europe.

UK Palletised freight network Pall-Ex is expanding into Europe and anticipating 35%- 40% growth this year.
Last year, the network saw volumes increase 40% and has outgrown its hub in Nottinghamshire. On 28th March, the company will open a new purpose built 20, 000sq metre hub in Leicestershire.
The network has 85 members with 5,500 vehicles.
Alan Cramley, sales and marketing director, said “We are anticipating similar growth this year. The ability to move pallets quickly all over the country is a fast-growing need.” Pall-Ex is extending its network into Spain and Portugal at the end of this month, and into Benelux and Germany from April, and is in the process of recruiting member hauliers in those countries,
“It will take us on to the next stage of our development. We want to have a complex pan-European network.” said Cramley.
He said the rapid growth was driven by the demand from customers to reduce inventory levels.
“A palletised network means customers can order smaller quantities of stock more often, rather than keeping huge stock in-house.
“Therefore, from a haulier’s point of view, it is important to be part of a network for efficient use of vehicles.” He said 2005’s Working Time Directive would further increase the importance to hauliers of being pat of a network because the new regulations will reduce the amount of wok each driver can do.
Cramley said pall-Ex members were increasingly using double-decker trailers to reduce the number of vehicles and drivers needed.