Hub beats odds to start this week

Pallet-Track, the network some said would never happen, starts its hub operation on friday with complete UK coverage from 50 shareholder members.
And theres a shock coming to rivals- around a dozen members are joining from other networks, including Fortec and Uk Pallets, says Nigel Parkes.
No Network has looked to have such a strong launch operation as we have. looking at the quallity of our membership, we believe we can compete with even the strongest systems out there.
Network members include Birds Groupage Services BartrumsHaulage and storage and Joda Freight, Viking transport and Jeffreys Haulage. Parkes says some members will cover regions they moght not keep in the long term.
Twenty members were already working together but parkes says moving Pallets through the hub, at Wednesbury, West Midlands will benefit members by guaranteeing volumes. the firm plans to use regional hubs as volumes grow.
Pallet-Track claims to be the first network to be rail connected. Caledonia Express in the EWS franchisee holder at Law Junction Freight by rail for trunking south by road. But the trunk haul will move to rail within nine months, to a railhead close to the hub.
Pallet-Track estimates it will move more than 750 Pallets on its launch, with leicester depot Translink hoping to put 100 Pallets through on the first night.

Parkes says he wants to settle the membership first and remains unsure about corporate accounts: we d rather customers have contracts with our mrmbers.
The network was set up by parkes along with chairman Jack Corrie of Halicon Express and company secretary Carl Jones, who between them have invested GBP150,000. Network members have paid GBP270,000 in share capital.
Pallet-Track will be the last network to join the sector, Parkes says. If a new launch with high standards it would struggle to find quality members. After receiving 300 applications we discovered how tough it is. its been a hard slog but we never lowered our sights.