Tag: Road Transport

Fourth transit shed confirms PalletFORCE growth

Posted by | Sep 21, 2007 | |

PalletFORCE has underlined its status as one of the fastest-growing palletised distribution networks in the UK with the opening of a fourth transit shed located at its Lichfield hub, creating a total space of 210,000 sq ft and a capacity of 10,500 pallets per night. Investment in specialist software enabled the Network to simulate a virtual hub in order to maximise the benefits of this expansion.

The Network has occupied the warehouse for some time in anticipation of increased growth, but had outsourced the space for storage to a private company. The decision to open the warehouse for Network deliveries has been made following excellent growth during 2007. This year has already seen the landmark of the fifth millionth pallet handled by PalletFORCE, and the Network regularly deals with over 7,000 pallets per night.

According to PalletFORCE’s Chief Executive, Mick Scarlett, the future looks promising for PalletFORCE and for palletised distribution as a whole. “The sector has got second wind after a slight downturn last year and we are experiencing year-on-month increases of 20-30% over 2006.”

Although this growth looks set to last for the foreseeable future, Mick Scarlett nonetheless advises caution. “To facilitate growth at that rate will present a huge challenge – and there is always the possibility that the market might flatten at any moment. Growth must be managed but not overcooked.”

Read More

PalletFORCE holds publicity drive for drivers

Posted by | Sep 21, 2007 | |

PalletFORCE held a Drivers’ Night at the Company’s Lichfield hub on the night of Tuesday 24th July, to help build publicity and awareness for the Network’s sponsored charity, The Anthony Nolan Trust.

The Anthony Nolan Trust provides lifesaving donors for leukaemia patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. Maintaining the UK’s most successful bone marrow register, since 1974 the Trust has helped to give over 4,000 children and adults a new chance of life.

PalletFORCE became aware of the Trust’s work through the work of Jim McLay, the late Depot Principal at Glenhire. Jim was suffering from a type of blood cancer which could only be cured by a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor and he became a staunch ambassador for the charity before his death, with two Glenhire trailers boasting the Trust’s livery.

Representatives from the charity were on hand to explain their work and to recruit drivers to become donors. DAF also lent its support, providing a hospitality unit with refreshments as well as examples from its vehicle range for drivers to take a look at.

Read More

The Pallet Network trials reduced time frame for RDC deliveries

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

(TPN) and its members are trialling a system to cut the amount of time trucks are sat waiting to make deliveries into RDCs. At a meeting of TPN members in July this issue was raised as a major concern for all hauliers and as a result trial has been set up. Adam Leonard, managing director at TPN, says an increasing proportion of the deliveries made through the network were into RDCs.

“Our members are fed up with queuing and losing the vehicle for hours if not a whole day, while it waits to make a delivery at an RDC and so we are trialling a system where we will only make deliveries into RDCs between 9am and 2pm.” He adds the problems are symptomatic of the fact that major retailers are putting the squeeze on their suppliers. “The trial is a fairly radical step [designed to] prevent the rest of our members’ customers being penalised because the trucks carrying their deliveries are stuck in an RDC.”

Leonard admits that the policy has resulted in some “tough” conversations with the retail customers of some members. “But there needs to be sensible dialogue so the retailers understand why we are doing this. “This is something that collectively the pallet networks should be addressing with the major retailers because it is not cost effective for the transport industry,” he says.

The trail is due to run for a month, after which TPN will collect feedback from the members and decide whether to extend the policy more permanently. Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says that the way hauliers are forced to wait at RDCs is not green and it is uneconomic. “The users of transport services need to take on board the realities of the haulage industry.”

Read More

TPN trials reduced time frame for RDC deliveries

Posted by | Sep 19, 2007 | |

The Pallet Network (TPN) and its members are trialling a system to cut the amount of time trucks are sat waiting to make deliveries into RDCs. At a meeting of TPN members in July this issue was raised as a major concern for all hauliers and as a result trial has been set up. Adam Leonard, managing director at TPN, says an increasing proportion of the deliveries made through the network were into RDCs.

“Our members are fed up with queuing and losing the vehicle for hours if not a whole day, while it waits to make a delivery at an RDC and so we are trialling a system where we will only make deliveries into RDCs between 9am and 2pm.” He adds the problems are symptomatic of the fact that major retailers are putting the squeeze on their suppliers. “The trial is a fairly radical step [designed to] prevent the rest of our members’ customers being penalised because the trucks carrying their deliveries are stuck in an RDC.”

Leonard admits that the policy has resulted in some “tough” conversations with the retail customers of some members. “But there needs to be sensible dialogue so the retailers understand why we are doing this.”This is something that collectively the pallet networks should be addressing with the major retailers because it is not cost effective for the transport industry,” he says.

The trail is due to run for a month, after which TPN will collect feedback from the members and decide whether to extend the policy more permanently.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest