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The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) has claimed it is best placed to help UK manufacturers whose order books have been hit by unpredictable and fluctuating volumes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Explained APN chairman Paul Sanders: “The pallet networks offer many advantages for businesses which are rebuilding their order books and operations, not least that network operations can cope easily with fluctuating volumes with no penalty to efficiency or service.”

The eight UK pallet networks APN represents comprise 750 regional distribution specialists, all of whom have continued to work throughout lockdown. This contrasts with the half of the UK fleet — some 240,000 vehicles — which was parked up, according to the RHA.

“The pallet network members have no need to ramp up operations because they have never stopped working,” Sanders continued. “And unlike dedicated transport models, the networks can manage consignment numbers from individual companies fluctuating day by day, or week by week, with no loss of efficiency or any additional cost.

“This gives UK manufacturers the logistics flexibility they need as they and their customers start to

regrow their businesses.”

The UK pallet networks offer next-day delivery from and to anywhere in the UK, and Saunders claimed its "hub and spoke" model offers the most sustainable and green of transport solutions because it cuts out all unnecessary mileage.

“We are really pleased to be able to support UK manufacturers at this time,” he said. “We offer a highly efficient service, in terms of cost and carbon but with excellent service levels.”

The Association revealed network volumes have "grown considerably" in the past two weeks, but because it takes time to gather all data, final figures will be available in mid-June.

“We are confident that the networks are seeing far more typical volumes at the moment than was true

at the beginning of the lockdown period and once we have had time to collate and analyse these, we

will share them with the press and the sector generally,” Saunders said.

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