Slew of member changes at Palletline, Palletforce and the United Pallet Network

Palletline, Palletforce and the United Pallet Network (UPN) have announced both new members and also changes to coverage within their respective networks.

Palletline has expanded Bowker Transport’s responsibilities, with the Preston-based 3PL taking on the Wigan and part of Bolton, Manchester and Preston postcodes.

The areas were previously managed by Austin Wilkinson & Sons, which is understood to have been in membership for more than 20 years but left the network on 22 February.

Graham Leitch, group MD of Palletline, said: "Austin Wilkinson & Sons have been a great asset to Palletline and we would like to offer them a heartfelt thanks for all their hard work and dedication to the network."

He added that the main reason for the member’s departure was as a result of ensuring the future goals of both the network and member businesses are aligned.

Bowker Group has been in Palletline since 2016 following its acquisition of Potter Logistics from Potter Group.

A Palletline spokeswoman confirmed that when Potter Logistics was acquired in 2016 it took on the DN14, YO 1-20, 23-62, 90-91, 95 and Amazon LBA1 for the network.

“Today [and ahead of the latest expansion] that depot covers all of those postcodes but [also] Amazon LBA2,” she added.

In November of last year in an unconnected move, Palletline removed haulier member DTS to “guarantee network integrity”. The pallet network has also taken a decision to limit Kinaxia Logistics' owned businesses within its membership, demonstrating a willingness to take action where it deems it necessary to protect the interests of the business as a whole.

Palletforce

Wyvern Cargo has moved from the Fortec Distribution Network to Palletforce to cover the BH and DT postcodes.

The Dorset-based firm was until 2017 the service partner of FedEx UK, covering the Dorset and West Hampshire area.

It won the award for Outstanding Operations, which is based on the highest service levels, lowest number of damages and the most consistent service, at Fortec's annual award last year.

Wyvern Cargo MD Evan Sparrowhawk said: “Over the last few years our volumes have grown to the extent that we knew it was time to move to a larger network.

“Palletforce ticks all the boxes in terms of growth and capacity, while the ongoing investment in technology makes it a market leader in this competitive sector.”

In addition to a purpose-built depot in Poole, Wyvern Cargo has opened a 60,000sq ft warehouse near Bournemouth Airport. It also has a DC in Wellingborough, Northants and a fleet of 75 vehicles and 100 trailers.

A spokeswoman for Fortec confirmed that pallet network debutant Bly Transport had taken on Wyvern Cargo's postcode areas.

UPN

Deeside-based Mars Jones, which will continue to work with the Pall-Ex pallet network, has taken on the CH postcode area for UPN.

“Mars Jones has a longstanding reputation in North Wales for reliability and service”, said MD Philip Mars-Jones. "We are pleased to be working with UPN, a solid company with a strong nationwide pallet network and an ethos that very much aligns with our own."

UPN has also recruited Xpression Logistics, which is part of Oxfordshire-based Xpression Event Solutions, and is making its pallet network debut.

Jonathan Hill, MD of Xpression Logistics, said: "We were attracted to the high quality UPN proposition.

“By establishing a pallet distribution business within Xpression Logistics I am confident that we can secure meaningful growth both for ourselves and for UPN as a whole.”