It has been a busy start to the year for some of the leading pallet networks in terms of membership.
Palletline, for instance, recently announced five new hauliers had joined it since the start of this year – East West Transport in Avonmouth, NWF Group company Boughey Distribution in Nantwich, Laser Transport International in Hythe, Express Freight Solutions in Burnley and H&R Gray in Throsk.
Of these, Laser Transport was previously with Palletways while Express Freight Solutions was formerly with UK Mail-owned UK Pallets, which in January announced it was closing after years of poor profitability.
Three existing Palletline members – Maldon-based DW Clark & Sons, Aylesford-based Castledene Transport and Downton firm Doccombe Global Logistics – have also become full shareholder members of the network.
Rival Palletforce, meanwhile, has been joined by its fourth new member this year, the 100-year-old (and rather aspirationally-named) Immediate Transportation, which has moved from Palletline.
Over at Pall-Ex, six new firms have joined the roster including five former members of UK Pallets - Cornwall-based Speed Distribution, Bath firm ASE Couriers, Woolner Freight of Wisbech, Denbigh firm Mars Jones and Richard Read (Transport) of Longhope; the sixth new joiner is Fleet-based Provincial Logistics.
Earlier in the year, Kenneth Howley Transport of Castleford became the first UK Pallets haulier to switch to Pall-Ex membership, followed by Bristol-based IC Express and Ipswich firm Magnus Group.