Panic Transport trucks

Panic Transport has been officially unveiled as a member of Palletforce, making it the fifth Kinaxia Logistics-owned haulier within the pallet network.

Rugby-based Panic Transport was founded in 1990 by MD Kevin Johnson. It now employs a workforce of 130, with a fleet of 85 vehicles and more than 90 trailers.

Panic Transport was a founder member of the Pall-Ex network before moving to Palletline in 2012. It will cover selected NN and LE postcodes including Daventry for Palletforce.

Johnson said: “It’s no secret that Palletforce’s ongoing investment in infrastructure and IT has made it a market leader in the UK logistics sector, and we are delighted to be joining at a time when the network is expanding into new and exciting markets.

“Palletforce’s ambitions match ours, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

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Palletforce member relations director David Breeze said: “Kevin’s reputation as a first-class operator precedes him, and I have no doubt Panic Transport will prove a valued addition to the Palletforce family.”

Network merry-go-round

Panic Transport was asked to leave Palletline as part of the network’s self-enforced limit on Kinaxia members in membership, a move Palletline MD Graham Leitch has argued is required to maintain the integrity of the network.

As a consequence, in May 2018 Panic Transport returned to its original pallet network Pall-Ex, but MT understands that it was running for Palletforce by the autumn of last year.

Pall-Ex hauliers GS Logistics and Exact Logistics subsequently took on the area vacated by Panic Transport.

Kevin Buchanan, group MD at Pall-Ex, said of the departure: “After some months of operation, it became clear to both Pall-Ex and Panic Transport that their systems and processes did not work together as efficiently as originally anticipated.

"As Pall-Ex and Panic Transport both share the same quality ethos and strive for business excellence and customer satisfaction, it was decided that, in the interest of customers and the Pall-Ex membership, Panic Transport would leave the network.

"We would like to thank Panic Transport for their efforts and contribution during the last few months and wish them all the best for the future.”

Kinaxia Logistics

Palletforce chief executive Michael Conroy questioned Palletline’s stance in regards to Kinaxia Logistics in an interview last year.

“A pallet network is a very diverse and open network. You have to be. If I genuinely thought a member or collection of members was working against the network I’d deal with it.

“But I cannot dictate, nor would I, to any business that wants to develop organically or through acquisition. As long as we are aligned in a common goal and a commitment to the membership why would we [have an issue with that],” he said.

Kinaxia Logistics members in Palletforce in addition to Panic Transport comprise Maiden’s of Telford, Bay Freight, NC Cammack and BC Transport.

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