Pallet networks are co-operative organisations made up of hauliers across the UK working together to provide next-day freight delivery services.
These networks are cost-effective and efficient, with transport firms dropping loaded pallets off at large centrally located hubs and collecting more palletised goods to take back their own areas, thus enabling customers to benefit from economies of scale.
UK Pallet networks are achieving high operational efficiency, with vehicle fill rates often exceeding 72%, higher than the 51% average reported for some general road freight sectors.
This efficiency, driven by hub-and-spoke consolidation, lowers CO2 emissions, and cuts the number of vehicles on roads by about 800 per day.
Launched in 1992, Palletline operates on a 100% member-owned model and has 96 member depots.
A recent addition to the membership is Mobile People Powered Logistics, which employs 90 people and operates 55 vehicles from sites in Birmingham and Aylesbury.
With network distribution accounting for about 70% of its operations and the remaining 30% carried out on its own vehicles, Mobile said its integration into the Palletline network will further enhance its service capability and national reach.
The haulier was also attracted to the network’s Palleteyes CCTV and barcode scanning system which enhances the tracking of consignments – providing more visibility of customers’ products passing through the network.
Palletline is forecasting growth from four million pallets a year to 4.3 million in 2026.
Matthew Marriott, Managing Director of Mobile People Powered Logistics said: “We wanted to be part of a 100% shareholder-owned network that gives us greater flexibility and control, but more importantly, one that shares our reputation for quality.
“Our customers choose us because they trust that their goods will be handled with the highest level of care – and Palletline shares that same ethos.
“The transition has been seamless – Palletline operates its own hub software, which integrates with our transport management system, meaning that neither our customers nor we have had to make any significant changes that focused on training.
“Reducing emissions is always a challenge in logistics, but we’re proud to be carbon neutral and to partner with a network like Palletline that shares our sustainability goals.”
Meanwhile, Palletways has more than 115 member depots across the UK and Ireland, moving more than 25,000 pallets per day through its network.
With a dedicated workforce of 140 employees and a substantial fleet featuring 96 vehicles and 130 trailers, Wiltshire-based Broughton Transport Solutions joined the network in the autumn of 2024.
Working in partnership with Palletways, the firm has added value to existing services using the network’s advanced IT systems, including intelligent monitoring and tracking systems which give customers of all sizes freight visibility through live updates.
It has also allowed Palletways to leverage Broughton’s deep-rooted regional expertise, ensuring that local deliveries are handled with local knowledge.
Toby Ovens, Managing Director at Broughton, said: “Joining Palletways gave us an excellent opportunity to grow our customer base locally and offer cost effective transport options for both existing and also new customers.
“We aim to grow our pallet transport services by investing in our fleet and our people and ultimately expand our geographic reach.”
In pallet networks, optimised route planning and strategically located hubs help quicken the delivery process, making hub and spoke logistics ideal for businesses operating just-in-time supply chains and those with seasonal peaks.
Pall-Ex, which is made up of more than 100 independent hauliers, operates as a partnership owned by its members and senior management.
A founding member of Pall-Ex, Cramlington-based Moody Logistics and Storage currently delivers in the North East to all NE postcodes and much of the DH area.
Following a three-fold increase in the volume of palletised freight it handles, partly due to its membership of Pall-Ex, the firm recently expanded the cross-deck loading facility at its headquarters on the Bolam Business Park.
The project increases the cross-deck area from 12,500 sq ft to 16,000 sq ft – enabling the family-run business to manage significantly higher freight volumes while maintaining safe and efficient operations.
This improved layout means everything can be loaded under cover – an important factor in maintaining the integrity of freight and ensuring goods move efficiently, safely and securely through the network.
Caroline Moody, Managing Director, said demand for palletised freight services has increased in recent years, due to the boom in e-commerce and need for cost-efficient logistics.
She added: “We’ve experienced a three-fold increase in palletised freight in recent years.
“When our cross-deck facility first opened (in 2017), we were handling just over 100 pallets daily, a figure that has now risen to around 350 pallets.
“It was increasingly challenging to manage that volume within the existing space, so we increased capacity to ensure the environment remains safe for the team operating forklifts and loading vehicles.”
Currie Solutions recently joined the Palletforce express distribution network, managing selected EH postcodes in the west of Edinburgh from its Livingston depot covering an area of mixed business, industrial and residential customers.
Based in Scotland and with offices across the UK and Europe, the haulier operates 160 vehicles and employs more than 400 staff across its depot network.
The company joined Palletforce to help it develop opportunities and boost pallet sales, as well as create strategic opportunities for it to enhance its European services even further.
Alex Robertson, Livingston Branch Manager at Currie Solutions, said: “We are already handling more freight than expected and the Palletforce Alliance IT system is working well for us.
“This takes the pressure off the office staff and ensures drivers have the info they require to be efficient and provide a high level of customer service.
“Collaboration across the network is impressive, with members genuinely working well together to help each other out.”
By pooling resources and expertise, members of pallet networks can move palletised goods with unmatched speed and efficiency.
Membership can also provide hauliers with opportunities to achieve efficiency gains, provide better service and grow road freight volumes as well as help with their decarbonisation plans.
