TruckandTrackSummer2020

Truck and Track Summer 2020 www.truckandtrack.com 30 PALLET NETWORKS The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) says that while the pallet network sector is seeing healthy volumes return to the networks, it is particularly well placed to help UK manufacturers whose order books have unpredictable and fluctuating volumes. APN chairman Paul Sanders says: “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 Road Haulage Association. “The pallet network members have no need to ramp up operations because they have never stopped working,” says Sanders. “And unlike dedicated transport models, the networks can manage consignments 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 its model offers the most sustainable and green of transport solutions because the Hub and spoke model cuts all unnecessary mileage. The network model is the most effective consolidation process in the UK logistics sector, and is also easily scalable and flexible, he says. “We are really pleased to be able to support UK manufacturers at this time,” says Sanders. “We offer a highly efficient service, in terms of cost and carbon but with excellent service levels.” APN reports that the networks’ volumes have grown steadily. “We are confident that the networks are seeing farmore 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,” says Sanders. www.theapn.co.uk Paul Sanders, Chairman of the Association of Pallet Networks The pallet network sector is best placed to help manufacturers get back to business APN chairman says that manufacturers can benefit from the flexibility and scalability of pallet network services as their businesses rebuild Leading transport and warehousing company Knowles Transport is setting its sights on moving into the e-commerce arena having supported its customers with their online offerings throughout the pandemic period. From the beginning of lockdown Knowles, in addition to managing an initial 30% spike in volumes, has been responsible for picking, packing and distributing over 20,000 food parcels for emergency services staff on a daily basis. It was a huge feat and an exercise which has been a great success laying the foundations for Knowles Transport to build its e-commerce offer in the future. A specialist in the transportation of ambient foodstuffs, Knowles Transport prides itself on its service offering. Its service portfolio is already extensive and includes contract logistics, full-load, part- load and groupage services. It has never been a company to stand still and throughout its 88-year history has consistently pushed the boundaries to ensure it continues to deliver a best in class service to its customers. Its move into the e-commerce sector will be no exception. With over two million square feet of warehouse capacity nationally, Knowles is ideally placed to add e-commerce fulfilment to its service portfolio to support both existing and new customers in this fast-growing market. Throughout the Covid period, online shopping has escalated to peak levels and despite the relaxation in lockdownmeasures there is little sign that this is slowing down. What is evident is that Covid has changed people’s mindsets. Indeed, a recent YouGov survey found only 9% of Britons want life to return to ‘normal’ even after the coronavirus crisis comes to an end. Furthermore, according to the latest market data from analysts Kantar, sales for home delivery increased by a staggering 91%as UK shoppers continued to turn to online grocers amid concerns about visiting supermarkets with one in five families ordering online. Alex Knowles, Managing Director of Knowles Transport sees the company’s transition into the e-commerce market as being a natural extension of its services. He commented: “The grocery sector is ever-evolving, and the needs of our customers are consistently changing in line with market and customer demands. As a business we have always been agile and flexible enough to meet these demands and see e-commerce as being the next stage of our ongoing journey.” Alex Knowles continued: “Covid has undoubtedly changed people’s shopping habits forever and it is important that we are able to accommodate these changes by providing a high quality e-commerce service to our customers. “We already have the warehouse space and necessary IT in place and apart from some reconfigurations in the warehouse to pick faces in order enable single item picking and the necessary packing facilities specific to customer requirements, we are good to go. “It is an exciting opportunity and one which we feel confident we can deliver alongside our existing business maintaining the high levels of service for which we are renowned.” Knowles Transport in strong position to move into e-commerce sector COMBINED TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS 01543 420 121 www.deker.co.uk