Pallets are one of the most versatile means by which to ensure safe transportation of all kinds of goods across the UK and beyond. Thousands of them are on the roads every day. They make the storage and movement of individual items easier and their stable base helps to ensure all items remain safe, secure, and undamaged.
Pallet distribution networks help to reduce costs as well as making deliveries viable. They play a vital role in logistics but few people are aware of what they do. Here we’ll take a brief look at pallet distribution networks, what they are and how they work.
Why pallet networks are needed
It’s difficult, if not impossible, for any company to realistically make 24-hour pallet deliveries across the country. To do so the company would need to be huge. They would need to have a fleet of hundreds of lorries and vans and would need to employ hundreds of drivers and other operatives. While such companies do exist, they are few and far between. It’s not realistic for most pallet companies to promise fast delivery without working with other companies.
A pallet distribution network comprises a number of different companies working together. If an order is received from a client who wants pallets shipped to a part of the country where their local company doesn’t operate, the order will be placed with a company within the network who does.
Hub & spoke distribution
Pallet networks operate through a simple hub and spoke distribution network. These are specifically designed for palletised freight and consist of a national network of members that collect and deliver freight every day from across the UK, Ireland and the EU. These goods are collected and then delivered to a central hub. Another carrier will then take those goods and deliver them to the end-user or in some cases to another central hub when goods are being transported overseas.
This method reduces the number of vehicles that are required and helps to increase the average load carried by each truck. It’s a simple but effective means by which to save time and money, and it also helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. This brings down the environmental impact of individual companies and the logistics industry overall. It also means that there’s less traffic on the roads as most of the transportation happens late at night and in the early hours of the morning.
Reliable 24-hour deliveries
Increasingly, consumers and businesses demand speedy delivery. Some of the world’s biggest companies have helped to normalise this expectation, meaning that even start-ups need to find a way to meet the demand for fast delivery. Pallet distribution networks make sending large quantities of goods affordable, driving down costs both for businesses and the end-user. They give entrepreneurs and start-ups the chance to compete with the big names.
Do I need to use a pallet distribution network?
All kinds of companies use pallet distribution networks but pallet deliveries are particularly suitable for:
● 1-5 pallet consignments.
● Heavy goods.
● Regular quantities of smaller goods.
● Fragile items.
● Anything that requires fast, reliable and economical shipping.
If you need to get goods to their destination quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively, then a pallet distribution network could be the answer.
How much does it cost?
Costs do of course vary widely depending on which network you choose, the size of your consignment and how far your goods are travelling. As a rough guide the average cost of pallet transport in the UK is £45. This might not tell you much, however, so if you’d like to receive a more accurate quote, contact us today.
SSO Logistics is part of the Pallet Track Network
At SSO Logistics, we’re a part of the Pallet Track Network. This operates distribution from a centrally located hub in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Its link to the national Network of over 80 member depots, of which our own St Helens warehouse facility is one.
As a member of Pallet Track, we have the ability to offer overnight palletised distribution anywhere in the UK for small consignments. We can also offer a range of options for economy deliveries for goods of a non-urgent nature. As long as the transport request is entered onto our system by 11:30 on the day of collection this guarantees same day collection by 16:30 with delivery to most parts of the UK on a next day pallet delivery service.
If you’d like to find out more about what SSO Logistics can provide for your business, how our distribution network works, or to receive a detailed quote, don’t hesitate to contact us.
