Palletforce triple finalists in motor transport awards
Palletforce is in the running for no fewer than three accolades at this year’s prestigious Motor Transport Awards.
The network has been shortlisted in the Apprenticeship of the Year, Best Use of Technology, and Business Excellence categories alongside the likes of Royal Mail, Eddie Stobart Logistics and Europa Worldwide Group.
And of nearly 60 leading UK businesses selected for this year’s awards, only three have more nominations across the 19 available categories.
The judges were impressed with Palletforce’s submissions, which highlighted the huge strides the company has made over the last 12 months in terms of investment and infrastructure development across its network.
For the Best Use of Technology award, Palletforce highlighted the creation of a new fleet of intelligent Super Fork-Lift Trucks, equipped with state-of-the-art imaging, scanning and weighing technology. The Apprenticeship of the Year submission focused on the industry-leading Palletforce FLT Academy, run in close conjunction with Burton and South Derbyshire College.
Meanwhile for the blue riband Business Excellence category, Palletforce’s financial performance and growth strategy, bolstered by the recent launch of an Asian service, earned the company a place on the four-strong shortlist.
Palletforce chief executive, Michael Conroy said: “This has been a big year for Palletforce, and we are delighted that all our hard work has been recognised by inclusion on three high-profile shortlists.
“The Motor Transport Awards bring together the cream of the industry, and it is testament to everyone at Palletforce, and the membership as a whole, that we can count ourselves among the very best in 2018.”
The 2018 Motor Transport Awards take place on July 4 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The category shortlists in full are:
Best Use of Technology: Palletforce, Cawleys, Eddie Stobart Logistics, Tarmac Trading. Apprenticeship of the Year: Palletforce, Royal Mail Fleet, Ford & Slater, Ryder. Business Excellence: Palletforce, Europa Worldwide Group, Miniclipper Logistics, The Pallet Network.
Innovative Palletforce Shortlisted for National Business Award
A passion for technological inspiration has put the UK’s leading pallet distribution network into the final of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards for the second year running.
Palletforce is included in a 10-strong shortlist for the Innovation Award category, which celebrates ideas that have had the greatest impact on an organisation or industry.
Since it was founded in 2001, the company has led the way in ground-breaking innovation in the field of express palletised distribution.
Key developments include their bespoke Alliance IT system, which allows customers to create their own barcode for each consignment and follow its progress from collection to delivery, and Electronic Proof of Delivery (ePOD) technology for members and customers to monitor the safe transit of consignments via SMS, email, iPhone app or the Palletforce website.
Meanwhile the company’s custom-built distribution Hub in Burton upon Trent is home to a fleet of fork-lift trucks, each fitted with industry-leading scan and weigh technology.
Capable of unloading and loading more than 300 lorries a night, the Hub has enabled Palletforce to halve turn-around times and increase lorry capacity to 85 per cent.
Indeed in January 2016 Palletforce became the first palletised distribution company in the UK to be awarded a patent covering their unique fork-lift truck weighing and scanning capability.
Work is currently underway on a new £50m SuperHub, the biggest of its kind in Europe, capable of processing more than 30,000 pallets per night for distribution across the UK and the continent through Palletforce’s European ALLNET operation.
Palletforce chief executive Michael Conroy said: “The innovations we have put in place have helped increase network pallet volumes year on year.
“However the driving force behind everything we do here at Palletforce is to ensure the long-term benefit to our members and customers, and we will continue to strategically invest in the new technologies necessary to keep us at the forefront of the industry.”
The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards are designed for companies of all sizes and industries showcase their excellence in business. After a rigorous shortlisting process successful companies will present to their category’s panel of judges in September, with the winners announced at the Award Ceremony in November.
Another Gold for Palletforce at 60th RoSPA Awards
While Team GB has been racking up golds in Rio, Palletforce, the UK’s leading freight distribution company, has been awarded its seventh consecutive RoSPA Gold Medal.
The achievement is unprecedented for a logistics company, and once again highlights Palletforce’s commitment to occupational health and safety.
Over 15,000 pallets a night are processed through Palletforce’s existing Burton upon Trent hub, a figure expected to double to 30,000 when the firm’s £50m SuperHub development becomes operational in 2017.
Palletforce chief executive officer Michael Conroy said: “Despite year-on-year increases in pallet volumes, we ensure that no corners are cut when it comes to safety in the workplace. We also spend a great deal of time and effort promoting the same high standards of safe working practices to our members across the UK.
“We are delighted to have been recognised once again by RoSPA, but with our new SuperHub due to come online next year we will not be resting on our laurels.”
The annual RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards acknowledge businesses and organisations which have shown commitment to accident and ill-health prevention.
The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.
This year’s event – the 60th – was held at the Hilton Glasgow Hotel and once again entrants were judged on overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.
Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “To win seven Gold Medals at such a highly-regarded event as the RoSPA Awards is a great achievement. It recognises Palletforce’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record and raises the bar for other organisations to aspire to.”
Palletforce Member C&D South West Named Green Award Finalist
A founder member of the Palletforce distribution network is in the running for a prestigious environmental award.
The Chard-based firm impressed judges by demonstrating its long-term commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency across its entire operation.
This includes major investment in energy efficient, eco-friendly vehicles – including a range of longer trailers as part of the Department for Transport trial to increase load volumes, reduce carbon emissions and maximise fuel efficiency.
However, key to the family-run firm’s submission was how membership of the Palletforce network has helped reduce emissions by around 15% across its vehicles used on national trunking routes.
“With road transport accounting for more than 20 per cent of all UK CO2 emissions, the road haulage industry faces tough challenges when it comes to balancing environmental responsibilities with profitability,” said Carl Wylde, commercial manager of C&D South West.
“But saving fuel and cutting emissions is not just limited to the road. Thanks to Palletforce’s business model and our state-of-the-art vehicle route planning and tracking systems, major improvements in operational efficiency have been achieved.
“Our trucks now travel to Palletforce’s Midlands hub fully loaded and hand over the consignment to a haulage partner, enabling our vehicles to return to base fully-loaded.”
The Palletforce network has won many awards for its efficiency and operations.
In 2015 it was named Logistics Supplier of the Year at the Grocer Gold awards for delivering benefits to the challenging grocery sector. It has also been listed as a double finalist at the National Business Awards in November for introducing innovation to the UK freight distribution sector.
As one of a small number of hauliers taking part in a pioneering Government initiative to slash emissions from the road haulage sector, C&D South West’s 30-strong fleet now boasts some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the region’s roads.
Each of its trucks meet European 5 and 6 emissions standards to reduce emissions of carbon and particulate matter. The fleet is also fitted with low-rolling resistance tyres to reduce drag and improve fuel economy even further, while drivers are enrolled in a continuing training and management programme.
Palletforce chief executive officer Michael Conroy says: “C&D South West has shown consistent and wide-ranging commitment to its environmental responsibilities, and winning this award would be a fitting acknowledgement of their efforts.
“We wish them luck on October 23, and look forward to playing a part in their success.”
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