Simpson Bros £2 million fleet investment

SIMPSON Bros, a founder member of Palletforce, has invested £ 2million in its fleet.

The haulage firm, based in Chester-le-Street, Durham, has taken delivery of 22 new Scanias fitted with telematics and Active Predictive cruise control technology.

Some of the new vehicles replace older, less fuel efficient ones and some are new additions to the 100-strong fleet.

This significant investment comes just six months after the company moved to a new bigger 22 acre site with 330,000 sq ft warehouse after winning several big storage contracts.

"Investments such as these are how we continue to enhance the quality service we are renowned for and are key to the continued longevity and success of Simpson Bros," said Graham Simpson, Managing Director.

"The economic climate remains challenging but we continue to grow and with this latest investment we are starting as we mean to go on for the future – with customer service and top facilities at the heart of what we do."

Super Season Start For Culina Palletforce Racing

The newly-formed Culina Palletforce Racing team made a solid start on the opening event of its 2013 MSA British Rally Championship campaign when both team drivers completed the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally today in Carlisle.

John MacCrone led the way with a fantastic fifth overall after setting his, and the team's, first fastest stage time on the last test to jump two places on the leaderboard. He was followed home by Peter Taylor in a super seventh place after the 77-mile, two-day event through Kielder Forest.

The Pirelli Rally was a tough way to kick off the new season. Not only are the super high-speed stages some of the fastest and most ferocious in the series but, for both team drivers, it was their first competitive outings in the new CA1 Sport-prepared Citroen DS3 rally cars.

The gravel special stages across Kielder are renowned for their ability to catch out unwary drivers and their deep ditches lie in wait for anyone pushing too hard.

Speedy Scot MacCrone, however, was also competing for the first time with new co-driver, and former British rally champion, Phil Pugh. They were quick right from the off and matched times with the top British crews on the opening tests. But a puncture on stage five on Saturday slowed their challenge when they lost over three minutes to the other drivers and dropped back to 14th place.

However, 23-year-old MacCrone powered his way through today's four gravel stages in Kershope forest on the hunt for a top-ten finish. He set two second fastest times and went quickest overall on the final 9.66 mile dash through Glen Dhu to leapfrog his way up the leaderboard – jumping an incredible seven places and finishing the event in fifth overall.

Major fleet investment for Palletforce founder member

PALLETFORCE founder member Wm Armstrong is continuing its programme of modernisation with a £650,000 investment in its 90-strong fleet.

The family-run firm which celebrated its 85th anniversary last year has replaced nine of its vehicles with new Renault rigid four and six wheel curtain siders.

These new trucks are branded with Palletforce, the UK and Europe's leading palletised distribution network, livery and are also fitted with one-and-a-half-tonne tail lifts.

"We have established a programme to replace and renew existing vehicles within our fleet as well as an expansion plan," said Geof Armstrong, co-owner and director of Wm Armstrong.

"Not only will this investment build awareness of the Wm Armstrong and Palletforce brand in Scotland but it will also help us to enhance fleet efficiency which allows us to compete in a tight marketplace and offer an exceptional service to customers."

Last year Wm Armstrong replaced 40 per cent of its vehicles as part of its rolling modernisation programme to ensure its fleet is run at maximum efficiency.

Two new members for Palletforce

PALLETFORCE, the UK and Europe's leading palletised distribution network, has announced the addition of two new shareholder members.

BM Stafford in Hetton-le-Hole, Durham, and James Nuttall Transport in Rochdale, are the latest members to join the Palletforce network of more than 100 depots.

"Both of these companies have demonstrated the same commitment to quality and passion for excellent service that runs throughout Palletforce," said Michael Conroy, Chief Executive of Palletforce.

"Adding two more well-established and well-regarded members to the Palletforce team will further strengthen the network and supports our growth strategy throughout the UK and Europe."

As a family-run firm now being led by the third generation, BM Stafford has a long tradition of providing reliable service from its north east base.

"If you look at it like premiership football, we see Palletforce as being at the top of the league and we want to be associated with a recognisable large brand with a reputation for quality," said Mark Stafford, Director at BM Stafford.

Palletforce adds strength to Europe’s leading network alliance ‘ALLNET’

PALLETFORCE is forging forward with its European expansion plans by joining a 'giant' alliance of the continent's leading pallet networks.

By becoming part of ALLNET Alliance of Networks, Palletforce joins Palet System in France, One Express in Italy and ONLINE Systemlogistik in Germany – placing ALLNET as a European leader in palletised freight distribution.

Last year ALLNET distributed 9 million pallets, and with Palletforce as its new UK partner, the European networks will have 18 central hubs and 314 delivery centres covering 32 countries.

What makes this European alliance unique is that it is made up of quality networks with strong links between each national domestic network – guaranteeing a seamless palletised distribution throughout Europe.

"Pooling our resources with three of Europe's leading pallet networks creates a strong, unified, quality pan-European service," said Michael Conroy, Chief Executive of Palletforce.

Palletforce, the UK and Europe’s leading member owned pallet network is exhibiting at The Commercial Vehicle Show 2013.

Palletforce offers a total logistics solution for businesses with flexible deliveries for large or small consignments across the UK and Europe and will be exhibiting at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show.

The Show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th April 2013.

The Commercial Vehicle Show is the largest and most comprehensive road transport, distribution and logistics event staged in Britain.

Please come and visit us at in Hall 3a, Stand 3B121.

For more information about the Commercial Vehicle Show and for free tickets, please visit - http://www.cvshow.com/webcontent/

Palletforce market-leading technology investment puts members first

PALLETFORCE, the award-winning palletised freight network, has successfully completed a multi-million pound project – giving all of its members access to a highly-advanced ePOD (Electronic Proof of Delivery) facility used as part of the Palletforce-owned Alliance IT system.

In its biggest ever single technology investment, the network set aside £2million to ensure market-leading ePOD technology could be instantly on hand for all of its 85 member haulage companies.

This has resulted in the system being rolled out across the UK in 'record time' – within just six months – and now members and their customers are benefiting from the best technology available.

Dave Holland, Palletforce's Sales and Marketing Director, said: "We have invested in the very best quality technology and developed a progressive ePOD system that is so advanced that our members have found it utterly compelling.

"That's led to impressive and instant uptake across the entire network – propelling what we can offer end customers to an unrivalled level in our sector."