Retail Nominated Carrier Scheme

Pall-Ex is a Palletised Freight Distribution Network which specialises in the distribution of small consignment/part loads (e.g. 1-6 pallets per consignment).

Pall-Ex was established in 1996. We work on a hub-and-spoke operational methodology. The Hub is centrally located in the heart of England in Leicestershire and each of its spoke terminals (or member depots) being sourced and recruited from all over the UK to cover local collection and delivery activities. Today, Pall-Ex handles circa 9000 pallets every night, each one being delivered through our network.

As an overview, each of our members collect freight from their local area, during the day the proceed to consolidate this and at the appropriate time in the early evening each member runs at least one trailer into the hub facility. Here the freight is transhipped

Member depots take the freight back to their depots for onward delivery to the end customer.

Who we are

Our operational model means that Pall-Ex is ideally placed to provide seamless, cost effective logistics solutions to the retail sector. The model allows us to provide customers with national coverage under a standard code of conduct – every Pall-Ex member operates to a strict ‘member service agreement’ and are audited regularly to maintain high service quality. In light of this, Pall-Ex are the only pallet network to achieve the ISO 9001:2008 certification across the entire network operation.

Our approach – Pall-Ex delivering excellence to the Retail sector

Pall-Ex nominated carrier schemePall-Ex has provided logistics solutions to some of the UK’s leading retailers by way of a nominated carrier schemes, including Debenhams, B&Q and ASDA.

Retail Nominated Carrier SchemeOur retail nominated carrier scheme, essentially is a planned and coordinated supply chain process and a single network to link a retailer with many smaller suppliers.

The process is simple. Our local depot will collect goods from suppliers (daily if required) and then trunk it into our central hub. Then, the goods are trunked by one of our members to the retailers distribution centre.

An effortless idea that reduces congestion at distribution centres, in comparison to many deliveries from many suppliers.

At ASDA we are reaping the benefits of utilising the Nominated Carrier Scheme with the UK’s leading palletised freight distribution network, Pall-Ex.

We have been successfully working with Pall-Ex for 4 years, they are responsible for collecting freight from our UK stationery and Toy vendors, consolidating it at their centrally located hub before delivering to our distribution centres in Lutterworth and Doncaster on nominated days.

The major benefit of this carrier scheme is that congestion is considerably reduced at our distribution centres. For example, instead of having numerous suppliers making deliveries, Pall-Ex are able to reduce this to one delivery when requested.

Pall-Ex is ideally placed to undertake this particular nominated carrier scheme for ASDA, with total UK and European coverage. Being able to collect, consolidate and deliver to our distribution centres or even stores, improves efficiency for us and our customers. It also means that we have a single point of contact to trace freight, resulting in cost savings and administration reduction.We know that when consignments are required to be delivered, Pall-Ex will ensure that this is carried out in the smoothest possible way. This results in being able to manage our inbound flow more effectively.

Pall-Ex deliver thousands of pallets of goods daily, reaching every postcode in the UK, but are still able to tailor its services to the highest standards in order to meet the requirements of individual customers, just as it has achieved for ASDA.

Steve MilesWarehouse and Despatch Manager

Case Study