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PALLET-TRACK 2009 GALA EVENING & AWARDS

On Saturday 14th November 2009 yet another successful event was held to celebrate the achievements of the network during the last 12 months. The venue for this years event was Whittlebury Hall, beautifully set in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, within close proximity of the famous Silverstone Race Circuit. The location provided us with the inspiration for this years ‘Racing Ahead with a Winning Formula’ theme and this years’ event attracted nearly 300 shareholder members, staff and invited guests who enjoyed a fantastic Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

Earlier in the day a General Meeting was held, with informative presentations, followed by an Open Forum providing each of the shareholder members the opportunity to raise points for discussion. The meeting was a success and proved that despite difficult trading conditions in 2009 Pallet-Track has enjoyed twelve successful months in its new Hub, a fantastic platform for future growth.

With the formal part of the weekend over it was time to move into the evening, a pre-dinner drinks reception in the hotel lounge was followed by a luxurious three course meal and it was over to the host for this years event the fantastically funny Mr Rod Woodward and his alter ego Mario De Niro. Mario kept the audience entertained with his humorous take on life seamlessly moving into the most prestigious part of the evening – The Awards Ceremony: Eight awards are given annually and recognise the hard work and dedication given to Pallet-Track Limited and its Shareholder Members.

The first award of the evening was for Trunk Driver of the Year and the winner of this category was Leroy Gould of E.L.B Partners, Leroy collected his award from Pallet-Track Finance Director, Rob Eaton.

S.Cooper & Sons Ltd won Best New Depot and Anthony Bullock and Iain Lister excitedly made their way to the stage to collect their award from Carl Jones, Administration Director.

Carl remained on stage to present the next award - Most Improved Sales and this years winner with an impressive increase of 6927 pallets was Hall & Roche Logistics Ltd representing the depot was Dai Davies and Julian Phillips who collected their award from Carl Jones.  

Mark Bailey, Network Director was on stage to present the fourth award of the evening, voted for by the membership, Best Delivery Depot recognises geographical location, delivery volumes and service excellence and for the third consecutive year this award was presented to E.L.B. Partners Limited, represented on stage by Danny Philpot, Peter Eason, James Osborn, Russell Newman and Paul White.

Members Depot of the Year is also voted for by the membership and for the second consecutive year this award was presented to Lynn Star Distribution & Logistics Limited with Barry Howard collecting this award from Mark Bailey.

The Pallet-Track Directors Recognition Award for 2009 is presented on behalf of the Pallet-Track Board of Directors and Chairman John Brougham called Gary Franklin Managing Director of Pyramid Logistics Ltd to the stage to collect their award.

Lisa Burrows was crowned Hub Employee of the Year and collected this well deserved accolade from Nigel Parkes, Managing Director of Pallet-Track Limited.

The eighth and final award of the evening is the prestigious Hub Depot of the Year, for 2009 this award was presented to Midland Freight Service Ltd and was collected by a very surprised, yet
humble Richard Jones.

Pallet-Track are pleased to announce that this years charity raffle winners were John Sheard, JMS of Doncaster, Steve Roberts, A E Costin and Nichola Amey-Harris, Castledene Transport. With prizes donated by Towergate Risk Solutions their unwavering support and the generosity of all guests in attendance two thousand pounds was raised for this years chosen charity – Promise Dreams.

Pallet Track on Central News

As part of a study into road and rail freight Central News interviewed both Pallet Track and one of our Network Members, Adam Jones Group to ask how pallet networks are helping hauliers to save money, prevent any empty travel and overcome the difficult financial climate we are all facing.

PALLET-TRACK MAKES HUGE IT INVESTMENT

Recent months have seen Pallet-Track continue to surge ahead of its rivals with its technical capabilities, investing in three cutting-edge IT systems.

The network has introduced a state-of-the-art paperless proof of delivery solution. The single, hand-held Pidion BM-150R device is tough, lightweight and comes with 1.3 megapixel camera and touch screen technology.

The system, which provides members with an eco-friendly, low cost, paperless process is currently being tested by a number of depots.

It will be rolled out across the network during the next few months, with the aim to have all members fully active by December.

In August, the network installed the new Pallet-Track Web System, which included a host of changes. The most welcome change is the creation of the Customer Pallet Volumes, for the first time reports can now be generated for a date range, using a specific customer account code.

This report provides daily volumes, on a specific date, a week or a month. The information can be broken down by pallet type, service, weight and surcharges, providing a snapshot of a single customer or all customers by depot.

Also, in the PoD Reports option, an EPoD League Table has been written in readiness for the Electronic Data Capture software.
Pallet-Track has also added to its track and trace facility, now extended, it has the capability of scanning at customers’ premises.

From the start of October 2008, member depots that have customers operating the Online Job Entry System are able to extend its functionality to scanning out of customer premises.

The software, which is designed for larger customers’ trailer accounts, supports both WIFI and standard scanner technology.

PALLET-TRACK BECOMES THE FIRST NETWORK TO BREAK THE US

Pallet-Track has become the first UK pallet network to launch a full service to the United States. The weekly service will be Operated both in the UK and in the US by shareholder member Logfret UK.

Pallets destined for America, will be collected from across the UK and will be trunked into the network’s Wolverhampton-based Titan Distribution Centre by network members. The pallets will then be collected every Thursday for onward container shipment to
ports Stateside.

PALLET PEOPLE

	Mark Drobka joined Pallet-Track in April as national business development manager. Mark previously worked for PalletForce, Business Express and Lynx Express. He has been a football referee for the past 15 years and has refereed Tony Cascarino among many other top players.		HR co-ordinator Sarah Hayes joined Pallet-Track in April after working for the department store BHS for 16 years. In her spare time Sarah likes to make wine.
	Telesales operator Chloe Savage joined the Pallet-Track team in June from Computeach International. Chloe is responsible for sourcing new leads and making appointments. In her younger days Chloe was scouted by Aston Villa Ladies.		Christine Comerford has been appointed as corporate business development manager. Christine has almost 10 years of commercial experience in the distribution industry, Christine has just started to learn golf.
	Julia Gill was also appointed as telesales operator in June from Computeach International. Julia previously worked in the retail and health and social care sectors.

TELESALES

In April, the network introduced a telesales operation to support its Business Development Managers in the field. The team has proved so successful it will be extended in the coming months. “The team offers the members a different angle to secure sales,” says national business development manager Mark Drobka.

MEMBERS’ BROCHURE

Pallet-Track has become the first network to offer a dual promotional brochure for members to present to potential customers. The brochures, which can be customised to feature an information page about the network and the member, are available at £250 for 200 copies. For more information please contact Mark Drobka.

NIGHT EMPLOYEES

Pallet-Track is delighted to reveal the latest winners of its Night Operation Employee of the Month. Forklift-truck operator Ken Spruce picked up the award in June, while fellow FLT Operator Dave Tierney was awarded the gong for July and we now have August Night employee of the month – David Gronow – working above and beyond usual duties during holiday period. The award recognises initiative, consistent performance, quality of work, positive attitude and their team performance.

GOLF DAY 2009

Pallet-Track members raised more than £2,700 for Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham at the network’s fourth annual charity golf day, held at Morley Hayes Golf Club, Derbyshire in May.
50 players took part in the event consisting of 12 teams of four and one team of two.

Many depots sponsored a tee on the day, along with a charity raffle and the annual game of Heads and Tails added more money to the total.
Pallet-Track would like to congratulate the day’s winners: Ian Taylor from PGS who secured the nearest pin award and Rod Jenkin of RR Transport who picked up the Longest Drive prize.
The team award was won by Translink, who secured 91 points on the day, but close behind with 81 points were ELB Partners.
The day ended with a three course meal in the evening.

PALLET-TRACK FC UPDATE

Pallet-Track is proud to once again be sponsoring the Wednesfield Wanderers Under-10 football team.

The network has purchased match kits, complete with the Pallet-Track logo on front, for the team which now plays in the Bilston Partnership youth football league.

Last season, the team finished fifth in the league, reached the quarter finals in the league cup and reached the fourth round of the charity cup.

Pallet-Track has sponsored the team from their first season, in 2006/07.

SANDRA ROBERTS

Pallet-Track would like to say a big well done to account manager Sandra Roberts for completing the 5k Race for Life event in Sandwell Valley Park in July.

Sandra, who got in shape for the challenge with weekly swimming sessions and by walking her dogs, raised £240 for Cancer Research as she finished the course in 40 minutes. Congratulations Sandra!

 

 

 

 

 

PALLET-TRACK MAKES THE NATIONAL PRESS

Network member LCK, based in Copthorne near Crawley, hit the tabloid headlines in August but not for any celebrity-style antics. The company was hurtled into the media spotlight for spotting an unusual upside-down rainbow, the result of freak atmospheric conditions.
Managing director Nigel Blackwell, captured the spectacle in a five-minute period on Valentine’s Day this year, after his son alerted him.
“I did show the newspapers to the staff, some of course took the mick wanting autographs etc, the rest did not appear to be that excited, no clients commented on it,” said Nigel.