1. What Is a Pallet Network?
A pallet network is a collaborative logistics model where multiple regional haulage companies (called members) work together to provide nationwide palletised freight coverage.
Instead of each company running long-distance vehicles across the country, members share infrastructure—primarily a central hub and structured postcode zones—to collect, consolidate, and distribute pallet freight efficiently.
In simple terms, a pallet network allows a local haulier to collect freight from their customers, send it through the network overnight, and have it delivered the next day anywhere in the country—by another local member in the destination area.
This model transforms regional hauliers into part of a national delivery system while keeping local expertise and customer relationships intact.
2. Why Pallet Networks Exist
Before pallet networks, regional hauliers often faced inefficiencies when handling smaller palletised shipments destined for distant areas—loads too small for full truck runs but too large or costly for parcel carriers.
Pallet networks solve this by:
Pooling resources – Each member focuses on local collections and deliveries, sharing trunking routes and a central hub.
Reducing empty miles – Outbound and inbound loads are balanced across members.
Improving service reach – Every postcode in the UK and Ireland is covered by at least one member.
Enabling small-load efficiency – One or a few pallets can move nationwide at a controlled cost and service level.
This collaboration delivers economies of scale, reliable service standards, and traceable pallet movements, all of which benefit both hauliers and customers.
3. How Pallet Networks Operate
Operations typically follow a hub-and-spoke model:
Local Collection
Each member collects palletised freight from their customers within assigned postcodes. These pallets are scanned, labelled, and loaded onto trunk vehicles.Trunking to the Hub
At night, members’ trunk vehicles travel to the network hub—a central transhipment site. Pallets from all regions are unloaded, sorted by destination depot, and reloaded onto outbound trunks.Outbound Trunking
After sorting, vehicles return to their home depots carrying freight destined for their delivery area.Local Delivery
The receiving depot performs final-mile deliveries to consignees, completing the network cycle.
Throughout this process, pallet movements are tracked by barcode scans, and performance is monitored through the network’s IT systems.
3. The Role of Technology
Modern pallet networks rely heavily on digital platforms to coordinate activity across dozens or even hundreds of members.
Transport Management Systems (TMS) integrate directly with network IT to:
Exchange consignment data automatically,
Print compliant labels,
Receive scan updates and ePODs, and
Manage billing through self-billing interfaces.
This integration ensures consistency, visibility, and compliance across all depots, hubs, and service levels.
4. Pallet network Integrations with Qargo
Qargo actively supports integrations with the following pallet networks. Exact data flows and feature coverage differ by network and integration status.
Network | Order import | Order export | Labels | Status sync | ePOD | Delivery images | ETA | Customer paperwork |
Palletline | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | * | * |
Palletforce | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | * | * |
Palletways | * | * | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | * | * |
TPN | ✔ | * | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | X | * |
UPN | ✔ | * | * | * | ✔ | ✔ | * | * |
The Hazchem Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | * |
Pall‑Ex / Fortec | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * | * | * |
Pallet Express | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Pallet Track | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Notes:
✔ = Available in Integration
* = Available with Restrictions - refer to network documentation for details
X = Not supported
📚 Click on the Network partner to learn more about how Qargo integrations work.
