The man credited with revolutionising Britain’s haulage industry has been honoured for his work over the past 40 years.
Palletforce Chairman John Brotherton has been handed the Lifetime Achievement Award at the highly acclaimed IFW Awards in London.

Mr Brotherton, 65, is one of the industry’s ‘unsung heroes’ and has overseen some of the sector’s biggest advances.  

“It has been a privilege to serve the industry for so many years,” said Mr Brotherton, who is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, and the Institute of Logistics. 

“It’s an honour to be handed a lifetime achievement award, but I would also like to think I have a lot more to offer the transport industry.”

Amongst his many achievements Mr Brotherton has been involved in developing the UK’s first track-and-trace system in a Contract Distribution company, setting up the first responsive pallet network using different depots, and creating the UK’s first real pan-European distribution network.

He added: “There have been many changes over the years that have helped mould the transport industry into its current shape. It is wonderful to think that I have played a part in that.”

One of Mr Brotherton’s biggest successes began in 1979 when he joined the family-owned Swift Transport Service, where he increased turnover from £2million to £110million – with the number of staff rising from 110 to 3,000.

Following the merger of Swift into the LEP Group in 1986, Mr Brotherton became CEO of the LEP-Swift pan-European distribution network, whilst retaining the roles of Chairman and CEO of Swift. He then became Worldwide CEO of LEP’s logistics and distribution operations.

In 1991 Mr Brotherton led the management buyout of Swift, which was sold two years later for £85million – making it, at the time, the most successful UK-based management buyout in terms of increased equity.

Today Mr Brotherton is continuing his work in shaping the industry as Chairman of Palletforce, one of the UK’s leading palletised distribution networks.

Palletforce CEO Michael Conroy, who is himself considered one of the rising stars of the sector, said working with Mr Brotherton had been a real inspiration.

He said: “As well as his achievements, John is the most genuine individual I have worked with. He is fair and honest, extremely challenging and not afraid to challenge the status quo. My career has benefited from it, as have countless others.”