Palletline plc, the UK’s longest established pallet distribution network, has expanded again in the south of England.

The latest new member is Basingstoke-based Priddy’s Transport which has joined Palletline after being acquired by existing Palletline member, QTR of Reading.

Priddy’s Transport was founded more than 30 years ago by Robert Priddy and operates 20 vehicles. The company was previously a member of another pallet distribution network but is now covering the GU5-10, 17, 26-47 and RG21-29 postcode areas for Palletline, inputting more than 500 pallets each week. The historic Priddy’s brand name will be retained.

The acquisition of Priddy’s represents the second major deal undertaken recently by QTR, which has also acquired the pallet distribution arm of Hurst Distribution of Basingstoke, again previously a member of another network, which will now also put all of its pallet freight through Palletline.

Paul White of QTR commented: “These two acquisitions are major ones for us and represent a major increase in pallet traffic from the Group into the Palletline network. Priddy’s is a well established company with an excellent reputation and we believe it will thrive within the QTR Group and as a Palletline member in its own right.”

Palletline Managing Director Glyn Jones added: “The addition of Priddy’s Transport to the network will create an even more local service for Palletline customers in the GU and RG postcode areas who will now benefit from service levels which are widely recognised as the best in the sector.”

Operating from a main hub in Birmingham with regional hubs at Greenford, west London, and Preston, the company today employs some 150 staff, with major clients including blue chip organisations such as Parcelforce and J Sainsbury plc. As well as the UK, Palletline offers deliveries to mainland Europe, Scandinavia and the Irish Republic.

Uniquely among pallet networks in the UK, Palletline is wholly owned by its membership. Currently Palletline has more than 60 member companies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each year covering some 15 million miles and making more than 8000 deliveries a day on behalf of the network.

The company’s quality ethos is driven by ongoing investment in state of the art IT with sophisticated pallet scanning and a web-based track and trace system featuring on-line proof of delivery (POD) images to maximise service performance and transparency.