The Pallet Network, Ireland’s largest freight distribution service for palletised goods, launched the book ‘TPN: 10 Years On – The Story of Ireland’s Largest Pallet Network’ on Saturday, 6th December 2014 at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin.
In the book, author Catherine de Courcy charted the history of each of the 23 member hauliers, and how The Pallet Network has grown ten-fold in the past decade in spite of the country’s worst ever recession.
The Pallet Network is a revolutionary business model, where hauliers work together to provide each other with an overnight nationwide service for palletised freight. Each of the hauliers works within their own territory. Members bring their freight to the sortation hub nightly and return with their fellow-members’ freight for delivery in their territory.
Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, The Pallet Network said: “We are delighted to launch this book, which is a celebration of ten years of the pallet networks and one of the few books ever to be published about the haulage industry in Ireland. Throughout the last decade, members of TPN have shown courage and determination in breaking the mould and changing the way the haulage industry works in Ireland. It is important we congratulate these members on the part they have played in the success of the network, as well as chart the human stories in an industry where history is not well documented.”
In the foreword to the book, Pascal Donohue TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said: “It is with pleasure that I congratulate TPN, The Pallet Network and all of its members on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the innovative transport network. The road transport industry carries out a vital function in Ireland, where the great majority of goods transported around the country are carried by road. Persevering through the challenging economic times, the Pallet Network has become an important participant in the sector, providing customers with a range of quality services. My Department is committed to supporting the road transport sector and I wish TPN, The Pallet Network every success with this publication and their future business.”
Next year, TPN will launch its new network, The Parcel Network. Applying the same model, they will provide an overnight delivery service to the 32 counties of Ireland. TPN also forecast that there will be 5,000 pallets going through the network each night by 2018, and plans to start work on a third pallet handling facility.