Member Article

New Palletline areas signify 40 per cent jump in volume for Ningbo’s southern operation

A growing logistics operator has been awarded work signalling a 40 per cent uplift in delivery volume for its new East London depot, following a dramatic rise through the Palletline performance league table.

The addition of the E postcodes to Ningbo Palletised Distribution’s Palletline territory in London signals a new phase of growth for the company’s fledgling London operation.

The haulier, which only opened its southern base, in Purfleet Industrial Park, in June, adds the East London postcodes to the Romford and Ilford membership contract areas it already services for Palletline, the national freight logistics network.

Ningbo is also celebrating winning significant new contracts from local businesses in the South East and East London.

They include the UK’s largest dispatcher of freight into Europe, and one of the other new deals alone is worth £1m annually. And Ningbo is keen to speak to more firms seeking UK, European, Irish or worldwide freight distribution, from one single small pallet to full loads.

Ningbo founder and managing director, Chris Stockton, has attributed the climb through the Palletline performance league for that region to a committed workforce of drivers and support staff.

He said: “Our predecessors did a good job delivering freight for customers, but we differ by specialising in network freight distribution and not using it as a bolt on to other sectors.

“We focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) to enhance our service. We offer a fully tracked and scanned system, including text messages or emails to customers advising of the estimated time of arrival, as well as instant digital proof of delivery.

“In addition, we have the highest score for on time and in full deliveries in the industry as part of Palletline’s hub and spoke freight delivery system.

“Local members deliver the freight to companies in their local territory. The Aberdeen member knows his locality and delivers the Aberdeen consignment. Palletline is the only membership owned network. We are shareholders and care about the whole Palletline business.

“The RM region was previously towards the bottom of the Palletline weekly league rankings, and we have taken it to the middle of the table of 85 of the best UK operators. We’re ranking alongside some of the best logistics firms in the country who are Palletline members. We’ve achieved this in just six months.

“I knew I wanted to grow the southern operation by replicating the success of our original northern depot in Wrexham. But the remarkable performance is down to a huge effort by the team.”

Ningbo’s recent investments in the 35,000 sq ft base in Purfleet Industrial Park include in eight additional vehicles worth a combined £250,000, six more trailers; £30,000 in IT hardware and software and £15,000 in training.

Chris added: “We’re now targeting to win more clients and our salesman is active in the area, and we’re always on the lookout to recruit good quality, experienced HGV drivers, who are a massive part of the whole team effort.”

Ningbo Palletised Distribution belongs to the Ningbo Group. Sister business Ningbo Furniture is a supplier of contract furniture.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .