Pallet-Track and Fortec members switch places

Fortec member Matthew Kibble Transport and Pallet-Track member Ainsworth & Martin are switching places from July.

Nelson, Lancashire-based Matthew Kibble, a former Motor Transport Haulier of the Year, will cover the Preston and Blackpool areas for Pallet-Track from 12 July, after five years with Fortec.

MD Matthew Kibble says that as Pallet-Track's hub in Wolverhampton is closer, it will help cut vehicle miles compared with trunking to Fortec's Watford Gap, Northants facility.

Meanwhile, Penwortham-based Ainsworth & Martin - which was a founding member of Pallet-Track in its Ainsworth Martin (Preston) guise - will take over the Blackburn, Preston and the Fylde coast areas for Fortec.

"We had two main motives for switching to Fortec," says Stephen Dunn, MD at Ainsworth & Martin. "I believe Fortec is the best-kept secret in the pallet network business. Its association with Geodis Calberson was highly appealing because we will be able to offer our customers a pan-European service with competitive rates. It also has the partnership with APC Overnight, meaning we can offer clients an overnight parcel service too."

The firm also cites Fortec's IT system, ForTrack, as a pull factor because it allows members and clients 24-hour online access to precise pallet movements.

Ainsworth & Martin is the pre-pack successor to Ainsworth & Martin (Preston), which went into administration in October last year.