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Global Pallet Systems (GPS), the 10th pallet system in the UK, made its official pitch to hauliers last week in the run-up to its launch on 12 February 2007. Addressing a crowd of haulage bosses in Shenstone, Worcs, GPS founder Mike Chamberlain stressed that the network is aiming for quality as well as extensive postcode coverage. "If people are true to their word and sign up, we will have all but seven postcodes covered in the UK. I will be working on getting the last seven before we go live,"  he said. To date GPS has signed up 51 members. Chamberlain repeatedly used the phrase "friendly network", meaning it will try to resolve delivery or pallet problems in a direct manner with all parties.

In order to minimise damage, all forklift drivers will complete a one-week in-house training course and will have strict instructions on health and safety. In fact health and safety was high on Chamberlain's agenda. One area to be addressed, not least due to concerns expressed by the Health and Safety Executive, is the whereabouts of truck drivers during loading and unloading. Designated yellow boxes on both sides of the cab will provide a 'safe zone' for the driver forklifts will only operate when the driver is within one of these safe areas. Monitoring of the pallets will be via wireless scanners transmitting data to an in-house computer system provided by Trans-aXion. This will enable GPS members to check the whereabouts and state of their pallets at any time via the internet.  Members will be able to chose from a range of delivery options and make comments about their load (for instance, if it has been damaged).

The software is not a piece of accounting software but it will be able to produce invoices. Concerns were voiced about vehicles queuing on the road outside the drive-through hub, but Chamberlain said the site has plenty of room for parked vehicles. GPS will handle half, full and oversized pallets. There will be weight restrictions with the possibility of fines for members who put overweight pallets into the system. Chamberlain made it clear that he will not tolerate late deliveries or bad service without a valid excuse: "If one company is repeatedly late for no good reason, we will terminate the contract as it will harm the network and our other members." He expects GPS to handle up to 1,500 pallets on its opening night, rising to 2,500 a night by the end of its first year.

When quizzed by some potential members on the network's low prices and whether there are any hidden charges, Chamberlain said: "We have a one-off joining fee of £1,000, but everything else is included in the pallet price - insurance, software, and so on. "I will not be bumping up prices if I don't have to, and if they do rise it will be by minimal amounts." Chamberlain has been involved with pallet networks for the past 10 years. GPS has been under development for 16 months the company's 3.5-acre site is near Kidderminster, Worcs. Construction of its 7,200m² drive-through hub is about to begin.