Pallex

What Pallex does

Pall-Ex Group (Pallex) is a UK-founded logistics company operating a pan-European palletised freight distribution network using a hub-and-spoke model. Founded in 1996 by Hilary Devey CBE and headquartered in Ellistown, Leicestershire, the group operates master licensee networks across 12 European territories including the UK, Italy, France, Iberia (Spain/Portugal), Romania, Poland, Czechia/Slovakia, and Benelux. The network comprises over 650 independent sub-licensee transport companies operating 7,500+ vehicles, with operational scale demonstrated by Italy moving approximately 2 million pallets annually and France delivering over 40,000 pallets per day worldwide.

The company's core technology platform is Nexus, a proprietary, internally built transport management system that provides multi-language, multi-currency operations, real-time track-and-trace, Google Maps integration, and AI-driven route optimization with timed ETAs. Nexus is supplemented by NexusGo, an Android application for sub-licensee delivery reporting with GPS and ePOD functionality, and MyNexus, an award-winning customer portal with live dashboards, KPI reporting, and electronic proof of delivery. Pall-Ex Connect provides international cross-border services via land, sea, and air linking domestic networks across continents.

Pall-Ex generates revenue through a hybrid model: master licensee licensing fees from partners who operate hubs and recruit sub-licensees in their territories; sub-licensee network fees for access to the brand, IT system, and freight distribution rights; and direct transaction-based freight fees for palletised shipments (1 to full trailer load). The company targets B2B manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and increasingly e-commerce/B2C shippers, with specialised capabilities in temperature-controlled freight, oversized pallets, and EU cross-border distribution under customs regime 40/42. The group holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications across multiple territories and received a third Lean & Green star for CO2 reduction at its Iberia operations.

Name

Pallex

Legal name

Pall-Ex Group Limited

Website

https://pallex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pall-Ex Group is a UK-founded pan-European palletised freight distribution network operating a hub-and-spoke model across 12 territories via 8 master licensees, 600+ sub-licensees, and 7,500+ vehicles, serving manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and e-commerce shippers through its proprietary Nexus TMS platform and franchise-licensing business model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palletised Freight Distribution & Logistics

NAICS

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Interregional/Long-Haul LTL Network Carriers (TLADAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA)

Keywords

• Palletised freight distribution
• Logistics network services
• European freight forwarding
• Hub-and-spoke delivery
• Transport management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Coalville

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Master Licensee Licensing: Pall-Ex grants master license rights to operators in new territories. Master licensees operate hubs, recruit sub-licensees, and pay licensing fees. This is the primary mechanism for international expansion.
2. Palletised Freight Distribution Services: Core freight distribution revenue from palletised shipments across domestic and international networks. Revenue is generated through member network volumes moving pallets across the hub-and-spoke system.
3. Sub-licensee Network Fees: Sub-licensees pay network fees for access to the Pall-Ex brand, Nexus IT system, and the ability to distribute freight nationally as part of the network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pall-Ex Group provides palletised freight distribution services across Europe via a hub-and-spoke network of 650+ independent haulier members and 7,500+ vehicles, supporting single-pallet to full trailer load shipments with overnight, next-day, economy and timed delivery options. The offering is delivered with the proprietary Nexus transport management system, MyNexus customer portal and NexusGo mobile app for real-time tracking, booking and proof of delivery. International cross-border services (Pall-Ex Connect), temperature-controlled freight and a streamlined European distribution gateway service launched in 2024 complement the core freight product.

Product overview

Pallex operates as a pan-European palletised freight distribution network using a hub-and-spoke model. The core technology platform is Nexus, a proprietary transport management system that provides real-time tracking, route optimization, and operational management. The product portfolio includes Nexus (core TMS), NexusGo (mobile scanning app for sub-licensees), and MyNexus (customer-facing portal for booking and tracking). Pall-Ex Connect provides international cross-border services connecting domestic networks across more than 30 countries. Regional networks operate in UK, France, Italy, Iberia, Romania, Poland, Czechia/Slovakia, and Benelux, with over 7,500 vehicles and 600+ sub-licensees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nexus: Advanced in-house developed IT platform providing multi-language, multi-currency, real-time track-and-trace, Google Maps integration, and built-in modules for international delivery, oversized pallets, and billing.
• NexusGo
• MyNexus
• Pall-Ex Connect
• Fortec Distribution Network

Products and services

• Domestic Palletised Freight Distribution End-to-end palletised freight distribution within European countries delivered through a hub-and-spoke network of 650+ independent sub-licensee members and 7,500+ vehicles. Supports single-pallet to full trailer load shipments, next-day overnight delivery, economy delivery, timed delivery, B2C final-mile and oversized pallets, priced via quote per shipment. Customers include UK manufacturers, retailers and distributors such as Luxury Wood Company.
• Pall-Ex Connect (International Cross-Border Service) International cross-border palletised freight service operating globally via land, sea and air that connects domestic pallet networks across continents. Provides integrated European IT solutions and real-time tracking for shippers moving pallets internationally. Targeted at businesses distributing freight across multiple European or global markets requiring a single integrator.
• Nexus Transport Management System Proprietary transport management system (TMS) built internally providing a complete operations backbone for Pall-Ex stakeholders. Multi-language and multi-currency, real-time track-and-trace, Google Maps integration, modules for international delivery, oversized pallets and billing. Used across the European network by shippers, master licensees and sub-licensees.
• Streamlined European Distribution Service New streamlined European distribution service with innovative trunking lanes and end-to-end tracking within the Pall-Ex network, providing gateway access to EU countries and clearance in the UK under regime 40/42 for decreased transit times. Targeted at businesses moving goods across the EU who need seamless customs clearance and reduced friction.
• Temperature-Controlled Freight Service Temperature-controlled palletised freight service operated from the San Fernando de Henares hub, maintaining temperatures between 2–8 degrees centigrade for temperature-sensitive goods, with a specially designed handling area at the hub facility. Targeted at pharmaceutical, food & beverage and other cold-chain shippers across Spain and Portugal.
• Master Licensee Partnership Programme Master license rights granted to established transport or logistics operators who operate regional hubs and recruit sub-licensees within a designated territory, using the Pall-Ex brand and Nexus IT system. Currently in operation across 12 European territories with 8 master licensees, with expansion planned in Germany, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia, the Balkans, the UAE and other regions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% vehicle fill rate vs 51% conventional freight — reduces costs and environmental impact
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Graveolents Group / Investex GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Investex Group (a company of Graveolents Group) signed a Master Licensee Agreement (MLA) with Pall-Ex Europe in August 2021 to form Pall-Ex CS, operating across Czechia and Slovakia. Investex Group specialises in rail transport of automotive parts and is establishing a central hub near the common borders.
• Uniq Logistics (Poland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniq Logistics is Pall-Ex Poland's partner for the operation and investment in the Polish network, including the new central hub in Łódź.
• Grupo Damm / AgoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo Damm founded Agora (logistics and IT consulting company) and signed a master license agreement with Pall-Ex Group in 2010 to establish Pall-Ex Iberia, covering Spain and Portugal. Agora provided the local expertise while Pall-Ex provided brand, technology, and operational framework.
• Pall-Ex Network Members (650+ Sub-licensees)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 650 independent road transport companies operate as sub-licensees within the Pall-Ex network, collecting and delivering pallets within designated territories. They use the Nexus IT system and brand.
• Pall-Ex Master Licensee Networks (8 territories)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor8 master licensees operate across 12 European territories including UK, Italy, France, Romania, Poland, Iberia, Czechia/Slovakia, and Benelux. Each holds exclusive rights to operate and develop the Pall-Ex network within their territory.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DX Group (DX Freight): UK-based logistics group providing parcel, freight, and palletised distribution services. Operates in the same UK B2B freight market with similar overnight and next-day delivery products.
• The Pallet Network (TPN): UK palletised distribution network using a franchised member model and shared IT systems to consolidate LTL freight. Same end-market (UK palletised freight) and similar network structure as Pall-Ex UK.
• Palletways: Europe's largest palletised freight network, operating across 20+ European countries via a master licensee model almost identical to Pall-Ex's. Both companies are direct competitors in the same European LTL pallet network category serving B2B shippers with hub-and-spoke consolidation.
• United Pallet Network (UPN): UK-headquartered pallet distribution network operating a similar hub-and-spoke model with member hauliers. Directly competes with Pall-Ex in UK and some European markets for palletised freight volume.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Freight: One of Europe's largest road freight providers offering domestic and cross-border LTL services. Competes with Pall-Ex on European freight contracts and leverages a much larger owned-network footprint.
• Geodis: Global logistics provider with significant European road freight and contract logistics operations. Overlaps with Pall-Ex in B2B palletised freight across European markets as part of broader freight forwarding.
• DB Schenker (now DSV): Major European freight forwarder and road transport provider with European LTL network. Broader incumbent competing for cross-border palletised freight alongside Pall-Ex Connect.
• DSV: Global transport and logistics company with extensive European road freight and LTL operations, including its acquired Palletways competitor (DB Schenker). Overlaps with Pall-Ex on European freight but at vastly larger scale.
• XPO Logistics: Major European LTL trucking and freight transport provider. Competes with Pall-Ex on European road freight, particularly for larger shipper contracts, but operates a much larger owned fleet rather than a franchise model.

Others

• Fortec Distribution Network: Part of the Pall-Ex Group, operating as a quality-focused distribution network in the UK. Sibling brand rather than competitor, illustrating Pall-Ex's own multi-brand network structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PallExGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ThePallExchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/PallEx.Group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pallexgroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pallex