THE PALLET NETWORK (IRELAND)

What THE PALLET NETWORK (IRELAND) does

The Pallet Network (Ireland) Ltd, founded in June 2004 and headquartered in Ballycoolin, Dublin 15, operates a hub-and-spoke palletized freight distribution network connecting 25 Irish regional transport company partners and integrating with sister network TPN UK's 120 UK depots. The central Dublin hub, housed in a 100,000 sq ft warehouse operated by founding member Independent Express Cargo on an eight-acre site, sorts pallets nightly to provide overnight delivery to all 32 counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland, 48-hour door-to-door service to and from the UK mainland, and synchronized customs clearance for post-Brexit Ireland-UK trade. Six of the 14 founding hauliers remain active in the network, and the company celebrated its 20th anniversary in June 2024.

The underlying technology is the proprietary TPN Connect platform — a single unified IT system deployed across all 145 Irish and UK depots that handles manifest management, pallet tracking, proof of delivery, and customs synchronization. IT Director Gary Costelloe built the platform's distinctive components, including a unique Irish postcode system derived from car registration numbers (introduced because UK postcodes do not apply to Ireland), barcode scanning deployed across the network in 2007, and an in-house member invoice module released the same year. TPN Connect and the publicly accessible Track & Trace portal are the operational backbone; the network also operates 24/6 at the Dublin hub and is the only pallet network in Ireland or the UK to hold ISO9001:2015 accreditation across both the central hub and every network depot.

The business model is a partner-mediated freight network: TPN Ireland Ltd does not contract directly with end shippers but orchestrates the network that does. Members — independent regional hauliers such as Breffni Couriers, Liam Connolly Roadfreight, Langan Couriers, AM Nexday, Allen Logistics, Store-All Logistics (550,000+ sq ft of temperature-controlled warehousing), and Eoin Gavin Transport — sell palletized freight services locally and remit fees to the network for hub access, IT platform use, and shared marketing. Revenue streams include transaction fees on palletized freight distribution, transaction fees on international freight forwarding (European road, airfreight and deep-sea container shipping including Asia/China focus via TPN XPort), managed services revenue from hub-site storage, pick-and-pack and fulfilment, and professional services revenue from customs bond and clearance. The company has 32 direct employees and operates with dedicated business development managers targeting enterprise Ireland-UK and Ireland-Continent shippers.

Name

THE PALLET NETWORK (IRELAND)

Legal name

The Pallet Network Ireland Ltd

Website

https://tpn.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Pallet Network (Ireland) operates a hub-and-spoke palletized freight distribution network of 25 Irish and 120 UK regional transport partners, providing overnight Ireland-wide delivery, 48-hour UK import/export service, customs clearance, and international forwarding via a shared Dublin hub and unified TPN Connect IT platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palletised Freight Distribution

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Truckload (TL) Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dry Van (General Freight) TL Carriers (TLADADAA)

Keywords

• Palletised freight distribution
• Overnight pallet delivery
• Freight forwarding services
• Pallet network logistics
• Customs clearance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Palletized Freight Distribution: Core revenue from overnight pallet delivery services within Ireland (32 counties) and 48-hour UK delivery services. Revenue generated through network member depots that pay for access to the TPN network and shared hub services.
2. International Freight Forwarding: European road freight, airfreight, and deep sea container shipping services. TPN provides freight forwarding to and from all main geographical areas of the world with focus on container shipping from Asia/China.
3. Storage and Fulfilment: Hub site logistics facility handling inbound containers, storage, pick and pack, and despatch to end users. Store-All Logistics (partner) offers 550,000+ sq ft of warehousing.
4. Customs Clearance Services: Customs bond and customs clearance services, particularly for UK import/export since post-Brexit requirements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Pallet Network (TPN) Ireland operates a palletised freight distribution network of 25 regional Irish transport company partners connected to 120 UK partner depots via a central Dublin hub at Ballycoolin. The company provides overnight pallet delivery to all 32 counties of Ireland, 48-hour UK import/export service, international freight forwarding (European road, airfreight, and deep sea), customs clearance, and hub-site storage and pick-and-pack services. The unified TPN Connect IT platform synchronizes manifest management, track-and-trace, and customs clearance across the entire network.

Product overview

The Pallet Network Ireland operates as a unified palletised freight distribution network consisting of 25 Irish depots connected to 120 UK depots through a central hub in Dublin. The core offering combines overnight national delivery services (TPN Ireland Deliveries), 48-hour UK import/export services, and international freight forwarding via TPN XPort. Technology platforms TPN Connect and Track & Trace provide real-time visibility and network management. Additional services include storage and pick-and-pack fulfillment, customs clearance, and TPN XL for oversized shipments. The network utilises double-deck trailers and operates 24/6 at the Dublin hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ireland Deliveries (Overnight Pallet Delivery)
• UK Import/Export Service
• International - TPN XPort
• Storage - Pick & Pack
• Customs Bond and Customs Clearance
• TPN XL

Quantifiable outcome

• Proof of delivery compliance improved from 67% within 3 days to 99% within 2 days after implementing weekly league table monitoring
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• Eoin Gavin Transport (Depot 130)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 February 2024Eoin Gavin Transport pioneered the 19.5m combination trailers that reduce carbon emissions by 12.5%. Located in Bunratty, Co. Clare, joined TPN in 2008. Depot 130 provides international long-haul transport including refrigerated trailers for fish exports to France and Spain.
• Dennison (Trailer Manufacturer)supportingTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2024Dennison manufactured the new 19.5m combination trailers for TPN, designed in partnership with Eoin Gavin Transport. Each trailer removes equivalent of one trailer off the road, reducing carbon emissions by 12.5%.
• European Freight Forwarding PartnersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Strategic alliances with European-based freight forwarders offering premium services to and from all of mainland Europe. Trucks loaded with exports and unloaded of imports at TPN Dublin hub, providing clients direct access to European delivery services.
• Terberg (Shunter Manufacturer)supportingTechnology or Integration · 6 October 2023Terberg YT182 shunter introduced to speed up operations at Dublin Hub. Can pull up to 115 tonnes and lift 36 tonnes, designed for moving trailers in distribution centres without needing to wind up trailer supporting legs.
• Total Materials Handling (TMH)supportingTechnology or Integration · 22 September 2023Dublin-based Total Materials Handling are exclusive distributors for Still & Hako in Ireland. They supplied TPN with 10 new Still RX60-25 electric forklifts for the Dublin hub, replacing diesel-powered equipment with zero-emission electric alternatives.
• Still (Forklift Manufacturer)supportingTechnology or Integration · 22 September 2023Still, manufactured by KION Group, supplies electric forklifts (RX60-25 model) to TPN through Total Materials Handling. The forklifts feature improved manoeuvrability with tighter turning circles due to battery placement.
• Dixon InternationalsupportingTechnology or Integration · 23 August 2023Dixon International handles UK trunking operations for TPN Ireland, transporting double-deck trailers between Dublin and UK destinations.
• Store-All Logistics (Depot 105)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Store-All Logistics operates from Belview Port Waterford with 550,000+ sq ft of warehousing across 8 temperature-controlled facilities. Major clients include GlaxoSmithKline and Glanbia. Joined TPN in 2010.
• TPN UK (The Pallet Network UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2004TPN Ireland is linked to TPN UK as a sister network, providing seamless Ireland-UK pallet distribution services. The partnership uses the same IT platform and operational standards, with nightly double-deck trailer movements between Dublin and TPN UK Hub in Minworth. This 21-year partnership enables Irish hauliers to offer UK-wide delivery services.
• Independent Express CargocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2004Independent Express Cargo (Depot 102) serves as the Dublin hub operator and founding member of TPN Ireland. Founded by Owen Cooke in 1984, the company invested €5 million extending its warehouse in 2003-04 to accommodate the first TPN hub. 100,000 sq ft facility operates as TPN hub at night.
• Breffni Couriers (Depot 112)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2004Breffni Couriers (Brian & Geraldine O'Reilly) was the first truck to arrive at the TPN hub on June 8, 2004. One of the biggest inputters into the network with skilled balancing of pallets in and out.
• Langan Couriers (Depot 108)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2004Langan Couriers (Michael Langan & John McGann) is a founding member established in 1981. Major clients included Nortel, Hewlett Packard, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific. Hosts Depot 108 in Oranmore, County Galway.
• Liam Connolly Roadfreight (Depot 114)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2004Liam Connolly Roadfreight (founding member 2004) operates from Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. First to be invited to join TPN, family-owned since 1981. Won first ever TPN Depot of the Year (2008) and again in 2013.
• AM Nexday (Depot 101)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2004AM Nexday (Alex & Damien Maguire) is the TPN UK member for Northern Ireland. Major retail clients include B&Q, WH Smith, Asda, Superdrug, and House of Fraser. Founded in 2004.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• XPO Logistics / GXO Logistics: Large global 3PL and freight operators with European road, contract logistics and forwarding capability. Competes for enterprise freight contracts in the corridors TPN serves.
• DSV: Global transport and logistics provider with significant road freight, air and sea forwarding capability. Competes on Ireland-UK and international freight forwarding lanes used by TPN XPort customers.
• DPD Ireland: Large parcel delivery network in Ireland (DPDgroup). Overlaps with TPN on B2B shipments and Irish distribution, but broader B2C and parcel focus rather than palletised freight.
• DX Freight: Established UK and Ireland freight, parcel and logistics operator with national network capability. Broader portfolio but directly overlaps on Ireland-UK palletised freight where TPN competes.

Direct peers

• Palletways: Europe's largest pallet network operating a hub-and-spoke model across multiple European countries. Directly comparable to TPN Ireland's network aggregator model and the most likely competitive entrant into the Irish market.
• The Pallet Network (UK): Sister pallet network to TPN Ireland with 120 UK member depots using the same TPN Connect IT platform. The most directly comparable peer given identical operating model, shared systems and integrated Ireland-UK service.
• Fastway Couriers Ireland: Irish franchise-based courier and parcel network (now part of DPDgroup). Comparable to TPN in being an Irish network aggregator and overlapping on B2B freight, parcels and last-mile.
• Palletline: UK pallet network with similar overnight hub-and-spoke model and ISO-aligned operations. Directly comparable on customer value proposition and member-depot structure.
• Pall-Ex: UK-headquartered pallet distribution network with hub-and-spoke operations serving shippers across Britain and Ireland. Competes head-on with TPN/TPN UK for pallet freight volume.

Regional players

• Nightline: Irish owned overnight distribution company operating a hub-and-spoke model for parcels and palletised freight across Ireland. Closest Ireland-only peer on operating model and domestic overnight coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/palletnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pallet-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 THE PALLET NETWORK (IRELAND)