Hub and spoke model – efficiency in action

UPN operates a simple and effective hub and spoke distribution system, designed specifically for palletised freight. We have a national network of over 60 member depots that collect and deliver freight every day from across the UK, Eire and Europe, before transporting it to our central hub.

The perfect location – keeping it green

The new UPN hub is centrally located on Fradley Park, near Lichfield, Staffordshire.  This location provides superb transport links to the rest of the UK, ensuring we minimise the number of road miles travelled by our members which maintains our green credentials. Our members work in harmony with each other and the hub to ensure peak efficiency, whilst maintaining our industry leading service levels. 

Key processes – simple and effective

• Each member collects freight daily from their allocated postcode area and consolidates it onto its trunk vehicles. They then travel to our central hub, where every pallet is checked and scanned in. Each pallet is unloaded and sorted into its specific delivery area. 
   
• The outbound freight is loaded onto the vehicles of the member responsible for delivery. It is carefully checked and every pallet is scanned out of the hub for delivery back to the local member.
   
• Freight is transported to the local delivery depot on their trunk vehicles. It is unloaded, checked and sorted into delivery areas, ensuring that requests for time specific deliveries are serviced accordingly.
   
• All pallets are then delivered by a total fleet of over 4,000 local delivery and collection vehicles. Delivery drivers use the latest XDA systems to capture digital proof of deliveries that are posted online within seconds of delivery. Links to proof of delivery can be emailed automatically to customers or depots as required, using UPN’s advanced web-based systems.