International Forwarding (IFL) is based in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city with a population of 1.15 million. Birmingham and the West Midlands has been our local market for more than 30 years. And our Midlands pallet delivery services sit at the heart of a freight forwarding network that extends across the UK, Europe and destinations worldwide.
Note: for spot quotes and further information please call +44 (0)1675 434690 or email enquiries@internationalforwarding.co.uk.
Here are three ways in which IFL is your leading freight forwarder in the Midlands…
1. Pallet delivery at heart of UK motorway network
Based in Birmingham, the firm started trading in 1989 and moved to two-acre hub near Birmingham Airport in 2001. Being situated at the heart of the UK motorway network near the M1, M5, M6 and M42 brings fast, cost-effective pallet delivery to and from the growing Midlands market.
International Forwarding’s central UK hub also means clients can tap into our three large warehousing facilities for both storage and cargo handling services, including pick and pack and container offloading. Bespoke packages that include transport, insurance and warehouse logistics services make life easier for many of our Midlands clients.
Although UK and European road freight is our core service, we also arrange ocean and air freight. IFL is just 10 minutes from Birmingham International Airport and 50 minutes from air cargo services at East Midlands Airport, plus we run an overnight London trunking service to connect with Heathrow and all major UK sea ports.
2. Familiarity with Midlands markets
Since 1989, International Forwarding has been serving the freight forwarding needs of the region’s established industries, including engineering, automotive and manufacturing logistics. In the year ending March 2018, for example, West Midlands businesses exported goods worth £33.7 billion (source: HMRC Regional Trade Statistics), mostly machinery and transport, and often shipping to the European Union.
As a trusted part of that import-export supply chain, we are familiar and flexible with their requirements. We have Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certification, so clients can be assured that our role in the international supply chain is secure, and that our customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. Meanwhile, our Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) status gives customers peace of mind that we take safety and compliance seriously.
We also serve the global market. Asia/Oceania, for example, is a growing export market for Midlands firms – worth nearly £6.6 billion in 2018. IFL ships pallet deliveries to China, India and other high-growth markets around the world, from kitchenware to electrical items to aeronautic components. North America is also a fast-growing market for the West Midlands in recent years with £7.3 billion exports in 2018. This is second only to Europe in export volume.
Call us for a fast, tailored quote on taking your goods from the West Midlands to the world – we have no automated phone queues at IFL, just one call and you’re through to a member of our team.
3. Member of Palletways – Europe’s #1 pallet freight network
We help Birmingham and Midlands businesses extend their reach through our membership of the Palletways network, Europe’s largest provider of express palletised distribution services.
Our membership of Palletways gives access to a UK-wide overnight delivery service and more than 400 depots across Europe, with 23 hubs delivering to 24 countries. Palletways delivers 45,000 pallets each day and has over 25 years’ experience. Your international pallets are collected in the exact same way as domestic freight, and follow the same process, giving you peace of mind. With Europe’s largest network, you benefit from better transit times, with our vehicles leaving daily.Consignments can be booked and tracked online with proofs of delivery retrieved electronically.
Rob Pike, MD of International Forwarding, explains: “Our Palletways membership adds value across the line for customers, bringing reliable overnight UK delivery and a sophisticated IT infrastructure which integrates with our own systems for easy booking and consignment track and trace.
“Being a platinum member of the Palletways European network, which is complementary to our own road service into Europe, also means that our export customers get the best of both worlds with a comprehensive service and expanded pan-European coverage.
“We’re always striving to develop IFL’s service offering for our customers, particularly across our core UK-European network. As a result, IFL is now one of the Midland’s leading providers of express freight solutions and were shortlisted for a BIFA Award for European Logistics.”
Midlands pallet delivery – find out more
More help and information on IFL’s service offerings is available at the following links:
If you’re a West Midlands company looking for freight forwarding, warehousing or supply chain solutions, please get in touch for a free quote or informal chat about your needs. We’d love to hear from you and see how we can help.Just call +44 (0)1675 434690 or email enquiries@internationalforwarding.co.uk today.
