R Swain & Sons has joined Palletline as its newest member, marking a significant step in the continued development of palletised distribution services across the South East.
The move follows the departure of Castledene Transport from the network due to a change in its business direction. Castledene has taken the decision to step away from pallet network operations and is not joining another network.
Both Castledene and R Swain & Sons worked closely together, engaging early with customers and operational teams to ensure continuity of service. R Swain & Sons has taken on elements of fleet and drivers while integrating the customer base into its Rochester operation, helping ensure the transition was practically seamless.
Glenn Baker, Group COO of Palletline, said: “We are delighted to welcome R Swain & Sons to the Palletline network. They are a highly respected operator with a long history in UK logistics, and their scale, infrastructure and commitment to service make them an excellent fit for our member-owned network. At the same time, we would like to thank Castledene Transport for its many years of service and loyalty to Palletline. The team has been extremely supportive throughout the transition period, working closely with all parties to ensure continuity for customers.”
The Palletline activity will operate from the company’s Rochester site, supported by extensive warehousing and cross-docking facilities. Initial volumes have already doubled, with nightly trunk movements to the Palletline hub now running between two-and-a-half and three trunks per night.
Founded in 1926 as a general haulage operation, R Swain & Sons remains the cornerstone of the wider Swain Group. Today, the Group comprises nine specialist divisions operating from 12 sites across the UK, employing approximately 580 people and generating annual revenues of around £93–94 million.
While pallet network distribution has historically formed a relatively small part of the business, David Emslie, who leads business development across the Group, said the opportunity for growth is significant.
“We are probably not the typical business you would immediately associate with pallet network distribution, given the number of markets and specialisms we operate in,” he said.
“But RSSL is where the business began in 1926, and palletised freight sits very naturally alongside our general haulage activity.”
He added that the timing of the opportunity was key.
“We were already running significant network volumes in the South East and had the capacity in Rochester to expand. When I was approached by Glenn Baker, it was simply the next natural step for the business.”
Having already doubled pallet volumes in the first weeks of joining the network, the company plans to invest in dedicated sales resource to grow its presence across the ME postcode area. The focus will be on customers seeking integrated logistics solutions combining pallet network distribution with full loads, warehousing and specialist services.
“We haven’t joined to just sit on our hands,” David Emslie continued. “This is an area which presents an opportunity for growth not only within our established markets — construction, retail, publishing and packaging — but also in new vertical sectors where customers are looking for a genuine one-stop-shop logistics partner.”
The Swain Group supports customers across construction, infrastructure, renewable energy, publishing, retail, agriculture and container logistics, with long-term contracts and national operations reinforcing its breadth of capability.
David Emslie said the decision to join Palletline was influenced by the network’s long-standing reputation within the UK pallet sector.
“Palletline was there at the very beginning of pallet networks in the UK and remains at the forefront of that market with its 100% member-owned and multi-hub model. We are delighted to become part of such an exciting and progressive network.”
