A HEREFORDSHIRE trucking company has made a major announcement as it expands its offering to customers.

Transport and logistics specialist ABE Ledbury is adding another string to its bow by joining The Hazchem Network, the UK’s only hazardous goods pallet and parcel network.

The Palletline Logistics-owned company is taking on the work of two former members of The Hazchem Network, covering the HR, LD, SY7-8 and GL14-19 postcodes. The new service has now gone live.

By joining the network, ABE can now extend its offering, carrying anything from paints to cylinders of flammable gases.

Twelve ABE drivers have been assigned to transport The Hazchem Network goods and are undergoing extensive training to gain ADR accreditation (Accord Dangerous Routier – the European agreement concerning the transport of hazardous goods).

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The company has also equipped some of its vehicles to ensure they are ADR-ready, installing fire extinguishers, orange plates and equipping the drivers with specialist gear such as kit bags, respirators, shovels and spill kits.

ABE Ledbury will also be able to call on further support and advice as needed from Palletline’s own dangerous goods safety advisor.

Founded in 2005, The Hazchem Network transports more than 2,000 pallets and parcels throughout the UK mainland and islands every night. The network also covers 27 European countries.

Clive Brooks, managing director of ABE, said by serving a very rural area there was great potential for the new service to help secure new business, such as from companies providing the farming community with fertiliser and other flammable goods.

 “This new service will potentially be of benefit to new customers as well as our existing customers," Mr Brooks said.

“Most companies prefer their consignments to be transported by as few carriers as possible. So, by joining The Hazchem Network we are creating new opportunities with customers we may previously have not been able to support.

“When dealing with new prospects we can say we are able to transport a wide range of consignments and can now add hazardous goods to the list. It is a great way to diversify our offering.”