News

Its as easy as 1, 2, 3

As I’m sure you may have heard through social media & the news, the U.K is currently experiencing unprecedented issues.

Delivery times throughout the country are currently unpredictable and this could continue throughout the winter.

Our current advise to customers is to order your pallets well in advance to minimise disruptions.

If you normally take one pallet at a time but can store a more then it might be an idea to take a higher quantity than normal.

How serious has the problem become

 A Road Haulage Association (RHA) survey of its members estimates there is now a shortage of more than 100,000 qualified drivers in the UK.
That number includes thousands of drivers from European Union (EU) member states who were previously living and working in the UK.
Even before Covid, the overall estimated shortage was about 60,000 drivers.

Why now?

Covid is certainly part of the problem. As travel became increasingly restricted last year, and large parts of the economy shut down, many European drivers went home. And haulage companies say very few have returned.
The pandemic also created a large backlog in HGV driver tests, so it has been impossible to get enough new drivers up and running.

The industry warned the prime minister in June that there were 25,000 fewer candidates passing their test in 2020 than in 2019.

Haulage companies say the average age of HGV drivers in the UK is 55, and they want more to be done to attract younger workers.

That includes better terms and conditions, better facilities for long distance drivers to use, and a recognition that they are a vital part of the economy.
One consequence of shortages, though, has been that some wages for drivers are already going up.

What impact does the HGV driver shortage have?

The massive shortfall in lorry drivers is contributing to significant supply chain issues across the UK’s economy.

Some sectors have been experiencing difficulties for several months, however the issue seems to have become particularly acute in recent weeks.

A number of retailers have announced shortages of goods, while many industry bodies have warned that the supply chain crisis could persist until Christmas.

Our pallet deliveries go through various UK Pallet Networks, these networks offer kerbside delivery as standard.

This service is commonly used by palletised networks, as they are typically used to delivering larger, heavier items that are difficult to deliver directly to your door.

What is kerbside delivery?

Kerbside delivery means that pallets will be delivered to the nearest kerbside at the address specified. The network drivers will position their vehicle as close as possible to the delivery address and unload the palletised goods into a spot on the kerbside that is safe and keeps the pallet secure. This is to ensure the safety of the driver, the customer and the general public.

How can we help you with kerbside delivery?

Any pallets you have ordered will be loaded safely from the truck to the ground by trained drivers using a tail-lift. They will make sure that the goods are left in a safe and stable spot on the kerb. However, we will not be able to assist you to transport items from the kerbside spot to any building. The delivery driver will always have to work within health and safety guidelines.

They will not be able to move goods further than the pallet trolley permits, and they will be unable to deliver to steep hills, gravel driveways or other unusual conditions. The ground needs to be hard and even.

If you are not sure if your chosen spot is suitable for kerbside delivery, please speak to one of our Customer Service Advisors.

How should I prepare?

Make sure you know how many boxes or items are in your delivery and have assistance available to move everything from the kerbside spot to its ultimate destination. You may need assistance and items that are large or heavy.

We now have a great new addition to our website! 

Fancy savings some pennies???

If you purchase 5 of any palletised product from our website we can now offer 5% discount!!

This discount is available over our full range and you can mix and match as you please. Palletised Wood Pellets, Bark, Briquettes, Heat Logs & Firewood.

No need for promotional codes, just add 5 items to your basket and the discount will be automatically added to your cart.

 Shop Now

Wood pellets are made from by-products of the wood industry such as sawdust and woodchips. The raw material is put through a dryer to remove the moisture from it and is then compressed through holes in a metal ring dye to form tightly sealed pellets. Friction generated during manufacture creates heat that in turn releases the natural lignin's within the wood which acts as a glue to bind the pellet together. Our press produces 6mm diameter pellets that are cooled and screened to remove excess dust prior to packaging.

1 ton of wood pellets can replace 400 litres of oil! Saving 1072kg of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

Wood pellets can be used to produce heat in a specially designed stove or boiler. In addition, some existing solid fuel and oil boilers can be converted to make use of wood pellets.
Being manufactured to a consistent size (Puffin Pellets are 6mm diameter), low moisture content and high density means that wood pellets can be used in automatic clean-burn heating appliances. It also means that the boiler response time is fast and the technology is controllable without increasing the load on the environment.
This and the fact that they are clean and easy to handle make them particularly suitable for domestic use. Being compressed also means that they take up less room than other forms of wood fuel.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS

As a valued customer, we wanted to update you on the steps Puffin are taking to help minimise the spread of COVID-19.

We are continuing to follow and monitor official guidance from the UK and Scottish government’s carefully. It is of vital importance to us to be in a position to ensure that any and all procedures are in place to support the health and well-being of our customers and staff members.

To help combat the spread of COVID-19, we have been putting precautionary safety measures in place, including:

• Educating our staff on prevention
• Emphasizing frequent and proper handwashing
• Minimising contact between staff and members of the public

In order to minimise contact between staff and customers we have put the following procedures in place:

• Stopping unnecessary visitors to the office – we would ask anyone collecting orders from the office to phone and book it in in advance, at which point you will be taken through our new collection procedures
• Blower delivery drivers will no longer require a signature. We ask that you have everything ready prior to our driver’s arrival (for example, doors unlocked, slides in, boilers off) and they will call you to notify you of their arrival.  You do not need to go out to them, any instructions can be given over the phone. 
  If you require a copy of the delivery note, this can be posted through your letter box or sent by email.  Please advise your preference when speaking to the office
• If in contact with any of our staff, we would ask that you maintain a distance of 2 metres where at all possible.
• Procedures for pallet deliveries will be handled by our couriers and we will update you with any changes.

Our business is currently operating as usual and we have no staff absences due to COVID-19 outbreak.  Since we envision this changing in the near future which will undoubtedly put a strain on our business, we would ask any customers who may require a delivery in the near future to take it as soon as possible - while we are still at full operating capacity.  We thank you for your continued business and cooperation and are happy to answer any questions about this matter.