Never let a crisis go to waste was a phrase we often heard in discussions about Covid-19, and the transport and logistics sector is the perfect example of what was meant by that. On the one hand, the conjunction of Brexit and a global pandemic posed an enormous challenge to the industry, but on the other, the massive increase in online activity that resulted created a huge surge in logistical needs.
So that investment in logistics across Europe soared to a seven year high of 38.64 billion euro in 2020, according to linkline.
All that activity was celebrated at the annual Irish Logistics & Transport Awards 2020. Now in its 11th year, the 2020 winners were announced to a live digital audience at a virtual ceremony held on Thursday, December 3rd. The event was presided over by the journalist and broadcaster Richard Curran, while the judging panel was co-ordinated by TU Dublin's Declan Allen.
As ever, the Awards were widely supported from sponsors across the industry, one of which was TimeWise Systems. Their CEO, Ronan Clinton, said, “Our work supporting our colleagues in logistics and transport, both here in Ireland and across the world, gives us a real appreciation of the vital role they play. Both in ordinary times, and during the even more challenging operating conditions of this past year.
“In that spirit, we were delighted to be part of the team of sponsors backing the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards 2020, recognising and celebrating the great work being done right across our industry.”
Another of this year’s sponsors was AIB, and Enda Kinsella, head of transport & logistics at AIB Corporate Banking, Ireland, said, “AIB is delighted to have sponsored the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards again in 2020. We understand the many challenges faced by the sector in 2020 but we have also seen the resilience and flexibility demonstrated by the sector in overcoming these challenges.
“It was great to hear so many of those success stories at the event. The importance of the sector to the overall economy and society is undoubted. Congratulations to the organisers for arranging a safe event and a special well done to all the nominations and winners from AIB.”
There were 14 trophies awarded this year, and PalletXpress came away with two of them, winning the 3PL Achievement Award, and the Logistics and Transport Team of the Year Award. Tommy Carr, their MD, said, “PalletXpress has a significant role in Ireland’s logistics and transport supply chain. During this exceptional year, the contribution of logistics and transport to health and the economy has never been more important.”
As ever, the Awards was only made possible thanks to the generous support of its sponsors, who included AIB, Timewise Systems, the Road Safety Authority and Flexsource.
This year’s judging panel was made up of the following:
- Declan Allen, assistant head, School of Management, College of Business, Technological University Dublin
- Derek Dunne, managing director, Manifests Ireland
- Aidan Flynn, general manager, FTA Ireland
- Seamus Kavanagh, executive officer, Irish International Freight Association
- Helen Noble, principal, Noble Shipping Law
- Michael O'Callaghan, director, IPICS The Supply Chain Management Institute
- Dr. Jane O'Keeffe, director of supply chain, NMCI/MTU
- Maura O'Toole, facilitator, trainer, coach & lecturer
- Efce van Heerden, Cork Institute of Technology
[ Find out more at the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards - Opens in new window ]
