Australasian Transport News (ATN) Issue 414

ROB McKAY has been a journalist for more than three decades, with the last 25 years focused on national and international freight transport Trucking and farming are mutually beneficial enterprises. Grain goes nowhere without the vehicle to take it. And, unless it’s a smallholding where the issue doesn’t apply, the farmer or agribusiness will wish to avoid the capital cost of a prime mover and one of the world-class trailers the nation can be justifiably proud of manufacturing. There was a time when farming was akin to the sort of family enterprise that still marks so many owner driver and small-fleet operations. They both face risks to life and limb, each being amongst the most deadly of livelihoods in this country. This writer’s grandfather came close to losing his life when…

■ While not completely enamoured of Scotty from Marketing, many in the kennel have gained a certain fondness for his junior transport minister, who they’ve taken to calling Scotty from Trucking. Some grumble the PM was too quick to jump into an electric Volvo, others felt that he did so and then, as he does, hoped it would all just go away. Sometimes you can’t win. Not so our favourite non-cabinet minister, Scott Buchholz. Now, this solid son of Queensland is of strapping stature but pandemic-inspired social distancing norms mean he can sometimes seem shrunk beyond reason in official images. National regulator boss Sal Petroccitto is a solid customer but this is ridiculous! ■ Mirror, mirror etc, who has the fastest truck of them all? From our seat in the…

In a statement, LCCG notes the decision to place Autocare Services into voluntary administration was necessary due to successive years of operating amongst volatile market conditions, declining vehicle volumes and increasing operating costs, which have impacted Autocare Services’ ongoing financial viability. Voluntary administration allows the business to affect restructuring activities with the intent it can emerge post the voluntary administration process in a sustainable and viable position, it adds. Autocare Services has been involved in Australia’s automotive industry for 60 years, with almost 600 employees currently working at 20 sites across Australia. The business has been exposed to the automotive industry market downturn for three consecutive years now and vehicle volumes are not forecast to return to levels that can sustain the business in its current structure, the company notes.…

Two WridgWays Australia subsidiary businesses are going into liquidation more than a month after being placed in voluntary administration. The decision comes after meetings between administrators SV Partners’ Timothy Brace and Peter Gountzos and creditors regarding the decision to appoint a committee of inspection for the troubled non-core entities, WridgWays Pty Ltd and WridgWays People Pty Ltd remained inconclusive, a media statement states. WridgWays’ core business of relocation services and logistics will continue to operate as normal, it notes. "Following ongoing discussions between administrators and creditors regarding the voluntary administration of two non-core subsidiary business entities (WridgWays Pty Ltd and WridgWays People Pty Ltd), a mutually agreeable outcome was unable to be achieved," WridgWays Australia chief commercial officer Nigel Crockett says. "In accordance with the standard processes, the two entities…

A north Queensland trucking consolidation sees DJ Morgan Transport and Mystgold join forces for a combined fleet of 51 heavy vehicles. No monetary value is put on the deal. DJ Morgan Transport was established in 1997, led by David and Kellie Morgan, while Mystgold was started by Chris McMurray in 1991. The former’s Kenworth-heavy fleet is used to contract freight to the western mines from the Townsville region and distribute produce on the east coast. The latter originally ran the Mystgold refrigerated logistics operation out of Ingham before moving the business to Townsville in 2008. "We have a strong and proud history in the region and, combined, the two operations have more than five decades of experience between them," David Morgan says. "It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing these two…

Australasian freight giants Visa Global Logistics and Mondiale Freight Services have formed a combined entity with a projected annual revenue of $1.2 billion. Reportedly named Mondiale VGL, both companies have established container transport presence and offer a total end-to-end supply chain solutions in Australia and New Zealand. Visa and Mondiale currently handle over 500,000 containers and 25 million kilograms of air freight per annum, employing more than 1,500 people globally in freight forwarding, customs, wharf transport and warehousing. Both parties are reported to create $600 million in revenue each per year. The merged Mondiale VGL company will comprise operations across Australia, New Zealand, North Asia, South East Asia, Indian sub-Continent and Europe. It will be headed by Ray Meade, who has managed Mondiale’s Australian operations for more than eight years.…