Latest news with #DonWatsonTransport
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trucking company XL Express collapses after 35 years in business
Two hundred jobs are set to be axed as a major trucking company that had been in business for more than three-decades goes bust. Transport and logistic company XL Express had operated along the east coast, delivering freight and packages between Sydney , Melbourne and Brisbane. The company had at one point thrived enough to take on a major co-sponsor role for the Brisbane Lions AFL team that included logo rights on the team's uniform. The business went into voluntary administration last Friday, along with 16 other related companies. FTI Consulting's 'Kelly-Anne Trenfield, Joanne Dunn and Ross Blakely have been appointed as administrators. In a statement, FTI Consulting said that they are conducting an urgent assessment, to consider the continued viability of XL Express. 'Where services are unable to be fulfilled, arrangements are being made for customers to collect their goods held in XL Express Group distribution centres,' it said. The closure has sent shockwaves across a number of industries that the company did business with as concerns grow over shipping orders going unfulfilled. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, an insider in the publishing industry said it would impact their business. 'This is a disaster. We have outstanding customer orders, and now they're stuck in limbo.' they said. XL's demise follows just weeks after the collapse of another truck company Don Watson Transport. After running for more than 77 years, that company ceased operating in June. The trucking industry has been under pressure in recent years as global tensions cause an increase in fuel prices, which is combining with labour shortages and increased government regulation. Scott's Refrigerated Logistics also collapsed in 2023, as did by Austrans Container Services in 2024. Managing Partner of WA Insolvency Solutions, Jimmy Trpcevski, said he's seen an increase in insolvency appointments and inquiries from transport operators. 'Businesses are being squeezed from every direction, whether that's rising costs, labour shortages, or compliance pressures. Margins are incredibly thin.' Don Watson Transport covered an estimated 22million kilometres per year and operated depots in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Wodonga.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major trucking company collapses after 35 years in business leaving furious customers in limbo: 'This is a disaster'
Two hundred jobs are set to be axed as a major trucking company that had been in business for more than three-decades goes bust. Transport and logistic company XL Express had operated along the east coast, delivering freight and packages between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The company had at one point thrived enough to take on a major co-sponsor role for the Brisbane Lions AFL team that included logo rights on the team's uniform. The business went into voluntary administration last Friday, along with 16 other related companies. FTI Consulting's 'Kelly-Anne Trenfield, Joanne Dunn and Ross Blakely have been appointed as administrators. In a statement, FTI Consulting said that they are conducting an urgent assessment, to consider the continued viability of XL Express. 'Where services are unable to be fulfilled, arrangements are being made for customers to collect their goods held in XL Express Group distribution centres,' it said. The closure has sent shockwaves across a number of industries that the company did business with as concerns grow over shipping orders going unfulfilled. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, an insider in the publishing industry said it would impact their business. 'This is a disaster. We have outstanding customer orders, and now they're stuck in limbo.' they said. XL's demise follows just weeks after the collapse of another truck company Don Watson Transport. After running for more than 77 years, that company ceased operating in June. The trucking industry has been under pressure in recent years as global tensions cause an increase in fuel prices, which is combinging with labour shortages and increased government regulation. Scott's Refrigerated Logistics also collapsed in 2023, as did by Austrans Container Services in 2024. Managing Partner of WA Insolvency Solutions, Jimmy Trpcevski, said he's seen an increase in insolvency appointments and inquiries from transport operators. 'Businesses are being squeezed from every direction, whether that's rising costs, labour shortages, or compliance pressures. Margins are incredibly thin.' Don Watson Transport covered an estimated 22million kilometres per year and operated depots in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Wodonga. It also held coldstore facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, and Wodonga. The group's 140 trucks and 170 refrigerated trucks will be sold off, according to Beef Central. Managing director Lyndon Watson confirmed the closure to staff in a memo. 'Due to current economic conditions, the Don Watson Group of companies has made a definite decision to leave the warehousing and road transport industries,' the memo read. 'We understand that this may come as a shock but we have formed the view that is simply no longer possible to continue to operate. 'To be clear, all employees will be impacted by this decision. 'All employees (that are made redundant) will receive all of their entitlements in full in accordance with the terms of relevant legislation and enterprise agreements.' Financial year 2024-2025 was the worst on record for insolvencies, with 14,105 businesses going under, up 26.8 per cent from the last financial year.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Australian trucking firm announces sudden closure
Don Watson Transport will wind up operations after 77 years of trucking, with an internal memo revealing bosses no longer believed the business to be viable. The family company had more than 300 staff operating 310 vehicles nationwide. The company covered an estimated 22million kilometres per year. The company transported a large amounts of chilled and frozen meats and vegetables, conducting business with several large export meat processors in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. The group's 140 trucks and 170 refrigerated trucks will be sold off, according to Beef Central. The company operated depots in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Wodonga. It also held coldstore facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, and Wodonga. G.H. 'Don' Watson founded the group in 1948 with the ex-army K Series Austin trucks. His trucks initially carried livestock between Melbourne, Dandenong and Ballarat. His son, Donald, then ascended to the role of managing director in 1973. He died in his blue Holden Commodore in 1994 in his second flying lap at a practice for that year's Bathurst 1000 touring car race. His wife Noelene then took over the business and oversaw the company's redevelopment and expansion. Don Watson Transport took out Australia's Large Carrier of the Year award in 2021 for work done with the Woolworths Group.
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Major Aussie freight company Don Watson Transport closes
A national freight company has shocked the trucking industry by announcing its closure after almost 80 years in business. Don Watson Transport, one of the country's leading refrigerated logistics operations, announced late last week it would make its final collections on June 9 before its final deliveries. The Victorian-founded company had 300 staff and also ran a coldstores business in Sydney, Wodonga and Melbourne, which are due to be put up for sale. 'We understand that this may come as a shock but we have formed the view that is simply no longer possible to continue to operate,' a memo to staff last week stated. 'To be clear, all employees will be impacted by this decision. 'All employees (that are made redundant) will receive all of their entitlements in full in accordance with the terms of relevant legislation and enterprise agreements.' The company's 140 trucks and 170 trailers trucks would be sold in an 'orderly fashion', the memo stated. Managing director Lyndon Watson, in a statement released to News Corp, said the closure had been a 'difficult' decision for his family after 77 years in business. 'The Watson family has benefited from the Australian trucking and warehousing industry over many generations, and we've tried to offer back time and effort in kind,' Mr Watson said. 'Thank you for the wonderful support you've offered Watsons over the years and we look forward to seeing the industry continue to develop.' News Corp reported the company's 2023 financial year statement revealed it made a net profit of just $95,355 from $99.9m revenue. The previous year, it incurred a $1.2 million loss on $84.7 million in revenue. Big Rigs reported that Simon O'Hara, chief executive of Road Freight NSW, said Don Watson Transport's closure was a big loss to the industry. 'Our thoughts are with the operators Noelene and Lyndon and also their employees,' Mr O'Hara said.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Major trucking company announces shock closure as brutal message is sent to its 300 staff
Don Watson Transport will wind up operations after 77 years of trucking, with an internal memo revealing bosses no longer believed the business to be viable. The family company had more than 300 staff operating more than 290 vehicles nationwide. The company covered an estimated 22million kilometres per year. Drivers will finish their last trips with the business this week. The company began in Melbourne as a stock transport company using ex-military Austins in 1948. It later expanded across the nation's east coast. The business was passed down to the third generation of the Watson family and most recently managed cold storage and refrigerated transport nationwide. Managing director Lyndon Watson confirmed the closure to staff in a memo last week. 'We understand that this may come as a shock but we have formed the view that is simply no longer possible to continue to operate,' the memo read. 'To be clear, all employees will be impacted by this decision. 'All employees (that are made redundant) will receive all of their entitlements in full in accordance with the terms of relevant legislation and enterprise agreements.'
