16 hours ago
Hundreds of jobs at risk as Australian transport company XL Express appoints FTI Consulting as voluntary administrator
About 200 jobs are at risk as a Brisbane-based transport and logistics company has brought in voluntary administrators after 35 years in business.
XL Express appointed FTI Consulting to conduct an 'urgent assessment' of the company's viability.
The Queensland-headquartered company offers transport services for an array of consumer and business customers across the country.
On its website, XL Express said it delivers to retail stores, all major distribution centres and residential locations across the nation.
It also boasts of a 'national network', which includes its parcel sortation systems and technology that allows package tracking.
'We're a business that's built on the challenger model,' the company's website states.
'We're here to disrupt the status quo and think harder and act smarter for our clients and their businesses.'
Despite the company's bold service promises, it has sank into administration.
FTI Consulting's Kelly Trenfield, Joanne Dunn and Ross Blakeley have been appointed the voluntary administrators of XL Express and more than 15 other entities under the company's brand from Friday.
These include a litany of subsidiaries that cover XL Express' linehaul services, logistics, distribution and more.
The administrators will look into XL Express' financial position and provide a report to creditors on the future of the company.
The first meeting of creditors will be held before 9 July 2025, FTI Consulting said.
FTI Consulting also noted that alternative arrangements will be made for XL Express customers who are impacted by the company entering voluntary administration.
'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.
It remains unclear what led to XL Express falling into administration.
The company's collapse follows it establishing a partnership with the Brisbane Lions between 2020 and 2022.
XL Express's logo featured on the front of the AFL team's jersey, while the Lions logo was seen on the company's trucks.
When revealing the partnership in 2019, XL Express' managing director Colin Mallory said his company was excited to launch the partnership.
'We share similar journeys in that we are both based in Queensland and compete on the national stage,' Mr Mallory said.
'We look forward to sharing in the successes that this partnership will bring to both of our organisations.'
XL Express' collapse comes as recent data from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission showed almost 7,000 businesses in New South Wales collapsed from July 2024 to May 2025.
This marks a 26 per cent increase from the previous year.
More than 5,100 businesses collapsed in Victoria, while 3,264 went under in Queensland, 1,217 failed in Western Australia and 815 tanked in South Australia.
