THE CHANGING FACE OF AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT
Peter Jones, Founder and Managing Director of Prological, discusses how and why Australian transport offerings within supply chain have shrunk in previous decades – and what might be done about it.
“T
he depth and breadth of transport options in supply chain isn’t what it used to be”, says Peter Jones, Founder and Managing Director of Prological. “And while the following provides some insights and an overview of the macro issues – of course this subject is much more complex than this article can address. One day I’d like to write the book. “If you look back over the last 20 years, there were so many transport companies that once held prime position within the industry that simply no longer exist,” he says. “Many of them went broke – closed the doors and vanished. And a great many others were acquired and rolled into much larger businesses. NQX, Concord Park, Kwikasair Express (Quick as air), Comet Express, Riteway, 1st Fleet, Wards Skyroad, Australian Air Express, even TNT is going as it becomes FedEx.” Assessing this historical trend as an immensely experienced supply chain consultant, Peter believes this narrowing of the transport provision field has had deleterious consequences for the efficiency and efficacy of Australian supply chains. Moreover, the narrowing of transport options and capabilities is a problem more acute today than ever before. At just the moment that e-commerce, the pandemic, and geopolitical strife are disrupting inter- and intra-national flows of goods, now more than ever there is an urgent need for flexible and innovative transport solutions. “30 or 40 years ago, a transport company could find its own niche in the market and thrive,” he says. “A 50 | MHD APRIL 2022
Peter Jones, Founder and Managing Director of Prological.
small company – perhaps simply a man starting out with a truck – could do something for somebody that was a little bit unique and develop a nuanced approach to a niche in the market. Transport businesses could develop around a particular competency that arose organically out of unique on-the-ground challenges. Greg Poche started Star Track Express like this; originally ‘Multi-Group’, Allied Express under Colin McDowell
started with a couple trucks and some friends; and Border Express started by Max Luff as a link between Albury, Sydney, and Melbourne. Even Toll had very humble beginnings with a man and a truck based in Newcastle. Each found a niche, which was expanded and evolved to become the large and successful businesses they are today. A proliferation of second- and thirdtier transport providers meant a great variety of niche capabilities were on
