THREE trucking and logistics companies are gearing up for more growth in Western Australia by committing to build or lease major new facilities worth close to a combined $120 million.
THREE trucking and logistics companies are gearing up for more growth in Western Australia by committing to build or lease major new facilities worth close to a combined $120 million.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Sam Walsh this week officially opened Perth company Centurion Transport’s newly built $40 million depot at Hazelmere.
It is located not far from Goodman Group’s stockyards industrial estate, where work started last month on a $36 million facility for national company, Toll IPEC.
The third major development is TNT’s $40 million trucking depot currently under construction at Welshpool, which will become the hub for its express freight service in WA.
The new developments highlight the prominence of the suburbs around the airport and Kewdale rail terminal as Perth’s freight hub, yet they will add to the area’s congestion as trucking volumes expand.
TNT Australia finance director Stewart Cummins said his group had carefully evaluated several sites to replace its 40-year-old depot in Kewdale.
“We saw greater risks if we had moved to the airport or Hazelmere,” Mr Cummins said.
“In terms of congestion, it was a more prudent move to stick with Welshpool.”
Centurion’s new depot is the latest milestone in the growth of the family owned business, which is part of Frank and Carl Cardaci’s CFC Group.
Having started in trucking 40 years ago, the new 80,000 square metre purpose-built freight facility will support Centurion’s statewide operations.
It has grown to be one of the largest transport and logistics providers in the North West and boasts a 650-vehicle fleet.
Centurion executive general manager Mark Doig said the new facility would further strengthen the company’s presence in the mining sector.
Major clients for the business include Retravision, Coca-Cola, Coles, Woolworths, and Rio Tinto.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Walsh said Centurion began working with the mining giant in 1996 providing transport services to Tom Price and Paraburdoo.
“I suppose everyone these days is a fan of the resources sector and the north-west in particular, but that wasn’t always the case,” he said.
“Back in 1971, when the first generation of the Cardaci dynasty started out with a single second-hand truck, the Pilbara was still a pretty well unknown region.”
Mr Walsh said Centurion moved close to 5,000 trailer loads for Rio Tinto each year.
“That’s close to a third of the Centurion’s total tonnage, so the affection is obviously mutual,” he said.
The Hazelmere facility has wireless capability, providing real-time data and monitoring of the progress of goods at every stage of delivery, as well as Centurion’s barcode technology that allows cargo to be tracked through the terminal via web portals.
TNT Australia’s new 20,000sqm depot is part of a two-year, $100 million investment by the company in infrastructure developments across Australia.
The company said the greenfields development would allow it to plan for future growth and incorporate the latest in safety and environmental practices.
Toll IPEC’s 16,295sqm facility will be the second major development at the stockyards industrial estate.
It follows development of engine company MTU Detroit Diesel Australia’s 10,638sqm facility, due for completion in April.
Toll has agreed to a 15-year lease of the site, with an option over an additional 8,063sqm for expansion.
