Latest news with #DonWatsonTransport
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- 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
6 hours ago
- 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
8 hours ago
- 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.'
