The Freight Specialists Pty Ltd in Australia have spent several decades perfecting the process of being able to provide quality logistics in an efficient and timely manner, and as a result of their hard work and dedication, the company has been able to thrive in its industry.

In 1988, Leigh Howard Smith and Richard Paul Quade, the executive directors of Freight Specialists, and another partner started the business through an opportunity created by TNT, their employer at the time. As time progressed, Stephen Crouch was appointed as the chairman for Freight Specialists, and John Bradac was elected as CEO of the company, rounding out the executive team of the company.

As the business took shape, the directors of Freight Specialists found that their company was able to take over a unique segment of the market. Presently, Freight Specialist concentrates on servicing a smaller number of major clients, many of which are contracted. The business is positioned to provide total logistic solutions tailored to suit client needs.

Freight Specialists is now able to provide various elements of logistics, such as regional distribution, intrastate line haul, local contract distribution, warehousing, dangerous goods, warehousing, transport and interstate line haul.

DEFINED BY QUALITY AND KNOWLEDGE

As a privately owned company, Freights Specialists has a unique perspective on logistics, but it is the company’s three core competencies – care, control and communication – that mark the business as one that truly has shaped Australian logistics.

“Our company’s aim is not to compete on a level playing field, but to offer services that differentiates the way we do business,” said Smith. “Our technology, customer service and compliance truly differentiate us, and by achieving our goals, we exploit the weaknesses of our competitors.”

However, Freights Specialists is also able to work with their competitors to be able to provide clients with a logistics system that is truly what the customers want. Freight Specialists is willing to custom tailor services so that clients receive the top quality care and support that they require for their products.

“Our success has been the growth that comes from offering services and working alongside companies that would have normally been competition for us,” said Crouch. “These are companies with which we have the best relationships with.”

Freight Specialists has the ability to offer a high compliancy to an unprecedented level within our market segment.

“We focus on the big picture,” continued Crouch. “If a client wants a product delivered a certain way, we tailor what we have to do to fit their needs. We tell our clients that we have a blank page of services, and we are willing to turn over any rocks to come up with a strategy to best deliver our clients’ products to their customer.”

It is this mindset that has allowed Freight Specialists to capture sizable portions of Australia’s market and establishing itself as the leader in a market segment.

PROVIDING CONSTANT SERVICE FOR A GROWING NEED

Because Australia is a large continent with most of the population in large cities on the coastal fringe, various distribution strategies are put into place so that the populous can see the same price for products throughout the country.

Major organisations in Australia are eliminating their old supply chains and consolidating their inventory levels, said Crouch, causing a centralisation of distribution points and warehouse solutions. This opens a new avenue for Freight Specialists through which to grow.

“Major players have centralised their warehouses in the capitol cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, and have a reduction in inventory. This makes the transportation system very important, especially to the regional areas. Network carriers are a vital part of this change,” stated Crouch.

Due to the influx of required services, having a high standard for services is crucial. However, the recent upgrades to OH&S legislative requirements, training and the C+E Bill have increased the difficulties of compliance for smaller operators who lack the knowledge, desire and ability to spend time meeting these new requirements. Their lack of succession planning inevitably means a reduction in any ability to counter large competition.

Larger Logistic providers keep away from the regional network market, but may show interest as and when the regional players consolidate or a large provider gains disproportional market shares.

“We have seen many businesses in our industry disappear through bad service practices, non-regulatory compliances, little or no succession planning and poor management practices.”

CONCENTRATING ON CLIENTS

According to Crouch, Freight Specialists thrives because of the multi-tiered relationships the company has with its clients.

“Our operational managers talk with their managers, our senior executives talk with their senior directors, and the relationships continue right up to the board rooms,” said Crouch. “We like to let our clients know that they have full access to anyone in our company.”

There is also a high rate of communication within the Freight Specialist network of employees, as well. This allows every level of our company to communicate internally, which is an extremely strong piece of the company that allows us to work well with customers. In our industry, there are very few companies who concentrate on our clients the way we do.”