Formerly know as QR National, Aurizon is Australia’s largest rail freight operation, drawing on almost 150 years of experience in the field. On any given day, the company is moving more than 700,000 tonnes of coal, iron ore, agricultural and general freight across the nation – actively adding to the economic development and growth of the minerals-rich state of Queensland and providing the transport backbone for one of the largest coal supply chains in the world.
Recently, the top-50 ASX-listed company has extended its business focus beyond the rail freight heritage and applied its know-how to the intermodal freight market as well. To accommodate that change, a new road freight strategy was developed, allowing Aurizon to build on its vast expertise in the rail industry while tapping the full potential of the company’s existing road freight division.
According to Fleet Compliance Officer Intermodal, Ian Wilson, trucking has always been part Aurizon’s DNA, but the company’s road transport fleet has seen a dramatic transformation when the term ‘intermodal’ was added to the agenda.
“Part of the old QR National management had a trucking background, which was an advantage when moving to road transport,” he recalls – revealing that Aurizon is now operating a highly specialised truck fleet to ensure the success story in the rail market can be replicated on bitumen.
“Starting off, we only had rental equipment at our disposal and much of the equipment owned by QR National was becoming old, so we decided it was time to invest into new equipment to advance in the intermodal market.
Read the full story in the current edition of Prime Mover, out now.
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