Wightman Transport has come a long way from humble beginnings 60 years ago. Starting as a produce carrier from the Adelaide Hills region into the city, the business now embraces the latest in modern technology and truck procurement to fulfil its latest contract handling distribution for Coles.
Wightman has been in business 60 years, started by Peter’s father-in-law back in 1964. Peter had married into the family and his parents were friends of the operation’s founder, Doug Wightman. Doug had a property at Ashton, in the Adelaide Hills, where he grew produce and would haul it down out of the mountains to Coles’ facility in Adelaide.
After a few years, Coles suggested he should also take loads out of their distribution centre after delivering there. At this time, Coles owned their own fleet and were looking for subcontractors. This arrangement lasted for a few months, before Coles asked Doug if he wanted to take over all of their transport, at that time using just seven trucks.
“I had only just turned 18 when I started, it was a 10 pallet petrol Bedford truck, and then it just grew on from there,” says Peter.
“Then Coles got to the point where they had to expand and moved, firstly out to Gepps Cross. Then many years later in 2007, Coles built the massive distribution centre out at Edinburgh Park, which housed all the chiller, freezer, fruit and veg; the whole kit and caboodle.
“Prior to that, we only ever did the grocery lines, so when we got into there, it was a different kettle of fish. Then we had to look at refrigerated gear. Our fleet expanded very, very quickly. We currently run close to 150 units. We do a lot of work for Coles and inbound freight for Coles Collect, running from Adelaide to Melbourne and back.”
