Vawdrey Australia: The personal touch

Western Australian transport specialist, Freight Lines Group, has relied on Vawdrey Australia for efficient and reliable trailers for more than a decade. Their go-to Vawdrey setup is a pocket road train combination that has been re-configured for optimal fleet utility— ideal for freight operations that specialise in general, bulk, express, freezer and machinery freight, along with storage and distribution.

In the 1960s, a humble freight company commenced operations in Esperance to Perth. By the 1980s, it established a fuel distribution arm along with fresh fruit and vegetable operations. The business collectively known as Freight Lines Group (FLG) has since expanded into mining, bulk commodities, agriculture and specialised freight, boasting a team of about 210 staff.

“The fuel business sold and then Harding Transport was born with the fruit and vege distribution – this evolved over time to the company that I took sole ownership of in 2010,” says FLG Managing Director, Michael Harding. “In 2003, I took over FLG in partnership with Colin Danks and then I purchased Colin’s share around 2010.”

Today, the business specialises in general, bulk, express, freezer and machinery freight along with storage and distribution.

Over the years, FLG has opened depots in Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Ravensthorpe and Esperance – bolstering its presence in regional Western Australia operating alongside its major Perth distribution centre.

With a fleet of 140 prime movers and more than 450 trailers, FLG can dedicate equipment for the length of a contract or supply as required for loads as they are scheduled. All trailers, drop decks, curtainsiders, mill ball trailers and skels for mill ball containers, reefers and bulk trailers ride on airbag suspension.

“We have worked with the team at Vawdrey Australia for about 12 years now,” Michael says. “To me, it is extremely important to build long-term relationships with companies and Vawdrey has really given us this in spades. Their Titeliners and Iceliners are great, reliable products with excellent backup service.”

The most important features of the Vawdrey Titeliner and Iceliner trailers, according to Michael, are their ease of use, the quality of the builds and the fact that he has never had an issue with them.

Vawdrey’s Titeliner is a sturdy curtainsider ideal for running freight day in, day out throughout Western Australia. Similarly, the Iceliner – locally engineered and manufactured for distribution and heavy duty applications – epitomises peak performance in terms of thermal efficiency and high productivity.

The trailers that FLG specifies from Vawdrey are standard specification however they are often used in pocket road train configurations for greater flexibility.

“Our Vawdrey trailers always perform well,” Michael says. “The efficiency gains we see are from the flexibility of sending multiple trailers at a time to regional areas. Our fleet travels all over Western Australia and providing essential services to our customers.”

Original article published on Trailer Magazine here.