One of the great brands of Australian trucking is celebrating its 80th birthday this year with Freighter Trailers about to log up eight decades on Aussie roads.
What began as a pioneering post World War II workshop has evolved into a position of leadership, with the Freighter Group now leveraging a massive 80 year legacy as it heads into a new era of high-tech trailer design in this country.
The Freighter story was sparked by the vision of Noel Peel, who saw an untapped potential in McGrath Trailers which was the the country’s
largest but struggling trailer manufacturer in 1945,
Peel established Freighters Ltd, a name reportedly inspired by a champion racehorse of the era., and the first order of business was acquiring McGrath Trailer Equipment.
The company operated with an “anything is possible” mentality from day one, and became a national benchmark for heavy-duty trailers.The versatility of Freighter saw it produce everything from aircraft buoys to buses and by the 1970s, its dominance was undisputed, boasting an estimated nine out of every ten transport trailers on Australian roads bearing its name.
Peter White took the reins in 1982, introducing aggressive cost management and a landmark licensing of the Tautliner, a move that redefined Australian logistics.
Freighter’s momentum carried into the 1990s, eventually catching the eye of Jim Curtis, the force behind the ASX-listed Maxi-CUBE.
Even though Freighter was the larger entity, Curtis saw it as the perfect engine for his growth ambitions, acquiring the business in 1998.
The merger saw the birth oi MaxiTRANS, but the Freighter name remained a cornerstone of the brand, anchoring the company’s expansion throughout the 2000s.
In September 2021 the business returned to its roots through an acquisition by a group of local private investors.
The mandate was clear, deliver long-term stability while completely transforming the Australian manufacturing landscape.
The move triggered a massive overhaul, headlined by a $50 million capital injection into its Ballarat manufacturing site to help pivot the facility toward a high-tech, advanced manufacturing model.
The company rebranded as Freighter Group to signal a new era, and the move was a tribute the rich heritage,.
“Eighty years in operation is a significant milestone, but we aren’t just looking in the rearview mirror,” said Greg L’Estrange, the CEO of Freighter Group.
“Our success belongs to the support of the multi-generational customers who have trusted us for decades. and that loyalty is exactly what fuels our growth, as we want to make sure that the products we design and build today are well equipped for the next generation of transport,” L’Estrange said.
“Our shift toward advanced manufacturing allows us to meet the evolving needs of the industry with exacting precision and for our customers, that translates to higher reliability on the road and greater returns on their equipment, he said.
“We are taking the pioneering spirit of 1946 and pairing it with the best technology of 2026.”
“This most recent chapter marks a rapid transformation for the business, because beyond the advanced manufacturing upgrades, we have strategically relocated our company-owned dealerships in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to new, purpose-built sites, significantly expanding on our sales and service capabilities in these regions,” he added.
“In addition to this growth, we have streamlined support by rolling out comprehensive spare parts across our dealer network for all Freighter Group OEM products and as our parts range continues to diversify, we have positioned our network to provide a level of aftermarket support that is unmatched in our industry, ensuring support is never too far away for our customers whenever they need it,” said L’Estrange.
“As Freighter celebrates 80 years as Australia’s longest standing trailer brand, we take this opportunity to thank all our customers, suppliers and staff for their on-going support throughout Freighter’s history,” he added
“Looking ahead to this new era, our focus remains on the operators who keep Australia moving,” said L’Estrange.
“We look forward to the next 80 years of service, ensuring that Freighter Group continues to be the backbone of the industry and a vital partner to our customers nationwide.”
