SA based Northline wins major contract with Rio Tinto

Northline, one of Australia’s largest privately-owned and fastest growing logistics operations, has won a major contract with Rio Tinto.

The contract will see Northline transport more than 5000 tonnes of freight annually from around the country for Rio Tinto Alcan’s Weipa bauxite mine located on Western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

Freight transported for Rio Tinto will be diverse - from printer cartridges to large pieces of earthmoving machinery and everything in between.

The freight will be transportedtoNorthline’sCairns depot where it will be then transported to the mine site by a local barge contractor.

Northline Chief Executive Officer, Craige Whitton, said the contract with Rio Tinto marks a new era for Northline as it realises the potential of its national network to support the supply of freight to remote locations.

“Northline now operates a network of 12 strategically located depots in six states with a strong presence in northern Australia including two depots in North Queensland, four in the Northern Territory and one in North Western Australia.

“This new contract will utilise our full distribution network through which we’re able to offer economies of scale and apply technologies to reduce costs and increase productivity for Rio Tinto.”

Northline’s superior Track and Trace system, which is giving the company a competitive advantage over its rivals, will be used to allow Rio Tinto to monitor its freight 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This year, Northline celebrates 30 years of connecting its customers across Australia and is marking the anniversary by continuing to grow and building on its standing as one of Australia’s largest privately-owned and fastest growing logistics operations.

“The industry is going through significant structural change – and we see that as an opportunity for us,” Mr Whitton says.

“We have a modern fleet, we have harnessed technology for efficiency and safety at every opportunity and our team is firmly focussed on customer service and achieving business excellence.”

For more information visit www.northline.com.au

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Please contact Simon Hatcher on (08) 8412 4100 or 0419 780 071 (M) or simon@hughespr.com.au