Toll Group

History

Albert Toll established Toll in Newcastle, Australia, in 1888. The business began by moving coal with horse and cart, and by the time of Albert's death at 95 in 1958, Toll was running a range of fleet trucks from five different locations.

National Minerals purchased the business in 1959. It then became a part of mining conglomerate Peko Wallsend a decade later. Peko Wallsend utilised the Toll transport business for all its transporting needs, making Toll a popular domestic carrier across the country.

The business changed name to Toll-Chadwick when its new owners wanted to blend their businesses and start using containerised shipping. By the mid-1980s, Toll-Chadwick had evolved into one of Australia’s most significant transport companies, operating beyond the nation’s capital cities.

Toll was purchased by its management team in 1986 by Toll’s first Chairman, Peter Rowsthorn and Toll’s Managing Director at the time, Paul Little. The duo developed the business through acquiring modest, strategically located transport companies.

Public company

In 1993, Toll was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

After its listing on the ASX, Toll progressively built its reach and service capabilities via a program of strategic acquisitions. In the process, Toll expanded its operations in logistics and freight forwarding across the Asia-Pacific region.

In June 2000 Toll Holdings launched a takeover offer for Finemore Holdings. The bid was not successful with Toll only gaining a 68% acceptance when 90% was required, with Lindsay Fox using his 10.1% shareholding to veto the deal. A scheme of arrangement, that only required 75% acceptance, was accepted with the transaction completed in March 2001.

Toll’s acquisition of SembCorp Logistics (SembLog) in 2006 significantly increased Toll’s market presence and reach across South East Asia, Greater China and the Indian Sub-Continent. In this period, Toll acquired ST Logistics, a standalone subsidiary business in Singapore, which supports the Singapore Government with logistics in healthcare, defence, and homeland security.

In 2008 Toll acquired BALtrans Logistics. In 2009 Toll acquired Express Logistics Group, one of New Zealand's largest freight forwarding companies. In the same year Toll acquired Logistic Distribution Systems, a Dubai-based international freight forwarding company.

In 2010 Toll acquired United States freight forwarder Summit Logistics. In 2010 they acquired WT SeaAir and Genesis Forwarding. The acquisitions added significant scale to the Toll Global Forwarding division in Europe.

In 2011 Toll acquired SAT Albatros, a Dubai-based provider of sea-air services.

By 2014, Toll had 40,000 team members across 1,200 locations in more than 50 countries, and annual revenue of $6.5 billion.

Japan Post acquisition

On 18 February 2015, Toll's Board announced that it had accepted a proposal from Japan Post to acquire all of Toll's shares. Japan Post was looking to Toll to grow its global logistics operations and expansion across Asia.

On 13 May 2015, Toll shareholders voted in favour of the acquisition. On 28 May 2015, Toll formally became a division of Japan Post. Toll remained headquartered in Melbourne and retained the Toll brand in Australia and around the world.

Toll continued to grow in Asia, investing AU$228 million in Toll City, a multi-story logistics facility in Singapore in 2017.

In 2020, Toll divested its logistics business in the United States, maintaining its freight forwarding operations; and on 1 September 2021, the Toll Global Express business in Australia and New Zealand was sold to Allegro Funds and rebranded Team Global Express.

In 2023, Toll acquired a business in Australia, ASQ, an operator of uncrewed aircraft systems (drone), and became the majority shareholder in its joint venture in Dubai, CWT-SML.

Today, Toll has dual headquarters in Melbourne and Singapore, with contract logistics operations across the Asia Pacific and a global freight forwarding business. In 2023, the company had 10,00 team members globally, 20,000 customers, and revenue of AU5.6 billion.

In October 2024, Pel-Air was purchased from Regional Express Holdings.

Toll's service offering

Freight forwarding

Toll provides international freight forwarding and supply chain management services that range from airport-to-(air)port and door-to-door freight forwarding movements to complex supply chain services and project movements involving over-dimensional, out-of-gauge, and heavy haulage cargo.

Headquartered in Singapore, Toll Global Forwarding operates in four regions: Australia and New Zealand; Asia; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and North America. It has 90 sites in 28 markets which, combined with an agent network, services more than 150 markets. It is one of the largest freight forwarders on the Asia to Australia, New Zealand, and USA corridors.

In 2023, Toll Global Forwarding managed around 500,000 air and ocean freight shipments.

Contract logistics

Toll provides warehousing and transportation contract logistics across the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, China, Taiwan and Korea.

Toll provides end-to-end supply chain services for a range of industries including retail and consumer, grocery, healthcare, automotive, industrial, energy, government and defence.[[File:Toll Liquids 20m tanker (13684983933).jpg|thumb|A Toll [[fuel tanker]] ]]The company operates 500 plus warehouse facilities and a transportation fleet of more than 44,000 vehicles, vessels, plant and equipment.

Toll provides logistics, transport and warehouse distribution including:

• Automated warehousing design
• Omni-channel and ecommerce
• Dedicated, specialised higher capacity transport
• Advanced, integrated telematics for bulk transport.

Toll is the first and only service provider to operate a fleet of Super B-doubles on a fixed route in Singapore and operates the Toll Helicopter ambulance rescue services in Australia.

Former divisions

• Toll Domestic Forwarding apparently disappeared in a restructuring in 2017.
• Toll Resources & Government Logistics, assumed restructured.

IPEC

The Interstate Parcel Express Company (IPEC) was established in January 1954 and operated two Peugeot utility vehicles on express parcel services from Adelaide to Melbourne. By 1968 it was operating in all Australian capital cities.

In 1963, IPEC commenced operating interstate air freight services from Melbourne to Launceston service commencing with Douglas DC-3s chartered from Brain & Brown operating three services per night.In 1966 IPEC began operating another interstate air freight service between Brisbane and Cowra that contravened the Two Airlines Policy using a chartered Air Express Holdings Bristol Freighter, where it connected with trucks to Melbourne. IPEC had already purchased a Douglas DC-4 in England, however the federal government would not allow it into Australia. The Cowra service ceased in 1967.

In 1977 IPEC imported two Argosys followed by a further two in 1978. In 1979, IPEC commenced operating services between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane using chartered East-West Airlines Fokker F27 Friendships. A Douglas DC-9 was purchased in 1982.

In October 1979, IPEC purchased British freight company Sayer Transport Group. In December 1980 it purchased Skypack International with operations in 26 countries. IPEC owned the Angus & Robertson publishing business until selling it to News Corporation in May 1981. In 1983 Skypack International was sold to Thomas Nationwide Transport.

In 1983 Mayne Nickless purchased a 50% shareholding. In 1998 IPEC was purchased by Toll and rebranded Toll IPEC.

In July 2007, Toll Holdings Limited acquired Victorian Express Pty Ltd which provided intrastate express freight services within Victoria.

Global Express

Toll Global Express was a logistics and transportation division of the group. In 2012 it had plans to extend its compressed natural gas-powered fleet to more than 70 trucks. In 2014 it announced a $150-million, 71,000-square-metre, parcel-sorting centre near Melbourne Airport, to be built in partnership with Australia Pacific Airports.

Toll agreed to sell the division to Allegro Funds in April 2021. In 2022 it was rebranded Team Global Express. The Toll Shipping business was rebranded Strait Link.

Texel Air Australasia also won a contract in March 2024 for Team Global Express, operating with B737-800 converted freighters under the call sign "Team Air".

References

References

1. "About".
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160417172902/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20150402/pdf/42xpyzfstgf63z.pdf Scheme Booklet registered with ASIC] Toll Group 2 April 2015 page 19
3. "History".
4. New Premises, Fleet for Newcastle Firm ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' February 1961 page 70
5. From Newcastle to the Moon ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' December 1965 pages 59–62
6. Toll is the Name ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' July 1985 page 7
7. (23 August 2005). "How Little turned an ailing Toll into giant".
8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060828135855/http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=3110&cp=displaystory Toll launches $120m bid for Finemore] ''[[Australasian Transport News]]'' 28 June 2000
9. Finemores/Toll still keen on takeover deal ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' November 2000 page 8
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060819151129/http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=4577&cp=displaystory Toll will rebid for Finemores - need 75%] ''Australasian Transport News'' 2 November 2000
11. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060824042008/http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=5586&cp=displaystory Toll Holdings complete Finemores merger] ''Australasian Transport News'' 2 March 2001
12. [https://www.theage.com.au/business/how-little-turned-an-ailing-toll-into-giant-20050823-ge0qoo.html How Little turned ailing Toll into a giant] ''[[The Age]]'' 23 August 2005
13. (6 March 2006). "Toll acquires stake in SembCorp".
14. "Milestones {{!}} ST Logistics Pte Ltd".
15. 6 March 2009 (6 March 2009). [http://ichainnel.com/en/news/239360_537aef-em-toll-global-forwarding-em-completes-baltrans-integration "Toll Global Forwarding Completes BALtrans Integration."] Logistics Insight Asia. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
16. (21 December 2009). "Toll Holdings Limited – completed acquisition of Express Logistics Australia Pty Ltd".
17. (7 November 2009). "Toll acquires Logistic Distribution Systems".
18. [http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/toll-acquires-summit-logistics-20100202-naw1.html Toll acquires Summit Logistics] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 2 February 2010
19. (9 July 2010). "Toll makes two acquisitions in UK".
20. Staff, FreightWaves. (1 February 2011). "Toll acquires Dubai sea-air specialist".
21. (18 February 2015). "Japan Post snaps up Toll for $6.5 billion to create global logistics powerhouse".
22. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-18/toll-board-backs-8-billion-dollar-japan-post-takeover/6138590 Toll board backs $6.5b takeover by Japan Post] ''ABC News'' 18 February 2015
23. [https://www.smh.com.au/business/toll-takeover-japans-great-australian-takeaway-20150218-13hsp8.html Toll takeover: Japan's great Australian takeaway] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 18 February 2015
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26. "Toll to become majority shareholder in its Dubai joint venture".
27. [https://www.tollgroup.com/about/news-and-media/toll-group-expands-aeromedical-services-through-acquisition-pel-air Toll Group Expands Aeromedical Services through the Acquisition of Pel-Air] Toll Group 24 October 2024
28. [https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/rex-subsidiary-sale-finalised/ Rex subsidiary sale finalised] ''[[Australasian Transport News]]'' 25 October 2024
29. "Locations".
30. "Asia Pacific".
31. "Industries".
32. "eCommerce & Omnichannel Logistics".
33. Boilerplate. "Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter Service".
34. Staff Writer. (2019-05-17). "Toll operates Vawdrey super B-double in Singapore".
35. Fast handling is key feature of new Ipec transfer terminal ''[[Freight & Container Transportation]]'' May 1974 pages 34, 35, 45, 46
36. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130305061234/http://www.tollipec.com.au/history.aspx History] Toll Ipec
37. Ipec takes over removals business of WHA Clues ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' May 1968 page 127
38. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136929278 IPEC flight defies Govt] ''[[Canberra Times]]'' 23 June 1966 page 1
39. Ipec in the air ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' July 1966 page 194
40. Ipec air freight on the move ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' August 1966 page 120
41. Ipec air freight plan is shelved ''Truck & Bus Transportation'' August 1967 page 112
42. Ipec sells plane: Bris-Cowra air service stopped ''Freight & Container Transportation'' August 1967 page 42
43. Govt gives Ipec green light to import planes ''Freight & Container Transportation'' March 1977 page 3
44. Two more Argosies for Ipec arrive ''Freight & Container Transportation'' July 1978 page 6
45. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110564799 New IPEC services] ''Canberra Times'' 3 July 1979 page 7
46. Ipec's air cargo service starts as scheduled ''Freight & Container Transportation'' August 1979 page 5
47. Govt has approved Ipec importing jet aircraft ''Freight & Container Transportation'' September 1981 page 12
48. Ipec flying into Qld – and moving into air charter market ''Freight & Container Transportation'' August 1982 page 3
49. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110605089 IPEC buys British transport group] ''Canberra Times'' 13 October 1979 page 24
50. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126163630 IPEC pays $3m for Skypack courier group] ''Canberra Times'' 12 December 1980 page 15
51. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125631207 News group to buy A and R] ''Canberra Times'' 2 May 1981 page 19
52. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116450659 Ipec sheds a global operation] ''Canberra Times'' 17 February 1983 page 21
53. TNT take over Ipec's foreign courier service ''Freight & Container Transportation'' March 1983 page 31
54. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122486026 Mayne Nickless lifts profit to $17.3m] ''Canberra Times'' 26 February 1985 page 14
55. Mayne-Toll Deal ''[[The Australian]]'' 30 September 1998 page 43
56. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150331050456/https://www.tollgroup.com/acquisitions Acquisitions] Toll Group
57. Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer. (7 April 2009). "Toll Holdings Limited – completed acquisition of Victorian Express Pty Ltd".
58. 30 March 2012 (30 March 2012). [http://www.logisticsmagazine.com.au/news/toll-s-green-rise-with-new-isuzu-cng-fleet-deal "Toll's green rise with new Isuzu CNG fleet deal".] Logistics & Materials Handling. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
59. (11 June 2014). "Toll starts work on huge Melbourne Airport facility".
60. (21 April 2021). "Toll Global Express has found a buyer". Trailer Magazine.
61. [https://trailermag.com.au/toll-global-express-is-rebranding/ Toll Global Express is rebranding] ''Trailer Magazine'' 6 September 2022
62. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230326162533/https://straitlink.com.au/toll-shipping-renamed-strait-link-and-becomes-an-independent-company/ Toll Shipping renamed Strait Link and becomes an independent company] [[Strait Link]] 2 September 2022
63. [https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7886691/green-turning-to-blue-as-bass-strait-shipping-company-rebrands/ Freight company Toll Shipping rebrands as Strait Link] ''[[The Advocate (Tasmania). The Advocate]]'' 2 September 2022
64. [https://web.archive.org/web/20221220062506/https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/logistics-and-supply-chain/top-stories-of-2022-toll-shipping-becomes-strait-link/ Toll Shipping becomes Straight Link] ''[[Daily Cargo News]]'' 20 December 2022