Major trucking company collapses after 35 years in business leaving furious customers in limbo, This is a disaster

After more than three decades of operation, Australian transport and logistics company XL Express has gone into voluntary administration, leaving 200 employees facing job losses and furious customers scrambling to recover their goods. The company, once a key freight carrier along the east coast, had been a familiar name in logistics, transporting goods between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

At its peak, XL Express wasn’t just another transport business — it was thriving enough to serve as a major co-sponsor for the Brisbane Lions AFL team, with its logo proudly displayed on the team’s uniforms. Its collapse marks a significant blow to the transport sector and has caused immediate chaos for clients across multiple industries.

The company entered voluntary administration last Friday, alongside 16 other associated entities. FTI Consulting partners Kelly-Anne Trenfield, Joanne Dunn, and Ross Blakely have been appointed as administrators to assess whether any part of the business can be salvaged.

In an official statement, FTI Consulting said their team is “conducting an urgent assessment to consider the continued viability of XL Express.” The administrators confirmed that where freight deliveries cannot be completed, arrangements are being made for customers to collect their goods from XL Express distribution centers directly.

Customers, however, are furious. Many have taken to social media to vent their frustration over delayed shipments and missing packages, calling the situation “a disaster” and accusing the company of failing to communicate in the lead-up to its collapse. Businesses that relied on XL Express for regular freight services are now left in limbo, scrambling to find alternative carriers amid an already strained logistics sector.

Industry experts say the company’s collapse underscores the mounting pressures faced by transport operators across Australia. Rising fuel costs, labor shortages, and ongoing supply chain disruptions have hit logistics providers hard over the past few years. While some businesses have adapted through automation and efficiency measures, others — particularly mid-sized operators like XL Express — have struggled to stay afloat.

“Smaller and mid-tier freight companies are being squeezed from both sides,” one logistics analyst noted. “They face massive operating costs and tight delivery expectations, but customers are increasingly price-sensitive. When cash flow becomes tight, one bad quarter can be enough to push a business over the edge.”

For employees, the news came as a devastating shock. Many workers, some of whom had been with the company for decades, were reportedly informed late last week that their jobs were at risk. While administrators are still reviewing the company’s financials, the outlook is grim, with few signs of an immediate buyer or rescue plan.

The company’s closure also highlights the ripple effect such failures can have. Hundreds of small businesses that depended on XL Express for regional freight and overnight deliveries now face serious delays and financial strain. “We’ve got customers waiting on stock we can’t deliver because it’s stuck in their warehouse,” one retailer told reporters. “We can’t even get a straight answer about when — or if — we’ll get it back.”

FTI Consulting has assured customers and suppliers that updates will be provided as the situation unfolds, but many remain skeptical. The administrators face the daunting task of sorting through contracts, unpaid invoices, and stranded shipments — all while determining if any part of XL Express’s operation can be sold or restructured.

For a company that had been a recognizable part of Australia’s freight network for 35 years, its collapse represents more than just another corporate failure. It’s a reminder of the fragility of the logistics industry — one that operates on razor-thin margins yet forms the backbone of everyday commerce.

As one long-time customer put it, “When a company like XL Express goes down, it’s not just a business problem — it’s a chain reaction. Everyone feels it.”