Welcome...

This blog is a tribute to the 600 odd people that worked at 1st Fleet.


Sadly, 1st Fleet was closed down by "de Vries Tayeh" (the Voluntary Administrators) around midnight on the 2nd of May 2012.


The transport industry is a tough game to play with very small margins. The competition is ruthless with smaller operators undercutting each other for business and larger customers insisting on ever lower costs for freight.


I always felt this time would come... but it came so fast. The financiers 'Co-Face' had had enough, and pushed to appoint 'de Vries Tayeh' as the voluntary administrators. They came in and within a week did their insidious work.


Many promises were made and broken by all the stakeholders. I don't profess to know everything about the dealings of the stakeholders, but I do know it was always about the dollar. Never about the people involved that kept the business going.


The rumour mill has been churning out stories like crazy. What's real is up to you. I have heard of truck owners having their trucks locked up in 1st Fleet yards (by de Vries Tayeh) and denied access to them. Trucks being turned around on the Nullarbor plain as the drivers would be stranded in Perth with no way to get back. Clerical and IT staff asked to work only to be told they are not getting paid. Customers goods locked in warehouses and trucks, without any way to get them out.


So if you are a worker (one of us) or a customer or owner driver connected with this mess please leave your comments below. Also if you feel the need to correct anything on this blog feel free to leave your comments below. I will stand corrected.


In the mean time I'll leave you with some pictures of some of the staff at 1st Fleet Sydney office. 

Till we meet again.

And a little video to make you smile.