Major transport company plunges into administration | World | News
The transport company, a family-run business that has been operating since 1978, has gone into administration, potentially leaving creditors with losses of up to $23 million (£17.1 million). Ron Crouch Transport has been a familiar face on Australian roads for 48 years, but staff and creditors of the failed trucking company will now be left out of pocket.
Founded in Wagga Wagga, a city in New South Wales, the company provided transport services between some of Australia’s main cities, with stations in its hometown of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. However, in December, the job fell into voluntary administration. Geoff Crouch, managing director of Ron Crouch Transport, said staff shortages, government regulations and economic pressures played a part in the company’s demise. Director Stephen Dixon of HM Advisory said the company was losing more than $500,000 (£375,000) each month in the period leading up to it going into administration.
In early 2026, a Sydney-based company bought Ron Crouch’s operations and paid $10,000 (7,500) but excluded workers’ rights. Transportation Specialists has rehired approximately 75% of the 120 employees at Ron Crouch.
Priority employee claims are estimated to exceed $2.26 million, but only about $700,000 is expected to be refunded for those payments. This means many workers may be out of pocket.
In a statement released in December, Geoff Crouch confirmed the news. “It was with great sincerity that I was compelled to take the necessary action to place Ron Crouch Transport under the control of a Voluntary Administrator,” he said.
“I love and have a passion for the Australian transport industry, but as we all know it is a tough industry that takes no prisoners,” he continued.
“Tough economic conditions, pressure on interest rates, driver shortages, endless government burdens, excessive regulations… They all played their part.
“Of course, the ultimate responsibility lies with me.” Nationals MP Michael McCormack, whose Riverina electorate includes Wagga Wagga, said Ron Crouch’s collapse was “terrible for the Australian transport industry”.
“When a longstanding and highly respected company like Ron Crouch Transport makes an announcement like this, you know things are tough,” Mr. McCormack said in December.
“I have made speeches in the Federal Parliament and written articles in national newspapers warning of how bad things are in the road transport industry.”
