How Brisbane Wholesalers Are Cutting Logistics Costs with Fleet Outsourcing
Most freight advice online is written for online stores shipping single parcels to homes. Wholesale logistics is a different problem entirely — multiple retail accounts, fixed replenishment windows, palletised loads, and routes that have to run whether you’ve got one pallet or ten going out that day.
That mismatch is exactly why so many Brisbane wholesalers end up overpaying for their own delivery fleet — and exactly where fleet outsourcing tends to save the most.
None of these show up as one big line item. They erode margin a little at a time:
A truck bought for your busiest day sits half-empty most other days — you still pay full rego, insurance and depreciation on it.
Poorly sequenced retail routes mean more fuel and driver hours per drop than the job actually requires.
Miss a retailer’s delivery window and you’re absorbing chargebacks, rebooked slots, or a frustrated account manager.
When volume spikes, you’re stuck hiring casual drivers or renting trucks at short notice and a premium rate.
Here’s the annual cost picture for a Brisbane wholesaler running three regular delivery routes, comparing an in-house fleet against outsourcing to a fleet solution:
| Cost Category | In-House Fleet | Outsourced |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle purchase / depreciation (3 trucks) | $25,000–$38,000 | $0 |
| Rego, insurance & CTP (3 vehicles) | $15,000–$21,000 | $0 |
| Driver wages (3 full-time) | $240,000–$285,000 | Included |
| Super, leave & WorkCover | $52,000–$68,000 | $0 |
| Maintenance & repairs | $12,000–$21,000 | $0 |
| Fuel | $27,000–$42,000 | Included |
| Recruitment & HR admin | $8,000–$18,000 | $0 |
| Estimated Annual Total | $379,000–$493,000 | $195,000–$300,000 |
*Outsourced estimate based on three dedicated tail-lift trucks and drivers at Brisbane market rates.
- Dedicated tail-lift trucks sized to your actual pallet volume
- The same drivers on your retail routes every day — they learn the accounts
- Route capacity flexes up for peak season without a hiring scramble
- One fixed weekly invoice instead of a dozen scattered fleet costs
- A single point of contact instead of managing drivers, mechanics and insurers separately
Tell us your routes, drop count, and current fleet size — we’ll show you a real cost comparison for your business, not a generic estimate.
Get a Free Fleet Quote →77 Freight Transport — Underwood QLD 4119 | Serving Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay to Gympie