StockTrans, with a modern fleet of 29 Western Star and Kenworth prime movers and a mix of B-doubles, B-triples and roadtrains, plays a key role in Australia’s beef supply chain, transporting high value cattle from feedlots such as Whyalla, Rangers Valley, and Myola to processing facilities across the southern Queensland/Northern NSW region.

Based at Glen Innes in NSW’s northern tablelands, StockTrans was founded in 1988 by Joe Sepos, a Newcastle chicken farmer and freight operator.

StockTrans is part of the Sepos family’s larger JS Transport Group which today operates 85 prime movers and 130 trailers from eight locations throughout Australia, moving poultry, livestock, chicken feed and grain across the nation.

The JS Group now consists of eight privately-owned companies, directed by Managing Director Joe Sepos and run by his four sons. The primary business remains as road transport, while in addition to the group companies, the company is complemented by several value-adding core businesses, including beef cattle properties, a free-range egg farm and Stroud & District Golf Club. Throughout the businesses, there are more than 200 staff members employed, including drivers, mechanics, logistics staff, trainers, chicken catchers, administration and accounting staff.

Within the JS Transport Group, StockTrans specialises in moving cattle between feedlots and meat processing plants with custom-made trailers from Byrne Trailers and Rytrans designed for non-bruise, low-stress transport.

Much of its feedlot work to Whyalla, one of Australia’s largest single site feedlots with a capacity of 75,000 standard cattle units, is handled in B-triples in four and a half deck configurations, which comprise a 30-foot lead trailer in front of a B-Double.

Over the past 27 years, StockTrans has expanded its reach through strategic acquisitions, including Knights Livestock Transport, Henry Cooke Transport, Ron Finemore Transport (Lewingtons), the Queensland operations of David Grimison and the Darling Downs division of Paul Hansen livestock transport.

Technology including satellite tracking and fatigue management systems are used to provide real-time monitoring of vehicles to ensure both driver safety and livestock welfare.

Like many other livestock transporting companies, finding experienced drivers is a key ongoing challenge. “It’s the million-dollar question,” operations manager Stephen Cooke told Beef Central.

Stephen said he loved his 20-year-career behind the wheel before moving into his current operations role, and remains surprised by the lack of people coming into the industry.

“I just love the industry, I love camaraderie,” he said. “I grew up around sheep and cattle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

The passion for livestock transporting also runs deep in the Cooke clan.

Steve’s son Jack recently joined StockTrans, carrying on the family tradition. “Someone asked if I forced him into trucking, but he said, ‘I was always going to be a truck driver.’”

About half of the StockTrans fleet operates out of the Glen Innes head office main depot, which also houses the fleet’s major repair and maintenance workshop, with other depots in Inverell and Millmerran.

Contact

Stephen Cooke 0427 324 999

stephen@stocktrans.com.au

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