Family-owned Ron Crouch Transport seeks buyer after entering voluntary administration

A national family truck business founded in 1978 has entered administration with its owner blaming economic pressures and government over-regulation for the devastating decision.

Ron Crouch Transport is looking for a buyer after Executive Director Geoff Crouch put the business into voluntary administration.

National trucking company Ron Crouch Transport is looking for a buyer after its family owners put the 47-year old business into voluntary administration this week.

In a LinkedIn post yesterday, Executive Director Geoff Crouch announced he had placed the NSW-based business into administration.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have had to take the necessary action of placing Ron Crouch Transport under the control of a Voluntary Administrator,” Mr Crouch said in his post.

Geoff Crouch announced the family business going into voluntary administration in a LinkedIn post.

Mr Crouch said challenging economic conditions, sustained pressure on freight rates, an ongoing driver shortage and “the never-ending burden of government over-regulation” were factors contributing to his decision to place the business in the hands of administrator HM Advisory.

Founded by Mr Crouch’s parents in 1978, the company employs 120 people at depot and warehouse facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Wagga Wagga.

The move by Mr Crouch is the latest casualty in an ongoing crisis in the Australian trucking industry sector which has seen the failures of many long-established freight companies with closures this year have included 77-year old Don Watson Transport and Brisbane-based XL Express, which had 200 staff.

Factors affecting the industry include sham contractors dodging tax obligations, driver shortages, increasing fuel costs and plunging asset prices constraining operators’ abilities to invest.

Ron Crouch Transport director Geoff Crouch hopes to find a buyer for the 47-year old family business. Photo: Supplied

Recent sales have seen trucks valued at $160,000 during Covid changing hands for as little as $20,000.

Mr Crouch said the business will continue to trade while the administrator looks to find a buyer.

“In the meantime … … with the valued support of my financiers, suppliers, customers and amazing staff it will be business as usual. with the valued support of my financiers, suppliers, customers and amazing staff it will be business as usual.”