FedEx, TNT Express cancel transport of firearms in Australia

A global courier company is pulling the pin on shipping firearms, leaving a massive hole in the supply chain of an industry worth $2.4 billion.

everything from pistols and rifles to paintball guns and toy guns will no longer be transported by FedEx and TNT Express after August 9.

EXCLUSIVE: A global courier company is refusing to transport guns, weapons and ammunition in Australia, in a move that’s “blindsided” the nation’s firearms industry and threatens to leave dealers without a secure supply chain.

US-owned FedEx and TNT Express advised clients this month that it will no longer transport any firearms after August 9, with the policy covering everything from pistols and rifles to paintball guns and toy guns. 

No explanation was offered for the sudden change. 

The Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia has slammed the decision, which it says will now threaten the $2.4 billion industry’s supply chain, and reeks of “cancel culture”.

“Some industry accounts (with TNT) date back 30 years and were assured multiple times that they were secure, then without any warning or consultation they are cancelled by email, giving the entire industry less than 30 days’ notice to develop a new industry-wide freight solution,” SIFA executive officer James Walsh said.

“What sort of business treats loyal customers like that?” 

The Weekly Times has sought comment from FedEx-TNT.

FedEx and TNT Express customers have been notified by letter of the change but no explanation is given.

FedEx Express took over the once Australian-owned TNT Express in a $6.3 billion deal in 2015, and has since been integrating the two services in Australia.

TNT had long been the major courier for the firearms industry in Australia. Mr Walsh said with the change in policy would leave a major gap in the supply chain.

“There isn’t another provider that has their network and is as cost-effective, but also their security and safety – they are the trusted provider,” he said.

In a letter to a NSW firearms dealer dated July 8, seen by The Weekly Times, the company advises that “we are continuing to align TNT operations and transportation policies to FedEx Express”.

“Effective from 9 August 2021, we will cease the transportation of firearms, weaponry and ammunition in both our domestic and international networks,” the letter reads.

It explicitly states that firearms includes: their parts and anything that can be used to construct them, pistols, rifles, shotguns, pre-1900 guns for which ammunition is not available, replicas, toy imitation guns, paintball guns and BB guns. 

No reason is given in the letter for the change in policy; the company does state it will continue shipping “accessories associated with firearms”, but reserves the right to reject such shipments “based on the suitability within our network”.

Shooters Union NSW managing director Peter Whelan said the courier company’s changes were going to affect many people, from dealers to farmers and sports-shooters – particularly as the policy goes down to the parts and tools used to make firearms.

“Why they don’t accept there are Australians who legally have firearms for sport, recreation, occupation is baffling,” he said.

“It’s very shortsighted … ”

Breaking……. TNT to cease shipping firearms, ammunition and parts! In an email sent today to firearm dealers and...

Posted by Shooters Union New South Wales on Thursday, July 8, 2021

Mr Walsh said the notification came after FedEx-TNT had assured the industry as recently as March this year that firearms’ related accounts were secure.

“It is quite scary that in Australia a foreign-owned business can set up shop, become the major industry player and then cancel services to an entire industry,” he said.

“This whole situation screams of cancel culture. We are a legitimate Australian industry, yet we are constantly battling for essential business services.”   

Last year, The Weekly Times revealed several major banks and financial services were changing their policies to no longer serve firearms dealers, including cancelling the accounts of longtime customers, claiming the industry was too much of a risk.