THE world’s largest red meat processor, JBS, followed a strategy seen in its operations in North and South America when it established its own Australian transport division, JBS Carriers, in 2009.

But in the context of the vast size of the company’s transport operations in the US (where it runs 750 trucks and employs more than 900 personnel) and Brazil (2500 trucks), the Australian business is quite modest.

JBS is one of only two 'corporates' featuring in our Top 25 list, along with the listed Australian Agricultural Company (19).

The current JBS Carriers Australian fleet used for livestock includes 20 Kenworth prime movers, 46 trailers both B-doubles and B-triples, and a total of 69 decks in one-time haulage capacity. That’s sufficient to rate the business as the eleventh largest stock transport operator in the nation, as Beef Central approaches its countdown to number one.

The fleet grew to its current size over two years following the establishment of the business four years ago.

JBS Australia’s sheer size and vertical integration into lotfeeding, with feeding capacity well above 100,000 head, always presented opportunities for the company in the transport sector, with the attraction of consistent, regular livestock freight run schedules.

“The company saw an opportunity to enter the trucking business in Australia to bring about greater efficiencies within its business, through optimising fleet utilisation,” a company spokesman said.

The fleet is used throughout Australia’s Eastern seaboard, primarily to deliver feeder cattle to company feedlots in Queensland and NSW, and regularly transfer grain-finished stock from feedlots to company processing plants in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Grassfed stock are also shipped from property or saleyards to slaughter.

At different times, depending on internal company demand, the livestock trucks have also been used for general contract work in stock haulage. 

Separate from stock haulage, JBS operates another 14 trucks dedicated to hauling hides and by-products produced from some of the company’s processing plants, plus reefers and export containers shifting the finished chilled or frozen product to port or cold storage.

The livestock fleet is based out of a depot at the JBS Beef City feedlot and processing facility near Toowoomba in southern Queensland, with some trucks based at satellite locations to give greater flexibility and reach.

The trucking business is managed by Ruben Cherian. 

Asked whether the company had plans for growth in transport operations in Australia, given the sheer size of its corresponding fleets in other countries, JBS said it regularly reviewed its operations to assess the mix and potential for more opportunities.

Contacts:

JBS Carriers, a division of JBS Australia Pty Ltd

Ph (07) 3810 2362

Fax (07) 3816 0748

Depot: Beef City, Cecil Plains Road, Purrawunda, via Toowoomba QLD

Manager  Ruben Cherian:  0412 390 414