No 8: Shanahans Livestock Transport

RAISED in a family of well-known Victorian stock agents, a future in livestock was always on the cards for Dom Shanahan.

But a strong early interest in trucking proved to be an even more powerful lure for the direction his career would ultimately take.

In the 22 years since Dom and his wife Caroline established Shanahans Livestock Transport with the purchase of single truck, their business has grown to become a nationally recognised leader in cattle transport, with a modern fleet of 35 Kenworth trucks and non-bruise trailers.

Shanahans Livestock Transport also today has two major depots and workshops at Barnawatha in Victoria and Oakey in Queensland, enabling it to cover two-thirds of Australia with the capacity to handle work in and out of Western Australia.

Dom is often asked why he didn’t follow his grandfather Jack, father Tony and brother Xavier into the livestock agency game.

He says that while the appeal was strong as a kid growing up around cattle and sheep at Ballan between Melbourne and Ballarat, the trucking side of the industry was also a strong attraction for him.

“I had mates who had a lot of trucks when we were young,” he explained.

“My grandfather Jack Shanahan was associated all the way back to the old Newmarket Saleyards (at Flemington), and their stock when we were kids went there. I used to get a ride down every now and then for a Sunday trip with my mates in the truck when Newmarket was still going.

“Then I did an apprenticeship with a fitter and turner when I was 16.

“So I had every opportunity to go on and be a stock agent but I tended to lean towards machinery a little bit more.”

Dom and Caroline started with one truck 22 years ago, sub-contracting for another driver in the Albury/Wodonga region, and carting for local producers.

“I don’t think you would find a better place to start from or grow,” he said.

“It is a hell of a place to do business when it comes to trucks and livestock, you cover a lot of north/south jobs which gives you good distance work, and our company just grew from there.”

Early business consisted of paddock transport and store work, and moving weaners from southern Victoria into New South Wales as far north as Dubbo and Tamworth. With Dom’s deep connections in the livestock industry, the business grew steadily and lasting relationships were formed with customers who continue to rely on Shanahans two decades later.

As the business grew it also began taking on more work in Victoria for larger supply chains, including major processor and lotfeeder/processor Teys.

A pivotal moment came in 2014 when the opportunity arose for Shanahans to purchase two businesses which handled a large footprint of livestock transporting work for Teys – the livestock arm of multi-freight transporter Rodney’s and Naracoorte, SA, based transporter Cranes.

“We had a conversation with Teys and they gave us their backing, and it has grown from there. It is all based on performance and we have had a really great relationship with them.”

“Today we cover virtually from Victoria into South Australia to as far as Cloncurry. Throw anywhere in between and we could be there with a truck any one day.”

Running a modern, well-maintained fleet is a core priority for Shanahans. “We wouldn’t have a piece of equipment in our fleet older than seven years, or a prime-mover older than six,” Dom says. With changing government regulations, particularly around emissions, and longer downtime for truck repairs, maintaining new and reliable equipment is essential.

Shanahans also has a modern spelling facility at its Barnawatha depot offering customers short term agistment upon request.

Shanahans primarily runs B-Doubles along the eastern seaboard and operates a growing number of B-Triple configurations, which are now permitted in Victoria under a permit system.

The demand for livestock transport remains strong, particularly as the feedlot industry continues to expand. “Feedlot growth has been massive over the past 20 years, and it’s certainly not backing off,” Dom says.

Asked if he believed opportunities still exist for new entrants to build substantial livestock transporting businesses, he said the rising cost of equipment was the biggest hurdle, with the cost of getting into the business having doubled over the past decade.

When Shanahans started, a new Kenworth truck could be purchased for around $220,000. Today, the cost is more than $500,000 for the truck alone, with trailers adding another half a million.

But he said for those willing to specialise and invest in the right equipment, the opportunity remained. “It’s a good business. Like any business, it has its challenges, but if you get it right, the rewards are there.”