Why Things Are Getting Messy
From torrential rain in Queensland to flash flooding across northern NSW, Australia’s domestic freight arteries have copped a hiding this season. Rail corridors are under repair, road access to Brisbane and Sydney terminals is restricted, and port turnaround times are stretching out.
Throw in driver shortages, high diesel prices, and political focus shifting towards energy corridors instead of freight upgrades — and you’ve got a perfect storm for logistics delays.
The Knock-On Effect for Business
Regional exporters are fighting to meet vessel cut-offs as trucks get stuck behind weather-related detours. Importers are paying extra in storage and detention as boxes sit idle waiting for pickup slots. Rail bottlenecks are pushing more cargo onto the road, which is already short on drivers. Domestic freight quotes have jumped 10–15 per cent in some corridors, and flexibility is shrinking fast.
How to Keep Freight Moving
- Add breathing room: Build 2–3 days’ buffer into your delivery schedules.
- Stay across alerts: Keep an eye on port, weather and infrastructure bulletins.
- Have backups ready: Line up alternate carriers or trucking partners.
- Coordinate the paperwork: Align customs, documentation and terminal slots with your freight forwarder to avoid missed cut-offs.
At Flying Fox Solutions, we keep live tabs on port operations and weather advisories nationwide. Our team reroutes critical loads and pre-books slots, so clients don’t lose time — even when conditions turn ugly.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Seasonal Outlook Oct–Dec 2025; Infrastructure Australia Freight Performance Report 2025; Freight & Trade Alliance Bulletin #640
Disclaimer – Market data is from public sources we consider reliable but has not been independently verified; accuracy is not guaranteed