Independent and locally owned, Cochrane's Transport is SA's leading express transport service provider. We have more than 50 years' experience delivering across South Australia and to Broken Hill and Mildura every night.
Our mission is to be the express transport company of choice for South Australia, through great service and engagement with competitive pricing, underpinned by continuous improvement and technology.
We are proud of who we are today, employing more than 300 South Australians, a fleet of more than 400 vehicles, a network of 8 company operated depots and 14 agent depots, track and trace capability and strong customer relationships, some that reach back 40 years. The journey has been long, taken more than 50 years and has many kilometres travelled. Our beginnings were small but we have grown steadily over the years into who we are today.
See the key timeline of our growth journey below.
Peter Cochrane and his wife Christine purchased two trucks and the contract to deliver the Australian Women's Weekly and The Bulletin. Based in their garage in suburban Adelaide, the couple slowly built the business by adding other magazines titles and newspapers to their delivery runs.
The need for greater warehousing capacity saw the business move in 1979 to rented warehouse at 346 South Road, Richmond. Staff were gradually brought on board to help with the packing of magazines, unloading inbound trucks and loading outbound drivers.
Continued growth and the addition of more warehousing customers including those in the whitegoods, hardware and food and beverage industries saw the business move to larger premises twice more before purchasing the 1-Hectare site it would call home for the next 34 years at 98 Jervois Street, Torrensville.
Cochrane's took on the distribution of The News, Adelaide's afternoon paper, to country South Australia. This involved taking on an additional 19 staff and vehicles, establishing the regional distribution arm of the business.
Took over distribution of The Advertiser to country South Australia, shortly followed by metropolitan deliveries.
The business now operating from the Torrensville site, continued to grow. Two additional warehouses and a mechanical workshop were added to the site between 1986 and 1991.
Cochrane's won the contract to package all publications distributed by Gordon & Gotch. After 35 years of running their own packaging operations in SA, this national, publicly listed company decided to appoint Cochrane's to do the job. Ten staff were appointed and several vehicles were added to the fleet.
Cochrane's were appointed the transport logistics provider for events associated with 2002 - Year of the Outback.
Cochrane's purchased Hutchcorp, a regional transport business. This acquisition strengthened our network and operations in the Riverland and South-East and added 10 staff and 6 vehicles to the business.
The business expanded its network beyond Adelaide, purchasing a Depot in Yon Street, Port Augusta.
Cochrane's purchased Northern Kope Express from the Parcel Express Group. This acquisition moved Cochrane's Transport into the parcel business across the state, adding more than 2,500 customers and 50 staff to the business. The Northern Kope operation continued to operate in the market under its own brand until 2015, when it was fully integrated into the Cochrane's Transport business.
Launched the new logo and branding, with "Cochrane's Transport" taking over from "Peter Cochrane Transport".
Cochrane's acquired North South Central Freight, Adelaide Hills daily parcel transport.
Cochrane's Transport named as Mitre 10 Logistics Supplier of the Year.
Scholz Transport Services, (STS), located in Whyalla, South Australia was purchased from the Scholz family. STS expanded Cochrane's operations throughout the Iron Triangle, Eyre Peninsula and Upper North of South Australia. The acquisition added 30 staff and a fleet of 60 transport assets, including prime movers, trucks, trailers, specialised heavy haulage equipment and secured a 2nd regional Depot for Cochranes, located in Whyalla.
Cochrane's Transport named as #99 in InDaily's annual Top 100 Companies in South Australia ranking. We have been included on the list every year since, coming in as follows: 2018 - #63, 2019 - #73, 2020 - #80, 2021 - #81, 2022 - #90. 2023 - #80, 2024 - #85.
Achieved AS4801 Health and Safety accreditation, recognising our Safety Management Systems as compliant with ASNZ standards.
Having outgrown our home in Torrensville, Cochrane's purchased three adjoining properties in Gillman with a total area of 37 Hectares. After a lengthy process, the State Government State Commission Assessment Panel approved our plans and we partnered with Woolcock Construction to build our new home.
Cochrane's Transport awarded 2019 SA Health Supplier Partnership Award.
On 28 September 2020, we began operating from our new purpose-built facility, featuring 55,300 m3 of warehousing space, drive-through truck wash, onsite mechanical workshop, gas & diesel fuel supply, axle weighbridge and adjustable loading dock. The site is on a B-Triple rated road with ready access to the Northern Connector. Relocation to the Gillman site sets up the business for future growth.
Awarded SA Health COVID-19 Special Recognition Award in recognition of our collaborative effort and responsiveness to SA Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opened new Port Pirie Depot at 26 Broadstock Road, Solomontown.
ISO45001 Accreditation achieved, demonstrating our commitment to work health and safety and proactive risk management.
Cochrane's Transport awarded the SA Health Partnership Award for 2021.
Cochrane's purchases and develops two adjoining properties in Hindmarsh Valley to open its Victor Harbor Depot. Peter says "While we've delivered to and from Victor Harbor, Encounter Bay, Port Elliot, Goolwa and surrounding areas for many years, this new depot extends our capacity and flexibility to meet the demands of this fast-growing region."
Cochrane's Transport is named 2022 Mitre 10 Group's Logistics Supplier of the Year. Cochrane's deliver daily to the 50 Mitre 10 and True Value Hardware stores across SA and over the border to Mildura and Broken Hill.
Official opening of Cochrane's Transport Berri Depot. Delivering daily around the Riverland, servicing Berri, Renmark, Barmera, Morgan, Loxton and beyond.
Cochrane's Transport is awarded the Variety International Presidential Citation Award for 30 years supporting the Variety Bash. Each year Cochrane's donates the "Bag Trucks" and their drivers: vehicles that travel with the Bash carrying swags, mechanical parts and other essential supplies for the event.
Cochrane's establishes our own depot at 10 Union Street, Clare.
Opened our purpose-built Kadina Depot at 10 Kennett Street, Jerusalem. This new depot streamlines our daily service to and from the Yorke Peninsula.
Celebrating 50 years servicing South Australia.
When Peter Cochrane was 9 years old, he got his first job helping local newsagent Clive Hunt roll newspapers for home deliveries before school. In his neighbourhood of Unley, almost every house would get the paper over the fence each morning. Soon, Peter was selling papers at the football at Unley Oval. In those days, football crowds could reach 20,000 people. Eventually, Peter got his own paper stand on Unley Road, working after school Monday to Friday. He would race home and change, and head off to sell papers.
Clive dropped off the papers to his street vendors and they would spread them out on the pavement for people passing to buy. Apart from Peter, Clive had five or six kids regularly selling papers along Unley Road. Peter’s spot was outside the Cremorne Hotel. When Peter was 12 years old, Clive bought the contract to deliver magazines around Adelaide. He bought two trucks and a Ute to deliver to the city and suburbs. Before and after school and in the holidays, Peter would ride with Clive in his truck, running, helping, carrying. People just assumed Clive was Peter’s father.
At school, things were not going so well. The Headmaster had pulled Peter aside and told him he would “never amount to anything”. At the end of his first year of high school, his father and Clive agreed that Peter could leave school and join Clive in his business. So, he left school and started full-time work before his 14th birthday. Peter recalls this as one of the best days of his life. Clive Hunt was a great mentor: he had a wonderful work ethic and strong principles and set Peter on the path to his long career in transport. As Peter says: “Clive instilled so much in me that has helped me my whole life – not just my working life, but how I live my life generally”.
Image to left shows Peter, aged 12 with father Richard (L) and grandfather Bert (R)
Depots covering SA
staff in regional SA
servicing South Australia in 2025
Cochranes actively engages in community involvement and corporate social responsibility initiatives, supporting local charities, promoting employee volunteerism, and cares about the people who work them.
Since 2022, Cochrane’s & Good360 have delivered over $2M of new goods to people in need across regional SA.
In 2024 we are proud to make a positive difference to the lives of children and families across SA.
Sean retires after 34 years of service.