Australian start-up Ofload acquires CIA Logistics in company first

‍

Sydney, Australia — 15 September 2022 — Sydney-based logistics start-up Ofload has announced the acquisition of Melbourne freight specialist CIA Logistics, marking the start of an ambitious growth strategy aimed at expanding its offering and national footprint.

Ofload’s first acquisition has increased the start-up’s headcount to over 120 employees across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with CIA Logistics’ Founder and Director Tony Couttie stepping into a General Manager position at Ofload. A phased, post-merger integration and growth strategy is underway, during which the CIA Logistics brand will be retained as its operations, sales and finance teams continue to report to Couttie.

‍

Geoffroy Henry, Founder and CEO of Ofload, said, “We are thrilled to welcome CIA Logistics into the Ofload family as our first acquisition. Tony has built an incredible business, and the natural synergy between our teams was clear as they worked together to digitise analogue road shipments for some of Australia’s leading brands. This exciting milestone for Ofload is just the start of our next phase of growth, which is focused on expanding our footprint and building our digital ecosystem and network of shippers and carriers. Uniting both businesses will accelerate Ofload’s objectives to increase shipment visibility, minimalise manual and analogue processes, and ultimately remove inefficiencies across Australia’s freight industry.”

‍

Tony Couttie, General Manager of CIA Logistics at Ofload, said, “We are delighted to become part of a leading innovator and mission-driven company, in what we believe will be a game changer for the logistics industry. Ofload’s technology will bring a wealth of new opportunities to our customers and carrier partners and will support us in growing our reach across the Australian freight landscape. We see the integration of CIA Logistics into Ofload as a perfect fit.”

Founded in 1987, CIA Logistics delivers customised or standardised local and national freight solutions via air, road, rail and sea. It has since grown to become a leading independent provider of freight services to some of Australia’s foremost companies and brands.

‍

CIA Logistics brings to Ofload its speciality in freight management, freight brokerage, and logistics solutions across Australia. Its Dispatch Management System technology and expertise will be merged into Ofload’s domestic end-to-end digital road freight solution.

‍

The consolidation will support Ofload’s plans to reduce the number of empty trucks on Australian roads and eliminate all waste in road freight, while continuing to meet the rapidly evolving needs of shippers and carriers alike.

‍

Ofload is quickly becoming the fastest-growing start-up in the Australian logistics industry, having continued its strong trajectory to post 500% revenue growth (YoY) less than a year on from its Series A raise in December 2021.

‍

It is working to transform the Australian road freight industry by tackling wastage and capture an addressable market estimated to be worth more than AU$65BN. To find out more, visit ofload.com.

‍

ENDS

‍

Notes to Eds:

• In December 2021, Ofload closed an AU$20M Series A funding round, which increased its valuation to more than AU$100M.
• To date, the start-up has raised AU$26.6M through its seed, Series A and additional funding rounds, from investors Flash Ventures, Maersk Growth, Foundamental, Global Founders Capital, King River Capital, Flexport and Bay Grove.

‍

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Justin Clark, New World Reputation Management

E: Justin@newworldrm.com / M: +61 429 361 117

‍

About Ofload

Ofload is Australia’s leading digital road freight service, helping businesses achieve efficient, flexible and sustainable supply chains, with a nation-wide carrier network servicing shipments of all types of freight. Ofload connects leading brands such Asahi, Kimberly-Clark, Metcash, Noumi and Sara Lee with carriers in a smarter way to utilise otherwise spare shipping capacity, thereby eliminating empty KMs and unnecessary emissions. 

‍

The company actively supports Australia’s small business carriers, connecting reliable small-to-medium-sized transport operators from the "long tail" of the nation’s AUD$67B road freight industry, with Australia's largest brands and shippers. In 2023, Ofload was ranked in the Top 100 Innovators by the Australian newspaper. In 2022 Ofload made the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Most Innovative Company list.