Fresh Produce Transport Brisbane — Fruit and Vegetable Freight from Farm, Packhouse and Market

We move fruit, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers in refrigerated vehicles between Queensland growers, packhouses, Brisbane Markets at Rocklea and the retailers, wholesalers and kitchens that buy from them. Most produce travels between +2°C and +8°C, and the exact set point follows the specification for what is on the truck.

Produce is the least forgiving freight we carry on time. It is still alive after harvest, it bruises, and it loses shelf life with every warm hour. So the work is as much about timing and handling as it is about the number on the thermostat.

Who we carry fresh produce for

• Growers and packhouses sending pallets to market, to a wholesaler or to a retailer’s receiving dock.
• Greengrocers and independent retailers who buy at market and need the order brought back cold.
• Wholesalers and providores delivering to restaurants, cafes and caterers.
• Florists and flower wholesalers moving cut flowers on short stem-life clocks.

Loads are scheduled around harvest and around retailer pick-up slots. Tell us the window you are working to and we plan the vehicle back from it.

Pickups from Brisbane Markets at Rocklea

Brisbane Markets at Rocklea is Queensland’s central fruit and vegetable wholesale market, and a lot of the produce sold in Brisbane passes through it. We collect orders there for buyers and deliver them to shops, kitchens and warehouses across South East Queensland.

We do not have a depot or a stand at the market. We send a vehicle to collect what you have bought. To make the pickup work, give us:

• The wholesaler’s name and where on site the order will be.
• Your order or invoice reference.
• The number of cartons or pallets.
• The time the order will be ready to collect.
• A contact who can answer the phone if something is missing.
• Any collection instructions the wholesaler has given you.

Produce temperatures: one number does not suit everything

The common mistake with produce is treating it like dairy and setting everything to 2°C. Some fruit is damaged by cold. These are commonly recommended figures. Your product owner’s specification always wins.

Our vans and small trucks hold up to +8°C and our larger trucks up to +10°C. Fruit that needs a warmer set point than that, such as mangoes and bananas, is outside our standard range, so ask us before you book and we will tell you honestly whether we can carry it. Our guide to chilled and frozen transport temperatures has more detail.

How we handle produce on the vehicle

The vehicle is pre-cooled before loading. A refrigerated truck holds the temperature produce is loaded at, and it is not built to remove field heat. Produce should be cooled at the farm or packhouse first.

Loads are planned with humidity and airflow in mind, since moving air is what keeps a produce load even. Crush-prone cartons are stacked gently and are not loaded under heavy freight. Where we can, we choose routes and times that avoid the worst heat of a Queensland day, because every door opening in summer costs more cold air.

A probe temperature is read and recorded at pickup and at delivery. Ask for the readings with your proof of delivery.

Produce freight from Queensland growing regions

Much of the produce that reaches Brisbane comes down the Warrego Highway. The Lockyer Valley is a major winter vegetable region, and Toowoomba and the Darling Downs sit about 125 km from Brisbane. We also work the Sunshine Coast corridor on the Bruce Highway.

Further north, regional Queensland linehaul runs on planned services. Ask about your region and season when you request a quote. If you have a few pallets, not a full truck, they can travel as a part load with compatible freight.

What to send us for a produce transport quote

We quote each job, because distance, vehicle size, number of drops and timing all change the price. Send these through the contact page:

1. 1Pickup point and delivery suburb.
2. 2What the produce is, and its temperature specification.
3. 3Carton or pallet count, with pallet heights and weights.
4. 4When it is ready and when the receiver will take it.
5. 5Whether the run is one-off or regular.

The load size decides the vehicle, from a van for a few cartons to a semi-trailer for a full load. The fleet page lists each class. Businesses that transport horticulture produce in Queensland may require an accreditation, so check with Safe Food Queensland what applies to your product.