Don Watson fleet up for auction

Don Watson Transport has entrusted the sale of its fleet of truck and trailers to new auction partner Manheim Industrial Australia.

Following the announcement of its closure in June, Don Watson’s 130 heavy-duty trucks, 170 trailers and 10 rigids will be up for auction. All decals will be removed and the trucks will be repainted white.

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The trucks are located across several sites including Derrimut in Victoria, Weatherill Park in New South Wales, and Hemmant in Queensland.

Manheim Australia Head of Advisory Aiden Hsu says the company is beginning to prepare the trucks and trailers for sale, and he is confident that they will find new homes.

“We are honoured to have been appointed as the exclusive remarketing partner for Don Watson Transport,” he says.

“This mandate reflects the strength of our advisory capability, national footprint and proven expertise in managing high value, multi jurisdiction, complex fleet divestments.”

“After decades of Don Watson Transport delivering excellence in the industry, Manheim is privileged to be given the responsibility of selling down the fleet,” adds Manheim Head of Transport Sales Chris Williams.

“The fleet itself, as would be known widely in the industry, consists of a huge range of prime movers including Kenworth K200s, K200 King Cabs, T409s, T609s, T610s, T909s, Mack Superliners, Scanias and more.

“With extensive service history, engine rebuilds and new crate motors in many of the trucks, they are ready to go to work. Additionally, the refrigerated trailers are made up primarily of FTE, Lucar and Vawdrey that will be a great addition to any company’s fleet.”

Watson Group CEO Lyndon Watson says while it was a difficult decision, he believes they have made the right decision choosing Manheim to handle the sales.

“When we took the incredibly tough decision to close the business due to market conditions, our top priority was ensuring all staff received their entitlements,” he says.

“An orderly and effective process to divest our fleet was an important piece. Manheim’s tailored approach, deep understanding of transport assets, process for asset preparation and commitment to understanding our requirements were key in them being selected as the preferred partner.”