Trucking company winds up

Shock text to workers

LIQUIDATORS have been appointed for Geelong-based transport company Transtex Logistics, with employees given less than 24 hours’ notice that their jobs would no longer exist.

Transtex Logistics is one of several companies headed up by director Shane Blakeborough and goes to the wall only a month after Shane Blakeborough Logistics (SBL) folded.

Drivers and other employees were taken by surprise by the notification sent by text that allegedly read: “Dear staff, It is with regret that the business known as Transtex Logistics Pty Ltd has shut it’s doors and will cease to trade, effective this afternoon Sunday 27th August 2017”.

The text went on to say that employee entitlements and outstanding would be dealt with through the liquidators with entitlements covered by the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Program.

The text went on to inform employees: “You are not required at work tomorrow given the circumstances.”

Transtex Employment and Transtex Logistics, both of which list Shane Blakeborough as director, were placed in the hands of liquidators Romanis Cant Charted Accountants on August 28.

The news follows the appointment of forensic accounting firm Rodgers Reidy as the liquidator of a Transtex subsidiary SBL Pty Ltd in July.

“There is unlikely to be a return to unsecured creditors in our liquidation,” a spokesman for Rogers Reidy said.

“Except superannuation employee entitlements will be paid via Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme.

“All plant and all the hard assets are under security agreements with banks or fin- ance companies’ security arrangements,” he said.

After calling the number listed on the Transtex website, Big Rigs magazine was informed the office is now being managed by a company operating under the name of Delivery Express, a subsidiary of Deliver Express.

The news is seen as the end of an era for the Geelong transport company that began as Shane Blakeborough Logistics, but later took over management of Transtex.

In February 2014, Mr Blakeborough announced on social media that Shane Blakeborough Logistics had taken over management of Transtex.

“With over 25 years in the general freight business and over 20 vehicle ranging from utes and vans to B-double and everything else in between,” the post read.

In July 2014 Mr Blakeborough then announced online the Transtex and SBL would be merging to create a transport company with more than 50 prime movers and more than 25 rigid trucks and vans.

According to ASIC documentation all registered businesses now under liquidation had been established earlier this year.

Big Rigs magazine, part of News Corp, has been unable to obtain comment from Mr Blakeborough or a Transtex spokesperson despite numerous approaches.