Seeing Red: The lifeblood of regional South Australia
From humble beginnings, Cochrane’s Transport has evolved to become South Australia’s leading express freight service.
As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun – and, for Peter Cochrane, that couldn’t be more true.
Fifty years ago, Peter and his wife Christine established Cochrane’s Transport in the back yard of their Mitcham home, delivering The Australian Women’s Weekly to newsagents across metropolitan Adelaide.
From those modest beginnings, the company has grown to become South Australia’s leading express freight service.
Today, Cochrane’s Transport operates a fleet of 250 vehicles, employs more than 350 staff and runs eight depots across the state. Servicing more than 1,600 towns across a staggering one million square kilometres, their deliveries are the lifeblood of remote and regional South Australia.
While the Women’s Weekly is still on board, the freight list has expanded dramatically, from agricultural tyres and outboard motors to mining gear, hardware, pharmaceuticals, bread, beer and more.
Still a family business
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What makes this success story even more remarkable is that Cochrane’s remains proudly family-owned and operated – with 78-year-old Peter still at the helm.
“I’m very passionate about transport,” Peter says. “I started young. I was born in a car in front of the Botanic Hotel on North Terrace – literally born in transport. I wasn’t much good at school so I left and started working for a small trucking contractor at 13.”
Reflecting on the journey, Peter adds: “It’s gone fairly quickly. Chris and I started out with two trucks doing local deliveries. Now we’re here at our Gillman head office, at the centre of SA’s largest delivery network.”
With depots in Victor Harbor, Kadina, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Berri and Clare, Cochrane’s reach is vast. The company also partners with national freight carriers, providing the crucial “last mile” – or, in many cases, the last thousand miles – into country South Australia.
“The items that come down our parcel sort line are incredibly diverse,” says Jodie Hill, Peter’s daughter and Cochrane’s Transport director. “On any given night we might see pallets of turf for Streaky Bay, tractor gearboxes for Minlaton, wine for Broken Hill or dog kennels for Bowhill.”
And it’s not just deliveries into the regions – Cochrane’s also collects freight from towns across SA and distributes it nationwide.
Those Signature Red Trucks
Peter’s attention to detail is legendary – especially when it comes to the fleet’s appearance.
“Dad is very particular,” Jodie says. “He believes the look of our trucks reflects the quality of our service. Red has always been his colour so we custom order every vehicle with Cochrane’s signature red wheels, chassis and curtains.”
That pride extends beyond the fleet to the people and communities they serve. Cochrane’s is a major employer in regional SA and a generous supporter of local charities and sporting clubs. Their contributions include financial and in-kind support to Operation Flinders, Good360, Backpacks for Kids, Raising Literacy Australia, Treasure Boxes and more.
One cause especially close to Peter’s heart is Variety SA. For the past 20 years, Cochrane’s has sponsored the annual Variety Bash, donating “Bag Trucks” to transport swags, tyres and spare parts for participants and organisers.
“I’ve just returned from this year’s Bash,” Peter says with a chuckle. “I used to be the chief bag handler – now I bring a team of fit young helpers. This year was our most successful yet, raising $2.7 million for kids in need.”
The Road Ahead
Christine passed away 20 years ago, but her legacy lives on.
“She had a passion for outback SA,” Peter reflects. “She would have loved seeing our trucks in so many regional towns. SA has been a great place to grow a business. I hope our story inspires others to have a go – there’s plenty of opportunity here.”
With daughters Jodie and Rebecca by his side and a “great team of people” behind him, Peter is optimistic about the future.
“I’m nowhere near retirement,” he says. “At 78, I still jump on the forklift every afternoon and share the workload with the operations team. We’re always looking for new opportunities – and I hope that continues for many years to come.”
