Manheim to auction Don Watson Transport’s national fleet

Leading auction house, Manheim Industrial Australia, has been selected to manage the national sale of Don Watson Transport’s fleet of trucks and trailers, following the refrigerated freight company’s decision to cease operations.

Manheim will oversee the sale of more than 300 assets from Don Watson Transport’s extensive fleet, including 130 heavy trucks, 170 trailers and 10 rigid vehicles. The assets will be progressively sold through Manheim Industrial’s auction network, with units located across several sites including Derrimut (Victoria), Wetherill Park (NSW) and Hemmant (Queensland).

The auction will feature a wide range of prime movers, including Kenworth K200s, T610s and T909s, Mack Superliners, and Scanias, many with new crate motors, engine rebuilds, and detailed service histories. The refrigerated trailers—primarily from FTE, Lucar and Vawdrey—are expected to attract strong interest from logistics operators looking to bolster their fleets with well-maintained equipment.

Don Watson Transport, a 77-year-old family-run business and one of Australia’s leading names in refrigerated logistics, made the tough decision to shut down earlier this month, citing challenging market conditions.

“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,” said CEO Lyndon Watson.

“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.”

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Manheim Head of Advisory, Aiden Hsu, said the partnership highlighted the company’s ability to manage high-value, multi-jurisdictional fleet disposals.

“We are honoured to have been appointed as the exclusive remarketing partner for Don Watson Transport,” said Hsu. “This mandate reflects the strength of our advisory capability, national footprint and proven expertise in managing complex fleet divestments.”

The trucks and trailers will be cleaned, have decals removed, and repainted white before going to auction.

Interested buyers can register their interest and stay informed on auction details, asset lists and inspections through Manheim’s dedicated landing page.

Auctions to sell these assets are expected to commence in late July.