Our Journey
Humble Beginings
Operating since 1965, we remain Tasmania & Family Owned.
De Bruyn’s Transport is a privately family-owned Tasmanian Company operated by brothers John and Dirk, together with their cousin John. Cornelius de Bruyn, the great uncle of the present owners, established the Company in 1965.
The de Bruyn family has more than 100 years of transport heritage which started in 1910 when their great-great-grandfather purchased a 12-ton capacity boat with the help of his family to transport sand, gravel, and heating fuel to customers along the inland waterways of Holland. The boat was green with red and white trims, the same colours that proudly define our brand today.
A Rich history
De Bruyn’s Transport has provided transport services for the West Coast mining industry for over 55 years. On April 1, 1965, the Company commenced carting for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company and later for the Renison Tin Mine. Today, De Bruyn’s Transport proudly continues to provide transport services to both these mines. However, in 1990 the future of the West Coast mining industry looked bleak. Renison Tin and Mount Lyell Mining Co both planned to close their operations.
These closures did not eventuate, but the family felt the need to diversify and not completely rely on the West Coast mining industry. Today the West Coast mining industry is still an important part of the business. The company is also heavily involved in general transport, freight forwarding, storage and distribution, waste management, and bulk cartage. This diversification has also led to depots in Launceston, Hobart, Devonport, and now Melbourne.
Bass Strait Transport
In July of 2019, DBT acquired Bass Strait Transport. The acquisition led to a move from Lorimer Street in Port Melbourne to an upgraded warehouse in Toll Drive, Altona – a dedicated transport terminal with 8,000 square metres under roof to handle freight and loading trailers and containers destined for Tasmania.
De Bruyn’s Transport alongside Bass Strait Transport offers a well-integrated Trans Bass Freight Service, serving multiple customers on the mainland and in Tasmania. With these businesses together, we offer fast and efficient transport solutions between the mainland and Tasmania.