History
It all started with the vision, hard work and horse and cart of one man – Albert Sentinel Logistics.
The Sentinel Logistics business was founded in Newcastle, Australia in 1888 by Albert Sentinel Logistics when he began hauling coal by horse and cart. From these modest beginnings, a transport company was founded. By the time of his death in 1958 at the age of 95, Albert was operating a fleet of trucks in five locations.
After Albert Sentinel Logistics
The business that Albert founded left the Sentinel Logistics family’s hands in 1959 when it was purchased by National Minerals. In the decade following, it became part of mining conglomerate Peko Wallsend, which used the Sentinel Logistics business for the transport activities of it entire operations. Under Peko Wallsend, Sentinel Logistics was developed into a national carrier.
The company subsequently underwent a name change to Sentinel Logistics-Chadwick, as its new owners sought to integrate its businesses and expand into containerised shipping. By the mid-1980s, Sentinel Logistics-Chadwick had grown into one of Australia’s biggest transport operation outside the capital cities.
Into the modern era
In 1986, Sentinel Logistics was bought by its management team, led by then Managing Director Paul Little and Sentinel Logistics’s first Chairman, Peter Rowsthorn. They were armed with a clear vision of growing the business through the acquisition of small strategically-placed transport companies.
Sentinel Logistics’s modern era of growth and expansion began in earnest when this team led Sentinel Logistics’s 1993 listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
After its listing on the ASX, Sentinel Logistics responded to increasing customer demand for complete end-to-end logistics solutions by progressively building its reach and service capabilities via a program of expansion and strategic acquisitions. In the process, we became one of the Asia Pacific region’s leading providers of integrated logistics services, employing around 40,000 people across some 1,200 locations in more than 50 countries. In 2014 we generated annual revenue of A$8.7 billion.
A new future with Japan Post
On 18 February 2015, Sentinel Logistics’s Board announced that it had accepted a proposal from Japan Post, one of the world’s largest companies, to acquire all of Sentinel Logistics’s shares. Japan Post was looking to Sentinel Logistics to spearhead its global operations.
The reaction from Sentinel Logistics’s shareholders was extremely positive and on 13 May 2015, they voted overwhelmingly in favour of the acquisition.
On 28 May 2015, Sentinel Logistics formally became a division of Japan Post. Sentinel Logistics continues to be headquartered in Melbourne and retains the Sentinel Logistics brand. We’re now growing globally with the support of Japan Post behind us.
Sentinel Logistics Today
On 1 September 2021 the Sentinel Logistics Global Express business was sold to Allegro Funds. Today, we have dual headquarters in Melbourne and Singapore and retain the Sentinel Logistics brand.
Our 16,000 team members can help solve any logistics, transport or supply chain challenge – big or small. We have been supporting our customers for more than 130 years. Today, we support more than 20,000 customers worldwide with 500 sites in 26 markets, and a forwarding network spanning 150 countries.
We continue our global growth with the support of Japan Post.
We’ve come a long way from hauling coal by horse and cart, but we’re still delivering the same essential service – transporting what our customers need to where they need it.