The transport industry is mourning the loss of trucking legend Tom Lindsay OAM, who co-founded Lindsay Bros Transport in 1953.
Tom passed away on November 16, aged 90.
His massive contribution to the industry has been widely recognised. He was inducted into the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs in 2003, was inducted into the Queensland Road Transport Legends Hall of Fame in 2013, and was named an Industry Icon at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2019. Most recently he was awarded an OAM in January 2020 in recognition of his service to the industry.
Tom started Lindsay Bros Transport with his late brother Peter Lindsay (who passed away in 1998, aged 68), when they signed a contract to buy three second-hand trucks from their father Victor Lindsay.
Initially they carried produce to the trains in Coffs Harbour so they could be delivered to the Sydney markets, then they diversified into timber and then fuel.
Little did they know at the time that they had created the foundations of one of the country’s most widely recognisable fleets.
Lindsay Brothers was a pioneer in the refrigerated fruit and vegetable sector and among the first to use refrigerated trailers in Australia.
Both Tom and Peter put in the hard yards to build their business from the ground up. They drove the trucks for the first 10 years or so, then as the business grew, came off the road to manage their thriving company.
By the early 1970s, the Lindsay Bros fleet grew to 20 trucks and 23 trailers. Operations expanded into Queensland and Lindsay Brothers moved into chilled freight, becoming one of Australia’s largest refrigerated road transport companies.
Now a publicly listed company called Lindsay Australia, the business operates a fleet of over 1000 trucks.
Today, as Lindsay Australia edges closer to its 70th year, the two men who started it all will be fondly remembered.
Update – November 18:
Tom Lindsay’s funeral will be held at the Bonville Golf Resort, North Bonville Road on Friday the 26th of November at 2pm. Due to Covid-19 health restrictions, only family and friends will be in attendance, however the service will be live streamed via Facebook.
To register your intention to attend, email ea@bonvillegolf.com.au.