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Stockwells logistics news report

Friday 19th December, 2025

In this news report:

Fremantle Bridge Closure - WA Departure of Transport Freight Industry

Illegal Logging Information Session | DAFF

ACCC releases findings from Container Stevedore Monitoring Report 2024-25

Upcoming tolling changes for heavy vehicles - West Gate Tunnels & West Gate Freeway

Stockwells Holiday Operating Hours

Shipping Charges & Fees

Fremantle Bridge Closure - WA Departure of transport Freight Industry

The WA Government has announced the closure of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge over the Swan River from 1 February 2026.

Traffic modelling indicates that the closure will impact the road network for commuters and freight transporters alike, and has stated that “during the closure period, it is imperative that all road users, commuters and freight transporters seek to reduce traffic impacts and minimise congestion, particularly during peak periods.”

Despite having well over a year to engage with the container logistics sector, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure has only just now called a “Round Table” meeting with selected freight companies for this coming Monday, 15 December.

Illegal Logging Information Session | DAFF

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently held a Live Information Session which ran through the obligations of shippers under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024.

Key Regulatory Clarifications:

DAFF reiterated several important compliance points:

Certified timber products:
FSC or PEFC supplier certification alone does not automatically mean a timber product or raw log is “certified” under the Rules. Importers and processors must independently verify certification in accordance with sections 8(4) (importers) or 11(3) (processors). Where both FSC and PEFC claims apply, both must be verified.
Due diligence requirements:
Due diligence must be undertaken for each import or processing event. While the exception pathway may reduce certain risk assessment and mitigation steps for identical products imported or processed within the previous 12 months, information gathering obligations always apply and cannot be reused on a periodic basis.
Information gathering:
Importers and processors must obtain as much prescribed information as is reasonably practicable before each import or processing activity. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
Risk assessments:
A written risk assessment is required for each regulated timber product or raw log, demonstrating consideration of all prescribed risk factors to a reasonable standard.

The newsletter highlights ongoing global enforcement activity, with recent illegal logging seizures and prosecutions reported across Malaysia, Indonesia, Georgia, India, Kenya, Belgium and Central Africa, reinforcing the global focus on timber traceability and supply-chain due diligence.

Webinar Recordings:

Recordings of the November information sessions are now available for viewing:

Importers and processors
View: https://share.viostream.com/dicbhzwrz3m16m
Download: https://play.viostream.com/download/dicbhzwrz3m16m

Further Information:

DAFF continues to provide detailed guidance through its importer and processor toolkits, FAQs, and recent e-updates, including E-update 54 (common contraventions) and E-update 56 (compliance myths).

See the department's illegal logging website for information and resources
Email the department's compliance branch
Call the department during business hours (8.30 am to 5.30 pm) on 1800 657 313 or +61 2 6272 3933 outside Australia
Subscribe: Illegal logging subscription details

ACCC releases findings from Container Stevedore Monitoring Report 2024-25

Over recent months, the increasing container costs, specifically wharf infrastructure and empty container park fees have led to a ACCC investigation. Stockwells has broken down the report into its key points:

The report notes that stevedores:

Are now charging the highest real price per container in 27 years of ACCC monitoring.
Recorded operating profits rising for the fifth consecutive year, reaching an historic high of $808.6 million.
Have increased profit margins by 14.5 percentage points over five years, climbing to 34.8% in 2024–25 — higher than transport sector comparators across the board.
Are operating terminals with significant spare capacity, which under normal market conditions should place downward pressure on pricing.

Critically, landside charges — including the Terminal Access Charges (infrastructure surcharge) that transport operators must pay to collect containers — have shifted from being a minor cost component to the single largest driver of stevedoring profitability.

The ACCC confirms:

49.5% of all stevedore revenue in 2024–25 ($1.15 billion) came from landside charges.
Of that, $642 million came from Terminal Access Charges alone.
Since 2017–18, stevedores have collected more than $3 billion in TACs — approximately 2.5 times their total capital investment over the same period.

The ACCC warns:

“These unavoidable costs land first on trucking companies, who then pass them on to importers and exporters — who have no real way to avoid or negotiate them.”

To read the full report: Container stevedoring monitoring report 2024-25 | ACCC

Upcoming Tolling Changes for Heavy Vehicles – West Gate Tunnel & West Gate Freeway

We would like to inform you of the toll changes for heavy vehicles traveling on the West Gate Freeway and the new West Gate Tunnel coming into effect Monday 15th December. Please note this notice was only provided to Stockwells today, Friday 12th December 2025.

Key Details:

New Toll Structure: A new toll will apply to heavy vehicles using the upgraded West Gate Freeway, new tunnels, and connecting ramps for travel to/from the west of Melbourne.
Coverage: This includes the West Gate Tunnel and West Gate Bridge. If your current route already incurs a toll, the new structure will replace the existing charge.
Implementation Date: Expected early December. We will confirm the exact date shortly.

Impacted Suburbs:
The toll will affect suburbs west of Melbourne, including:
Altona, Altona Meadows, Ardeer, Avalon, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Geelong, Hoppers Crossing, Lara, Laverton, Laverton North, Melton, Ravenhall, Seaholme, Werribee, Williamstown, Wyndham Vale.

Empty Container Collection/Return:
If empty container movements require travel through the toll route to designated empty parks (e.g., Container Space, VCM, Greater Fortune, Allied, Westlink, ANL, OCS, MCP), the toll will apply. Previously, these routes could avoid toll roads, but new restrictions on the M1 corridor make this unavoidable.

Total round trip cost || $65

Stockwell Yard and Office Hours | Holiday Period

Please note the below dates and times of our yard and office closures over the holiday period:

Brisbane

24th December | Open until 12 Noon

25th December | Closed