Over the past 15 years, the family behind Seage Transport has built an impressive truck fleet that offers a range of services. Central to its ongoing success is its fleet of DAF trucks.
There’s nothing quite like a family business. The grisly handshake of the leading figure as you enter the shop that makes the skin on your palm blister and sting for days. Passion and industry smarts handed down the generations. The knowing smile, the craters of stress previously chiselled and healed, only to open again soon.
For many companies in the local transport industry, it’s a common schedule. Families spending all day together or out on the roads, only to huddle around the dinner table and recap the daily events. These family operators define Australia’s trucking industry and form the sector’s spine.
As one of the many family owned and operated businesses in the local transport game, Seage Transport is continuing to grow courtesy of its family feel. Founded in 2010 by brothers Craig and Nathan Seage, the pair’s humble beginnings included a couple of vehicles and an ambitious vision.
“We embarked on a business idea which led to the expansion of our small distribution business based on the Gold Coast,” Craig told OwnerDriver.
“Fast forward to now and you won’t have to look far to recognise a Seage Transport truck sporting the signature black flames with a fleet of semi-trailers now covering Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.”
Seage Transport’s evolving fleet caters to a range of transport services, from building and landscape material freight, Moffett forklift unlading and distribution and warehousing container transport and interstate linehaul. Central to this growing list of capabilities is the business’ deepening list of trucks. While plenty may have changed since 2010, Seage Transport’s penchant for DAF trucks is yet to wane.
“Over the years we have purchased numerous trucks from Brown and Hurley Yatala,” Craig says.
“Their sales team are extremely knowledgeable regarding what truck would suit our style of work. Their experience is important as our business depends on equipment, which is reliable, efficient and backed by solid support.”
This expert opinion has seen Seage Transport introduce a range of DAF CF trucks into the mix, with Sophie Seage, Craig’s wife and the person responsible for all things accounts and admin at Seage Transport, admitting the business has welcomed many different DAFs along its journey to date.
“These vehicles in our fleet have really proven their value as reliable assets to support our operations,” she told OwnerDriver.
“We deliver locally as well as intra and interstate, so we need trucks that handle both stop and start inner city deliveries and longer highway runs with equal ease.”
It’s well known that families don’t always agree on anything. However, when it comes to the ordering and usage of DAF trucks, the Seage family has been in unanimous agreement that the European model is ideal for the business’ requirements.
“The DAFs have been a great fit for us because they deliver that balance of comfort and performance,” Sophie says.
“Our drivers genuinely enjoy being in them – the quality while driving, the cab layout and visibility make a real difference in day-to-day work.
“From a management point of view, they’ve been reliable, fuel-efficient and low maintenance, which translates directly into profitability.”
The latest Euro DAF CF Models have, according to Sophie and the Seage team, “lifted the bar again”. With smoother drivetrains, quieter cabs and better ergonomics, the Seage family is raving about the models, labelling them a “great example of European design meeting Australian conditions”.
Much like hundreds, if not thousands, of operators around the country, the choice of a preferred vehicle supplier isn’t just about the quality of the vehicles. By working directly with Brown and Hurley Yatala, the aftersales support has allowed the growing family operation to shoot for the stars.
“Our sales rep Mark has been outstanding, and we value our professional relationship with the Brown & Hurley business,” Sophie says.
“From initial spec’ing and delivery through to servicing and support, they understand our business, they’re responsive and they go above and beyond to keep our fleet on the road.”
The initial few years of forming a family business, nonetheless one in the transport industry, can be shaky. Now that Seage Transport has found its feet and the family are flourishing along Australia’s eastern coast, the operator has no plans of switching away from DAF and the expanding number of CF models joining its ranks.
“We’ve built a lot of confidence in the DAF product and the team behind it,” Sophie says.
“As our fleet grows, DAF will continue to be a major part of it. Having that reliability and backup gives us the confidence to keep investing in the brand.”
Article reproduced courtesy of Owner Driver Magazine (November 2025).