Formed in 1945 initially through a partnership between Jack Kain and Aub Shelton, K&S (Kain and Shelton) commenced trading shortly after World War II in Mount Gambier. In the early days K&S operated supporting Mt Gambier and Victorian based businesses but have since evolved to become one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest National multi-modal providers of transport and distribution services.
Here is what 70+ years of rich history looks:
 | ► K&S was formed through a partnership |
| ► Kain & Shelton Pty Ltd was Incorporated ► Pioneered the use of refrigerated vans in Australia ► Opened its first Ampol Fuel Agency ► Established depot operations in Melbourne |  |
 | ► Opened terminals in Sydney and Adelaide ► Entered the rail market |
| ► The business was acquired by AA Scott and Softwood Holdings ► Opened terminals in Brisbane and Perth ► Revenues grew to $5m per annum |  |
 | ► The business name changed from K&S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd to K&S Freighters Pty Ltd in recognition of its national capabilities ► Operations primarily consisted road-based transport, operating fleet of single articulated vehicles and a number of rail containers ► Allan Scott purchased K&S and turned it into a public company by listing it on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) ► Revenues reached $50m per annum |
| ► Key focus during 1990s was purchase of land within major capital cities, primarily adjacent to rail services ► K&S started operating the first B Double combination in Victoria, followed soon thereafter by operations of B Doubles on all its National routes ► K&S, in conjuntion with Border Express and Finemores, established Smart Distribution in support of Australian Newsprint Mills, involving transport and storage of newsprint around the nation ► Achieved ISO 9002 (later called ISO 9001) quality endorsed company accreditation for its commitment to achieving international benchmark service standards, with major emphasis on safety, professionalism and performance ► Revenues reached $150m per annum |  |
 | ► K&S sold its Express Division and concentrated on its core linehaul and forwarding business ► Smart Logistics entered the New Zealand market; and K&S restructured its newsprint business to enable it to commence wharf cartage, warehousing and distribution to print rooms nationally ► Expanded geographical coverage to Central Queensland by acquiring Brisbane based FH Transport ► During the 2000s K&S acquired Australian companies Stepnell Transport, DTM Transport and Brookes Transport; and New Zealand based Cochranes Transport, McCarthy Transport and North Eastern Transport ► K&S Central Queensland was renamed K&S Bulk, allowing it to market bulk services nationally ► Opened a state-of-the-art transport and warehousing facility in Truganina ► Rocklea depot was sold, and a Coppers Plains depot acquired |
| ► Acquired the business of Pacific Transport, Regal Transport, Collare Transport, Scott Corporation (which has four operating divisions – Bulktrans, Chemtrans, EnergyTrans and Hyde Park Tanks), Northern Territory Freight Services (NTFS), Aero Refuellers and Scotts Transport Industries ► Opened new depots in Kewdale & Broome |  |
K&S TODAY
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