What Platinum Freight Management does

Platinum Freight Management Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian licensed customs broker and freight forwarder headquartered in Sydney and founded in 2000 by Peter McRae. The firm provides end-to-end customs clearance for air freight, sea freight (FCL and LCL), parcel post, and personal effects, plus freight forwarding coordination, marine and transit insurance, and export services. Customers span business owners with high-volume imports, individual importers with one-off personal shipments, first-time traders, and specialized-cargo verticals including heavy machinery, food trucks/trailers, prefabricated buildings, and e-commerce. The company operates 14 owned offices covering every Australian state and territory, plus wholly-owned subsidiaries in New Zealand and Canada, and accesses a professional partner network of 75+ locations worldwide.

The core technology stack is the licensed electronic integration with the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for lodgement of customs declarations and biosecurity documentation, layered with proprietary branded service methodologies including One Touch Service® (single-broker accountability), Pre-Clearance, Pre Arrival Assessment™, and a Port Charges Audit capability. A maximum Compliance Scorecard rating of 12 and multiple industry awards (2024 APSA24 Stevie Bronze, NSW Business Awards, Daily Cargo News recognition, Business NSW) support a premium-service positioning. The business has a substantial registered-trademark portfolio (Platinum, Palladium, One Touch, Pre Arrival Assessment, Green Customs Clearance, Platinum Marine/Transit Insurance, among others) and 23+ years of regulatory operating history.

The revenue model is primarily transactional per-shipment fees for customs clearance and freight forwarding, supplemented by commission/fee income on marine and transit insurance placement and a newer subscription Importing Advice Service (6- and 12-month unlimited phone/email advice). GTM is sales-led via a 1300 number, website quote forms, and on-site/phone consultations targeting both SMB/long-tail and enterprise/field-sales customers. Geographic reach spans Australia, New Zealand, and Canada through owned offices, with global clearance capability through a partner network covering the UK, EU, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, the USA, and South Africa. The company is founder-led, has no disclosed external funding, and reports no public revenue figures.

Name

Platinum Freight Management

Legal name

Platinum Freight Management Pty Ltd

Website

https://platinumfreight.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Platinum Freight Management is a privately held Australian licensed customs broker and freight forwarder, founded in 2000, providing import and export clearance, freight coordination, marine insurance, and trade-compliance advice to business owners, individual importers, and specialized-cargo customers across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customs Brokerage Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

Keywords

• Customs clearance services
• Freight forwarding services
• Import export brokerage
• Marine cargo insurance
• International trade compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Customs Clearance Services: Fees charged for customs clearance of air freight, sea freight FCL, sea freight LCL, and parcel post shipments. Process includes preparation and lodgement of customs documentation, compliance checks with ABF and DAFF.
2. Freight Forwarding Services: Arrangement and coordination of shipments including air freight, sea freight, and parcel post. Fees for logistics coordination, monitoring from origin to destination.
3. Marine and Transit Insurance: Platinum Marine Insurance™ and Platinum Transit Insurance™ arranged for cargo protection during transit. Commission-based or fee-based insurance placement.
4. Importing Advice Services: Phone consultations and 6 or 12 month unlimited advice services for importers. Written advice specific to importing projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Platinum Freight Management is a licensed Australian customs brokerage and freight forwarding company that prepares and lodges customs documentation for air freight, sea freight (FCL and LCL), and parcel post imports and exports, coordinating end-to-end logistics from overseas suppliers through to Australian delivery. The company complements its core brokerage with Platinum Marine Insurance, Platinum Transit Insurance, an Importing Advice subscription service, and value-added offerings such as Pre-Clearance, Pre Arrival Assessment, Port Charges Audit, and Reverse Clearance for clients ranging from first-time importers to multinational corporations.

Product overview

Platinum Freight Management operates as a licensed customs brokerage and freight forwarding company offering a comprehensive suite of import and export services. The core offering is customs brokerage for air freight, sea freight (FCL and LCL), and parcel post clearances. The company complements its brokerage services with freight forwarding integration, logistics coordination, and value-added services including Platinum Marine Insurance and Platinum Transit Insurance for cargo protection. Advisory services include importing advice subscriptions, one-on-one phone consultations, and a free importing eBook. The company also provides specialized solutions for industry verticals including food trucks/trailers, prefabricated homes, aluminium windows, and heavy machinery. Export services include sea freight FCL and LCL exports from Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Platinum Marine Insurance™: Marine and transit insurance solutions for cargo protection during international shipping.
• One Touch Service®
• Pre Arrival Assessment™

Products and services

• Customs Brokerage Services Licensed customs clearance and freight forwarding services for air freight, sea freight (FCL and LCL), and parcel post shipments entering and leaving Australia. Designed for business owners, individual importers, and first-time traders needing full compliance with ABF and DAFF regulations.
• Air Freight Customs Clearance Customs clearance for air cargo arriving at Australian international airports, including pre-clearance before arrival and same-day processing capabilities. Targeted at importers using air freight for time-sensitive or high-value shipments.
• Sea Freight FCL Customs Clearance Full Container Load (FCL) customs clearance services for complete container shipments via sea freight. Used by businesses with high-volume import needs.
• Sea Freight LCL Customs Clearance Less than Container Load (LCL) customs clearance for consolidated sea freight shipments shared with other importers. Designed for SMBs and individuals with smaller shipment volumes.
• Parcel Post Clearances Customs clearance processing for Australia Post international parcels, including same-day clearance for parcels over AUD$1,000. Used by e-commerce sellers and individual importers of consumer goods.
• Freight Forwarding International shipping arrangements including coordination with overseas suppliers, container consolidation, and delivery to Australian addresses. For businesses and individuals moving cargo into Australia.
• Logistics Services End-to-end logistics management including collection from ports, airports, and depots, with delivery to final destinations. For businesses requiring last-mile coordination after customs clearance.
• Platinum Marine Insurance Marine cargo insurance coverage for goods imported to or exported from Australia, protecting against damage, theft, or loss during transit. Available to importers and exporters using Platinum's freight services.
• Platinum Transit Insurance Transit insurance coverage for cargo in transit, working in conjunction with marine insurance for comprehensive protection during domestic and international transport legs.
• Importing Advice Service Professional customs brokerage advice via phone and email for importing projects, available in 6 or 12 month subscription plans. For new and ongoing importers needing ongoing regulatory guidance.
• Phone Consultation One-on-one over-the-phone consultation with qualified customs brokers providing written advice specific to importing projects. Aimed at importers needing personalised advice on specific import situations.
• Reverse Clearance Customs clearance service for returning or reverse-importing goods into Australia. Targeted at businesses and individuals needing to re-import previously exported items.
• Port Charges Audit Review service to identify and recover overcharges on Australian port fees for sea freight LCL shipments. For businesses that suspect or want to confirm they have been overcharged on port-related fees.
• Personal Effects Imports Customs clearance for personal belongings and household effects imported into Australia. Used by individuals, families, and relocators handling personal shipments.
• Roll on Roll off Shipping Customs clearance for rolling stock cargo transported via roll-on/roll-off vessels, including vehicles, heavy machinery, and other wheeled cargo.
• Sea Freight FCL Exports Full Container Load export customs clearance services for goods shipping from Australia to international destinations. For businesses exporting full container loads.
• Sea Freight LCL Exports Less than Container Load export customs clearance for consolidated shipments leaving Australia. For businesses exporting smaller volumes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most cargo processed within two hours of receiving paperwork
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Border Force (ABF)coreOthersRegulatory partnership for customs clearance services. Platinum works directly with ABF for all customs declarations and compliance requirements.
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)coreOthersBiosecurity regulatory partnership for quarantine clearances. Handles documentary checks and inspections for biosecurity compliance.
• Qantas FreightcoreTechnology or IntegrationGround Handling Agent partnership for air cargo handling at Australian airports. One of three main GHA partners.
• DnatacoreTechnology or IntegrationGround Handling Agent partnership for air cargo handling at Australian airports. One of three main GHA partners.
• Menzies AviationcoreTechnology or IntegrationGround Handling Agent partnership for air cargo handling at Australian airports. One of three main GHA partners.
• Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA)minorOthersIndustry association membership. CBFCA represents customs brokers and freight forwarders in Australia.
• Freight and Trade Alliance (FTA)minorOthersIndustry alliance membership. FTA represents cross-section of international freight logistics and import/export trade entities.
• IFCBAAminorOthersInternational Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Australia membership.
• MidasminorOthersPartner network for freight forwarding services across Australia.
• Professional Partners WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of professional partners around Australia and internationally for smooth and timely clearance of goods from overseas ports to delivery destinations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CBC Australia (Customs Border Services): Independent Australian customs brokerage offering clearance and freight forwarding services nationwide. Directly comparable to Platinum as a similarly sized independent broker competing for the same Australian SMB and mid-market importer segments.
• Pacific International Customs Brokers: Australian-owned independent customs broker providing import/export clearance services across Australia. Closely comparable to Platinum in business model (independent, licensed broker serving SMBs and enterprise), target customer base, and geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Expeditors International: U.S.-listed global logistics company offering customs brokerage, ocean, and air freight services. Competes with Platinum for Australian mid-market importer contracts where integrated global capability matters.
• DHL Global Forwarding: One of the world's largest freight forwarders, offering customs brokerage alongside ocean, air, and road freight. Directly comparable as a customs clearance provider for Australian importers, but at a far larger scale and as part of an integrated global network rather than a niche specialist.
• Maersk Logistics & Services: Global ocean carrier with expanding customs brokerage and end-to-end logistics offering. Increasingly competing with independent brokers like Platinum on integrated door-to-door import services for Australian shippers.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarder and customs broker with strong presence in Oceania. Comparable service scope (customs clearance, sea/air freight, logistics) but competes as a multinational incumbent against Platinum's independent specialist positioning.
• Toll Group: Asia-Pacific-headquartered freight forwarder and logistics provider offering customs brokerage across Australia and New Zealand. Most direct broad-based competitor for Australian import clearance at enterprise scale.
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions: Provides customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and logistics services globally. Competes with Platinum for Australian importers who want a single multinational vendor for customs and freight.
• FedEx Trade Networks: Global integrator with customs brokerage services supporting cross-border trade. Comparable customs clearance offering but bundled into FedEx's broader parcel and freight network rather than as a specialist service.

Others

• IFCBA Australia Member Brokers: Industry association representing Australian customs brokers and forwarders. Membership signals comparable industry positioning to Platinum; constituent brokers are direct competitors in the same regulatory and customer environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@platinumfreight
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Platinum-Freight-Management-Pty-Ltd/126040127478281
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/peter-mcrae-97505717

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Platinum Freight Management