Frequently asked questions

We're a national port-logistics operator with depots in Australia's major container port cities — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth — and we move containers Australia-wide.

The fastest way is our online quote form, or call our team on 1300 277 698. Tell us the lane, container type and timing and we'll come back with a no-obligation quote.

Through the AOS client portal. Log in to see real-time container status, milestones and ETA alerts across every Arrow depot — no phone calls required.

Arrow has been privately owned and operated since 2011, built on a simple idea — service matters.

Wharf cartage is the road transport of shipping containers between a port terminal and an inland destination. It covers import collection (port to warehouse) and export delivery (your premises to port), including the terminal booking and gate paperwork.

The terms are largely interchangeable. Wharf cartage specifically refers to the movement to or from a port terminal, while container transport is the broader term that also covers depot-to-depot moves that may not touch the wharf at all.

Work with a carrier that tracks your free-time deadlines and schedules empty returns proactively. Unpack containers promptly, and let your transport team know early if a delivery is delayed so they can adjust the booking before charges start.

Yes. Our side-loaders lift the container off the trailer and set it on the ground under their own power, so delivery to ungated yards, construction sites and rural properties needs no equipment at your end.

A side-loader is a trailer with a built-in crane that lifts a container off and onto the ground beside the truck. You need one when the delivery site has no forklift, dock or crane — or when you want to drop a container and unpack it over time rather than while the truck waits.

We provide port logistics and cartage at Australia's major container ports including Melbourne, Sydney's Port Botany, Brisbane and Fremantle in Perth. Talk to our team about coverage for your specific lane.

Yes. Our side-loaders are rated for standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. For over-height or out-of-gauge units we use drop-deck trailers instead — let us know the dimensions and we will dispatch the right equipment.

BMSB fumigation treats containers and cargo for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, a seasonal biosecurity risk. The Australian government applies heightened measures to goods shipped from target countries during the BMSB risk season (roughly September to April), and affected containers must be treated before release.

A tailgate inspection is a biosecurity assessment carried out at the rear doors of the container without fully unpacking it. Where the goods and risk profile allow, it lets a container be assessed and released faster than a full unpack-and-inspect.

Yes. We coordinate the required treatment — fumigation, wash or inspection — at our on-port facilities and handle the unpack, storage and onward distribution once the container is released.

3PL stands for third-party logistics — outsourcing warehousing, fulfilment and distribution to a specialist provider. Instead of running your own warehouse and fleet, you hand the storage, pick-and-pack and delivery to a partner like Arrow.

Yes — warehousing and distribution are part of our offer in our major port-city locations including Sydney and Melbourne. Capacity and exact site details vary, so contact us with your volume and we will confirm what is available.

Bonded storage holds imported goods before customs duty and taxes are paid, which can help cash flow and timing. General storage is standard warehousing for goods that have already cleared. We can hold your freight either way depending on its status.

A CFS is a facility where less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo is consolidated and de-consolidated. Goods from several shippers are packed into one container for export, or an import container is unpacked and the individual consignments separated for delivery.

Break bulk is cargo handled as individual pieces rather than inside a sealed container — for example oversized machinery, structural steel or project freight. It is loaded and unloaded item by item and often needs specialised lifting equipment.

Yes. Our CFS consolidates LCL freight from multiple shippers into a single container for export, and de-consolidates inbound containers for distribution to each consignee. Talk to us about your consignment and we will advise the best approach.

A transport management system (TMS) is software that plans, executes and tracks the movement of freight. AOS is Arrow's TMS — it gives you live visibility of your containers, milestone alerts and access to documents in one place.

Through the AOS portal. You log in to see the real-time status and location of each container, the milestones it has passed and any alerts about delays or ETA changes — no phone calls required.

Yes. AOS gives you one consistent national view across every Arrow depot, so you track freight the same way whether it lands in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth.