What is a side-loader and when do I need one?

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.

Which ports does Arrow service?

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.

Can a side-loader handle a 40-foot container?

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.

Service

Port Logistics & Side-Loader Transport in Australia

Port-side equipment and prime movers built for flexible, efficient container handling at every major Australian port.

Get a quote 1300 277 698

Port logistics is everything that keeps a container moving once it lands — the equipment, the terminal access and the scheduling that turn a discharged box into a delivered load without it sitting idle. Arrow runs the specialised fleet and the port relationships to do that across Australia's busiest container gateways.

Side-loaders are central to how we work. A side-loader carries its own crane, lifting a container off the trailer and placing it on the ground without a forklift or crane at the destination. That flexibility opens up deliveries to sites that standard skeletal trailers simply cannot service, and it lets us drop, leave and collect containers on your schedule rather than the terminal's.

Behind the fleet sits the part you do not see: vehicle-booking-system slots managed so trucks arrive in their window, biosecurity and customs holds tracked, and empties returned before detention bites. It is logistics in the literal sense — coordinating people, equipment and timing so the port works for you.

What we offer

The capabilities that make up this service.

Side-loader fleet

Self-loading side-loaders place containers at ground level anywhere a truck can reach — no forklift, dock or crane required at your site.

Prime movers & trailers

A modern prime-mover fleet matched to skel, drop-deck and genset trailers, so the right combination is dispatched for each job.

Terminal slot management

We book and manage vehicle-booking-system slots at each terminal to keep turnaround tight and avoid congestion charges.

Drop-and-leave flexibility

Side-loaders let us drop a loaded container and collect it later, freeing your team to pack or unpack on your own timetable.

Frequently asked questions

What is a side-loader and when do I need one?: 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.
Which ports does Arrow service?: 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.
Can a side-loader handle a 40-foot container?: 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.

Related services

Often paired with port logistics & side-loaders.

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