AUSTRALIAN digital freight forwarding and transport management company Ofload has acquired Melbourne-based freight specialist CIA Logistics.

The acquisition was Ofload’s first, and it has increased its employee count to more than 120.

CIA Logistics founder and director Tony Couttie is staying on with the company, taking on a general manager position at Ofload.

The company said a phased, post-merger integration and growth strategy is underway. Ofload will retain the CIA Logistics brand and its operations, sales and finance teams will continue to report to Mr Couttie.

Ofload founder and CEO Geoffroy Henry welcomed CIA Logistics to the “Ofload family” as the company’s first acquisition.

“Tony has built an incredible business, and the natural synergy between our teams was clear as they worked together to digitise analogue road shipments for some of Australia’s leading brands,” Mr Henry said.

“This exciting milestone for Ofload is just the start of our next phase of growth, which is focused on expanding our footprint and building our digital ecosystem and network of shippers and carriers. Uniting both businesses will accelerate Ofload’s objectives to increase shipment visibility, minimalise manual and analogue processes, and ultimately remove inefficiencies across Australia’s freight industry.”

Mr Couttie said he was “delighted” CIA Logistics would become a part of Ofload.

“Ofload’s technology will bring a wealth of new opportunities to our customers and carrier partners and will support us in growing our reach across the Australian freight landscape,” he said.

“We see the integration of CIA Logistics into Ofload as a perfect fit.”

Founded in 1987, CIA Logistics provides local and national freight services via air, road, rail and sea.

CIA Logistics brings to Ofload its speciality in freight management, freight brokerage, and logistics solutions across Australia. Its dispatch management system technology and expertise will be merged into Ofload’s domestic end-to-end digital road freight system.

In December last year, Ofload raised $20 million in private capital to support the company to expand its operations and increase its headcount. The company said this Series A funding round increased its valuation to more than $100 million.