Adaptalift Group & Northline: Driving Safety, Service, and Smart Technology Across a National Fleet
The Requirement: Modernising a National Fleet
Northline is a leading Australian-based global transport and third-party logistics (3PL) provider. With materials handling equipment fleet in the second cycle of usage, Northline required a fleet renewal, rolling out new material handling equipment across its sites nationwide
To continue supporting its nationwide network of metro and regional depots, Northline needed:
- A fleet renewal program covering everything from automated pallet jacks to 16-tonne counterbalance forklifts.
- Cutting-edge safety and smart technology to improve operator performance and meet stringent compliance goals.
- A responsive service model to minimise downtime in a high-pressure logistics environment.
After decades with its incumbent supplier, Northline sought a partner who could deliver more than machines a partner capable of offering collaboration, innovation, and agility. According to Vince Tassone, Head of Business Development, Adaptalift Group:
The fleet was at a replacement stage of its cycle. It was time to bring in new equipment that would support Northline’s stringent safety and operational goals.
The Solution: A Collaborative Long Term Partnership
Adaptalift Group stepped forward with a long term nationwide fleet renewal program, backed by service responsiveness and deep logistics expertise.
Key Components of the Solution:
Fleet Renewal at Scale
- Materials handling solutions including pallet jacks, forklifts (up to 16 tonnes), container straddles, and specialised equipment rolled out across Australia.
- 85% of the fleet delivered by September 2025, with final assets arriving shortly after.
Safety & Smart Technology Integration
- Fleet-wide installation of Speedshield telemetry systems for detailed usage insights: operator logins, idle time, impacts, and load weights.
- Advanced safety features, including automated fork positioners, built-in weight scales, and mandatory pre-start and post-start checklists backed by reporting.
Responsive Service Model
- Weekly review meetings to ensure continuous collaboration and proactive problem-solving.
- Immediate deployment of Adaptalift’s expansive rental fleet to cover shipping delays, preventing costly downtime.
More than Forklifts
- Additional equipment supply, including scissor lifts, cleaning machines, and discussions around truck rentals, broadening the relationship.
Brett Curtis, Chief Operations Officer, Northline said:
Adaptalift came with ideas, solutions, and a collaborative approach with technology smarts that would help us make better decisions.”
The Outcome: Safety, Reliability, and Long-Term Value
By aligning safety priorities, service responsiveness, and forward-thinking technology, Adaptalift delivered a partnership that goes far beyond equipment supply.
Measurable Impact:
- 85% of fleet delivered by September 2025 with zero major disruptions.
- Operational uptime maintained during rollout, thanks to rental fleet coverage.
- Weekly collaboration meetings strengthened trust and reduced unnecessary costs (e.g., removing excess assets).
Service as the Differentiator
Northline quickly experienced the difference in Adaptalift’s service-first approach:
- Rapid resolution of teething issues with new forklift models through direct collaboration with OEM Hyster.
- Responsive support during supply chain delays, including the provision of additional forklifts at no extra cost.
Brett Curtis commented:
They reacted really quickly… not everybody would have done that. They threw in an additional forklift and kept our branches operating.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The partnership represents more than a supplier agreement. Both businesses, privately owned and Australian-based, share strong values and a long-term outlook.
We’re a very strong values-based business, and for that, we like to have partnerships with similar types of businesses. That’s what attracted us to Adaptalift.
