Any person who has travelled around Brisbane to the Gold Coast is aware that it is not just a 78-kilometre drive. To some it is a hustle every day. For others, it’s moving heavy equipment to a construction site, delivering materials on time, or shifting oversized machinery across suburbs. The question isn’t just how do you get there, it’s what’s the smartest way to move what you need, when you need it?
This blog will dig into the most efficient transport opportunities Brisbane and the Gold Coast have to offer, including personal travelling and heavy-duty freight. At the end, you will be able to have a clear idea of what suits you the best.
Brisbane Gold Coast is one of Queensland’s busiest corridors. As Transport and Main Roads QLD explained, upwards of 200,000 vehicles cover some of the M1 on a daily basis. That traffic is not only holidaymakers going to the beach, but freight trucks, contractors and local businesses receiving goods to support the rapidly-growing local economy.
For businesses, timing is critical. A delayed load of steel or a crane arriving late can push back a project schedule by days. For individuals, choosing the right mode of transport means saving money and reducing stress.
Not everyone travelling this route is hauling cargo. Let’s quickly look at common personal options:
• Car: Most flexible, traffic delays are to be expected.
• Train: An adorable and reasonable option. It will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes to make the trip, including stops.
• Bus or Shuttle: Perfect for airport pick-ups & transfers and group activities.
• Rideshare or Taxi: The most effective application is for shorter city-to-city travels, but not so suitable for routine use.
When you are doing it personally or as a matter of leisure, comfort may override practicality. However, in the case of a business, building, or manufacturing venture, it is another matter.
Things become quite heavy. If you’re in the construction, mining or manufacturing industries, you need transport that is safe, insured and gets the job done. Let us think about the main options:
Excellent at lifting and delivering heavy objects such as steel, precast panels, timber, or machinery. The crane trucks extend up to 30 metres, hence minimising the use of additional lifting equipment on the site.
Best for large, bulky materials that don’t require enclosure. A flatbed can carry 6.5–24 tonnes, making it ideal for timber, containers, or oversized freight.
If you’re moving containers, vehicles, or heavy equipment, tilt trays simplify loading and unloading, especially in tight site conditions.
For extra-long or oversized loads, extendable trailers up to 25 metres make moving infrastructure items, large beams, or machinery feasible.
So, how do you decide the best option for your Brisbane Gold Coast transport needs? Consider these factors:
• Load Size & Weight → Are you moving a container, a steel frame, or machinery?
• Access at Site → Will a crane truck fit, or is a tilt tray more practical?
• Timeline → Do you need same-day or next-day delivery?
• Safety & Compliance → Always check for operators with SWMS, insurance, and proper licensing.
• Budget → The cheapest option isn’t always the safest or most reliable factor in long-term costs of delays.
Our versitile crane trucks for hire will get your project completed on time. Cranes reaching from 7 – 30 meters and tray sizes from 6 – 25 meters in length.
Recently, a Brisbane contractor required 20 tonnes of precast concrete panels to be delivered to a Gold Coast High rise site. The crane truck used in the process had a length of 30 metres and provided both the conveying of these panels as well as placing them in their designated positions. This also made unnecessary the provision of an additional on-site crane, and saved time and thousands of dollars in equipment hire.
When choosing transport between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, factors depend on what you are transporting, the urgency with which it should be delivered, and the possible conditions of the transport. Trains or cars can be used on personal trips. However, specialised freight solutions pay off particularly in companies that work with bulky objects like machinery, steel, timber or bulky loads, or any other transportation that would require specialised attention.
Reliable, licensed, and fully insured transport services available in Queensland, On The Move Transport is the answer to your project, no matter how specific. They move businesses smarter, faster and with confidence by having a versatile fleet and a strong dedication to safety and efficiency.
Gold Coast: Advancetown, Alberton, Anglers Paradise, Arundel, Ashmore, Austinville, Bahrs Scrub, Bannockburn, Beechmont, Beenleigh, Belivah, Benobble, Benowa, Benowa Waters, Bethania, Biggera Waters, Bilinga, Bonogin. Boyland, Broadbeach, Broadbeach Waters, Bundall, Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Canungra, Carrara, Chevron Island, Clagiraba, Clear Island Waters, Coolangatta, Coombabah, Coomera, Coomera Waters, Cronin Island, Currumbin, Currumbin Valley, Currumbin Waters, Eagle Heights, Eagleby, Edens Landing, Elanora, Ephraim Island, Ferny Glen, Florida Gardens, Flying Fox, Gaven, Gilberton, Gilston, Guanaba, Helensvale, Highland Park, Hollywell, Holmview, Hope Island, Illinbah, Isle Of Capri, Jacobs Well, Kingsholme, Kirra, Labrador, Lamington National Park, Lower Beechmont, Luscombe, Main Beach, Maudsland, Mermaid Beach, Mermaid WatersMerrimac, Miami, Molendinar, Monterey Keys, Mount Nathan, Mount Warren Park, Mudgeeraba, Natural Bridge, Nerang, Neranwood, Nobby Beach, Norwell, Numinbah Valley, Ormeau, Ormeau Hills, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Palm Beach, Paradise Island, Paradise Point, Paradise Waters, Parkwood, Pimpama, Reedy Creek, Robina, Runaway Bay, Sanctuary Cove, Santa Barbara, Sarabah, South Stradbroke, Southern Moreton Bay Islands, Southport, Southport Park, Sovereign Islands, Springbrook, Stapylton, Steiglitz, Studio Village, Surfers Paradise, Tallai, Tallebudgera, Tallebudgera Valley, Tamborine Mountain, Tugun, Upper Coomera, Varsity Lakes, Waterford, Willow Vale, Windaroo, Witheren, Wolffdene, Wongawallan, Wonglepong, Woongoolba, Worongary, Yatala
Brisbane: Acacia Ridge, Albany Creek, Albion, Alderley, Alexandra Hills, Algester, Allingham, Amberley, Amity, Amity Point, Annerley, Anstead, Aquatic Paradise, Arana Hills, Archerfield, Armstrong Creek, Ascot, Ashgrove, Aspley, Auchenflower, Augustine Heights, Bald Hills, Balmoral, Banksia Beach, Banyo, Bardon, Barellan Point, Basin Pocket, Beachmere, Bellara, Bellbird Park, Bellbowrie, Bellmere, Bellthorpe, Belmont, Berrinba, Birkdale, Blacksoil, Blackstone, Bongaree, Boondall, Booval, Boronia Heights, Bowen Hills, Bracalba, Bracken Ridge, Brassall, Bray Park, Brendale, Bridgeman Downs, Brighton, Brisbane (CBD), Brisbane Airport, Brookfield, Brookwater, Browns Plains, Buccan, Bulimba, Bulwer, Bundamba, Bunya, Buranda, Burbank, Burpengary, Burpengary East, Caboolture, Caboolture South, Calamvale, Calvert, Camira, Camp Hill, Camp Mountain, Campbells Pocket, Cannon Hill, Capalaba, Capalaba West, Carbrook, Carina, Carina Heights, Carindale, Carole Park, Carseldine, Cashmere, Cedar Creek, Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Cedarton, Chambers Flat, Chandler, Chapel Hill, Charters Towers City, Chelmer, Chermside, Chermside West, Churchill, Chuwar, Clayfield, Clear Mountain, Cleveland, Clontarf, Clontarf Beach, Closeburn, Coalfalls, Collingwood Park, Commissioners Flat, Coochiemudlo Island, Coopers Plains, Coorparoo, Corinda, Cornubia, Cosgrove, Cowan Cowan, Crestmead, D’aguilar, Daisy Hill, Dakabin, Darra, Dayboro, Deagon, Deception Bay, Deebing Heights, Delaneys Creek, Dinmore, Donnybrook, Doolandella, Draper, Drewvale, Dunwich, Durack, Dutton Park, Eagle Farm, East Brisbane, East Ipswich, Eastern Heights, Eatons Hill, Ebbw Vale, Ebenezer, Ecco Ripley, Eight Mile Plains, Elimbah, Ellen Grove, England Creek, Enoggera, Enoggera Reservoir, Everton Hills, Everton Park, Fairfield, Ferny Grove, Ferny Hills, Fig Tree Pocket, Fitzgibbon, Flinders View, Forest Lake, Forestdale, Foritude Valley, Fortitude Valley, Gailes, Gaythorne, Geebung, Godwin Beach, Goodna, Gordon Park, Graceville, Grandchester, Grange, Greenbank, Greenslopes, Griffin, Gumdale, Haigslea, Hamilton, Harrisville, Hawthorne, Heathwood, Hemmant, Hendra, Heritage Park, Herston, Highgate Hill, Highvale, Hillcrest, Holland Park, Holland Park West, Inala, Indooroopilly, Ipswich, Ironbark, Jamboree Heights, Jimboomba, Jindalee, Jollys Lookout, Joyner, Kallangur, Kangaroo Point, Karalee, Karana Downs, Karawatha, Karrabin, Karragarra Island, Kedron, Kelvin Grove, Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Keperra, Kholo, King Scrub, Kingston, Kippa-ring, Kobble Creek, Kooringal, Kuraby, Kurwongbah, Laceys Creek, Lake Manchester, Lamb Island, Lanefield, Larapinta, Lawnton, Leichhardt, Loamside, Logan Central, Logan Reserve, Logan Village, Loganholme, Loganlea, Lota, Lower Mount Walker, Lutwyche, Lytton, Macgregor, Mackenzie, Macleay Island, Mango Hill, Manly, Manly West, Mansfield, Marburg, Margate, Marsden, McDowall, Meadowbrook, Meldale, Middle Park, Milton, Mitchelton, Moggill, Moodlu, Moores Pocket, Moorina, Moorooka, Morayfield, Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Morningside, Mount Coot-tha, Mount Cotton, Mount Crosby, Mount Forbes, Mount Glorious, Mount Gravatt, Mount Gravatt East, Mount Mee, Mount Nebo, Mount Ommaney, Mount Pleasant, Mount Samson, Muirlea, Mundoolun, Munruben, Murarrie, Murrumba Downs, Mutdapilly, Narangba, Nathan, Neurum, New Beith, New Chum, New Farm, Newmarket, Newport, Newstead, Newtown, Ningi, Norman Park, North Booval, North Ipswich, North Lakes, North Maclean, North Stradbroke Island, North Tivoli, Northgate, Nudgee, Nudgee Beach, Nundah, Ocean View, One Mile, Ormiston, Oxley, Paddington, Pallara, Park Ridge, Park Ridge South, Parkinson, Peak Crossing, Perulpa Island, Petrie, Petrie Qld, Petrie Terrace, Pine Mountain, Pinjarra Hills, Pinkenba, Point Lookout, Priestdale, Pullenvale, Purga, Raby Bay, Raceview, Ransome, Red Hill, Redbank, Redbank Plains, Redcliffe, Redland Bay, Regents Park, Richlands, Ripley, Ripley Valley, Riverhills, Riverview, Robertson, Rochedale, Rochedale South, Rocklea, Rocksberg, Rosewood, Rothwell, Runcorn, Rush Creek, Russell Island, Sadliers Crossing, Salisbury, Samford Valley, Samford Village, Samsonvale, Sandgate, Sandstone Point, Scarborough, Seven Hills, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Shailer Park, Sheldon, Sherwood, Shorncliffe, Silkstone, Sinnamon Park, Slacks Creek, South Brisbane, South Maclean, South Ripley, Spring Hill, Spring Mountain, Springfield, Springfield Lakes, Springwood, St Helena Island, St Lucia, Stafford, Stafford Heights, Stanmore, Stockleigh, Stones Corner, Stony Creek, Strathpine, Stretton, Sumner, Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills, Swanbank , Taigum, Tallegalla, Tamborine, Tamborine Village, Tanah Merah, Tangalooma, Taringa, Tarragindi, Teneriffe, Tennyson, Thagoona, The Gap, Thorneside, Thornlands, Timberlands, Tingalpa, Tivoli, Toombul, Toorbul, Toowong, Unclassified Qld, Underwood, Upper Brookfield, Upper Caboolture, Upper Kedron, Upper Mount Gravatt, Victoria Point, Virginia, Wacol, Wakerley, Walloon, Wamuran, Wamuran Basin, Warner, Waterford West, Wavell Heights, Wellers Hill, Wellington Point, West End, West Ipswich, Westlake, White Patch, Whiteside, Wights Mountain, Willawong, Willowbank, Wilston, Windsor, Wishart, Woodend, Woodford, Woodhill, Woodridge, Woody Point, Woolloongabba, Wooloowin, Woolshed, Woorim, Wulkuraka, Wynnum, Wynnum West, Yamanto, Yarrabilba, Yeerongpilly, Yeronga, Yugar, Zillmere
Sunshine Coast: Alexandra Headland, Aroona, Bald Knob, Balmoral Ridge, Battery Hill, Beerburrum, Beerwah, Belli, Belli Park, Bells Creek, Birtinya, Black Mountain, Bli Bli, Bokarina, Booroobin, Boreen Point, Boynside, Bridges, Buddina, Buderim, Burnett Downs, Burnside, Caloundra, Caloundra West, Cambroon, Castaways Beach, Chevallum, Coes Creek, Conondale, Coochin Creek, Coolabine, Cooloolabin, Coolum, Coolum Beach, Cooran, Cooroibah, Cooroy, Cooroy Mountain, Cootharaba, Cotton Tree, Crohamhurst, Curramore, Currimundi, Diamond Valley, Dicky Beach, Diddillibah, Doonan, Dulong, Eerwah Vale, Eudlo, Eumundi, Federal, Flaxton, Forest Glen, Gheerulla, Glass House Mountains, Glenview, Golden Beach, Harper Creek, Highworth, Hunchy, Ilkley, Image Flat, Kawana Island, Kawana Waters, Kenilworth, Kiamba, Kidaman Creek, Kiels Mountain, Kin Kin, Kings Beach, Kulangoor, Kuluin, Kunda Park, Kureelpa, Lake Macdonald, Landers Shoot, Landsborough, Little Mountain, Maleny, Mapleton, Marcoola, Marcus Beach, Maroochy River, Maroochydore, Meridan Plains, Minyama, Moffat Beach, Mons, Montville, Mooloolaba, Mooloolah, Mooloolah Valley, Mount Coolum, Mount Mellum, Mountain Creek, Mudjimba, Nambour, Ninderry, Noosa Heads, Noosa North Shore, Noosa Sound, Noosa Springs, Noosa Waters, Noosaville, North Arm, North Maleny, North Shore, Obi Obi, Pacific Paradise, Palmview, Palmwoods, Parklands, Parrearra, Peachester, Pelican Waters, Peregian Beach, Peregian Springs, Perwillowen, Pinbarren, Point Arkwright, Pomona, Reesville, Ridgewood, Ringtail Creek, Rosemount, Shelly Beach, Sippy Downs, Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Beach, Tanawha, Teewah, Tewantin, Tinbeerwah, Towen Mountain, Twin Waters, Valdora, Verrierdale, Warana, West Woombye, Weyba Downs, Witta, Woombye, Wurtulla, Yandina, Yandina Creek, Yaroomba
Toowoomba: Centenary Heights, Cotswold Hills2, Cranley, Darling Heights, Drayton, East Toowoomba, Glenvale2, Harlaxton, Harristown, Kearneys Spring, Middle Ridge, Mount Kynoch, Mount Lofty, Newtown, North Toowoomba, Prince Henry Heights, Rangeville, Redwood, Rockville, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba City (the city centre), Torrington2, Wilsonton, Wilsonton Heights
© 2025 otmtransport.com.au. All rights reserved.