High Visibility - Prime Mover Magazine

For carriers struggling with rising costs, operational inefficiencies, and complex compliance demands, Slipstream delivers clarity and control with its next-generation Transport Management System.

The brainchild of founder Wade McDonough, Slipstream Clear is a scalable Transport Management System designed to help mid-tier operators thrive.

It takes a fresh approach to how technology and automation can drive efficiency, visibility, and growth for transport businesses.

Backed by respected transport industry leaders such as Glen Cameron, Slipstream Clear is built for operators seeking to replace outdated manual processes or legacy technology that no longer meets customer expectations.

Today’s clients demand automation, visibility, and speed, and Slipstream is designed to deliver exactly that.

“The freight task is only getting more complex, and the only way forward is technology,” says Glen Cameron.

“Slipstream’s modern platform takes away the manual grind and gives operators the visibility they need to make real-time decisions with confidence.”

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Wade’s journey

Wade McDonough brings an impressive background to the Slipstream vision.

After graduating from La Trobe University with a biomedical engineering degree, he ventured to the US during the dotcom boom, interning under Alan Finkel (later Australia’s Chief Scientist) in San Francisco.

That experience led to a unique opportunity at NASA, where he contributed to building a telemetry unit for Russian astronauts.

“It was a fascinating project, and I probably didn’t fully appreciate its importance at the time,” recalls Wade.

“But it gave me a strong set of engineering principles that became the foundation of my career.”

Wade then attended Stanford University, gaining further hands-on experience with scalable, repeatable technology projects.

“The key to success was scalability,” he explains.

“By identifying the common elements across projects, we could rapidly deploy modular, future-proof solutions.”

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Entering the transport industry

On returning to Australia, Wade was introduced to the transport and logistics sector by a friend at Melbourne’s International Air Freight Centre.

Struggling operators were buried in paperwork and late payments, so Wade developed a job management platform that quickly gained traction among freight forwarders.

The early success revealed an even bigger opportunity: building a unified industry-wide platform called Slipstream Clear.

Instead of siloed, outdated TMS products, Wade envisioned a collaborative ecosystem more like Google’s connected approach, where carriers could share best practices and gain a single source of truth for their operations.

“Our goal was to let carriers compete on customer service, not on outdated back-office systems. The industry needed a shared ecosystem that simplified operations and unlocked visibility,” says Wade.

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Industry adoption

Glen Cameron was quick to recognise the potential, using Slipstream technology to optimise his Sydney operations.

“For too long, advanced systems were only accessible to big fleets,” Glen says.

“Slipstream levels the playing field, giving small and mid-sized operators the same tools to grow, stay competitive, and delight customers.”

Bulk fuel carrier John L Pierce Transport also turned to Slipstream to overcome legacy system challenges while meeting the complex requirements of transporting dangerous goods.

“Being a foundation customer has allowed us to take a future-focused approach,” says Executive Leader Emerson Pierce.

“We’re not just adopting new technology. We’re shaping a platform that reflects the realities of our industry and positions us for long-term success.”

Configured for carriers, not the other way around

Wade stresses that Slipstream’s strength lies in its modularity and adaptability.

Rather than forcing carriers to change their workflows to fit a rigid system, Slipstream configures the platform around each operator’s needs.

“Change management is always tough,” Wade explains. “But too often carriers are forced to adapt to generic systems. We take the opposite approach working closely with partners to shape a platform that truly fits their business.”

Also, by centralising data, Slipstream enables real-time visibility for both carriers and customers.

The result is smarter decision-making, improved resource allocation, and reduced waste.

“Administrative tasks don’t add to profitability,” Wade says.

“Our platform automates those processes, freeing people to focus on customer service — the true point of difference.”

Emerald Carrying Company CEO Arron Johnson is among the operators already seeing positive results.

“Slipstream is helping us modernise, improve visibility, and create smoother information flows across our business,” he says.

“The benefits are already clear.”

With its modern architecture, industry-led development, and vision of a unified ecosystem, Slipstream Clear is redefining how transport operators compete and grow.

By removing manual burdens and unlocking real-time intelligence, the platform gives mid-tier operators the same edge once reserved for large fleets — helping them thrive in a rapidly evolving logistics landscape.