Success in business isn’t about luck — it’s about risk, resilience and execution.

Jake Eggleton built Fuel Drop and Darwin Logistics from the ground up. But it wasn’t easy – and it certainly wasn’t handed to him.

Today, his companies supply fuel and road train transport to some of the Northern Territory’s biggest industries, keeping businesses, mines and Defence operations moving.

But behind the business success is a story of persistence, sacrifice and family.

Jake’s work ethic was forged early. At just five years old, he watched his father battle cancer. For four years, his dad fought, but when Jake was nine, he passed away.

“Losing a father at that age changes you. You have no choice — you grow up fast. You become the man of the family, ready or not.”

His mother worked hard to keep things afloat, and Jake learned by watching her.

“Mum used to say I partied hard and stayed out late, but she couldn’t tell me off because no matter what, I always got up and went to work,” he says. “Even when I probably shouldn’t have.”

That discipline, that drive – it was never about talent. It was about showing up, no matter what.

Jake was earning a stable, comfortable income, but he wanted more. He wanted ownership, control, and to build something bigger than himself.

But the timing was far from ideal.

“My mum and stepdad had just flown in from the UK for our wedding. My wife was seven months pregnant with our third daughter. And I had … a ute,” he says.

Still, he jumped in, knowing full well that pressure creates results.

“No pressure, no diamonds,” he says.

JAKE AND HIS FATHER-IN-LAW DARREN MCBRIDE

His first idea was Mum Fuel — delivering fuel to busy parents. That evolved into an on-demand fuel delivery app, allowing users to order refueling at home or work with a few taps.

Despite the potential, Emma, his wife, kept things real.

“You have 12 weeks until we run out of money, and then you need to get a job,” she told him.

That was all the motivation he needed. Fuel Drop quickly grew into a major supplier, serving Defence, mining and industrial clients, while also selling and hiring fuel tanks for on-site storage solutions.

For Jake and his family, the Northern Territory isn’t just home — it’s part of their legacy. His daughters are fifthgeneration Territorians, with their great-great-grandmother living locally until she was 100 years old, when she passed away peacefully, napping while having a cup of tea with her daughters.

“The NT’s future is important to us,” Jake says. “This is where our family has lived for generations, and it’s where we’re raising our daughters. We want to see it grow and thrive.”

That’s why Fuel Drop is committed to giving back. The company has donated more than $50,000 in the past 12 months to local charities, with a focus on children’s hospitals and equipment.

“Giving back is important,” Jake says. “We’ve had a lot of support along the way, and helping the community where we can just makes sense.”

While Jake had the vision for Fuel Drop, every great business needs strong people behind it.

One of the key figures in the company’s success is Darren McBride, Jake’s father-in-law, who has been Fuel Drop’s fleet manager and lead driver for the past four years.

With decades of trucking experience, Darren has been instrumental in keeping operations running smoothly, training drivers, and ensuring reliability in the toughest conditions.

“Darren’s work ethic and reliability have been a huge part of our success,” Jake says.

“Business is tough. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and it’s not for everyone. It takes a strong stomach to go from week to week, never knowing if you’ll get paid while everything relies on you.”

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, once said: “Entrepreneurship is like jumping off a cliff and building your wings on the way down.”

Jake agrees.

“You need a certain level of obsession to keep going.”

If you walk into Jake’s office, there’s a poster on the wall that sums up his mindset: “Discipline – the ability to execute without fail regardless of how you feel.”

“No one cares if you’re tired or stressed. If you want to win, you show up,” he says.

JAKE AND EMMA ON THEIR WEDDING DAY … THEIR MORNINGS START WITH A 4°C ICE BATH, FOLLOWED BY THE GYM AND THEN WORK. THEY TRY TO MEDITATE WHEN THEY CAN AND FINISH THEIR EVENINGS IN THE INFRARED SAUNA AND READING BEFORE BED.

Seeing an opportunity in heavy logistics, Jake partnered with Ray Pratt, a respected Indigenous business leader, to launch Darwin Logistics.

“Ray’s a great family man with strong values. We always talked about working together,” Jake says.

Now, Darwin Logistics is an Indigenous-owned logistics company, specialising in road trains and fuel in the mining sector, with an Indigenous employment rate of more than 60 percent.

Logistics is the backbone of the NT, and Darwin Logistics is doing more than just moving freight. By creating jobs, training Indigenous workers, and delivering for the mining sector, the company is shaping the future of transport in the Territory.

Despite the demands of business, family always comes first.

“It’s easy to let business consume you, but if you don’t protect what really matters, what’s the point?” Jake says.

He makes time to read with his daughters at night, take buggy rides in muddy puddles, play chess, and support their tennis and dance performances. But in the Eggleton household, pocket money isn’t given — it’s earned.

“They get paid to read educational books and do their chores — no free lunch in our house,” Jake says.

And none of this would be possible without Emma – they’ve been together for 14 years and married for six years.

“I run the businesses, but she runs our life,” Jake says. “She’s the reason everything works.”

Emma and Jake prioritise health and longevity.

Their mornings start with a 4°C ice bath, followed by the gym and then work. They try to meditate when they can and finish their evenings in the infrared sauna and reading before bed.

Emma is passionate about biohacking — from nutrition and recovery to longevity practices, ensuring they both stay sharp physically and mentally.

For over half a decade, Fuel Drop has been powering the NT, keeping industries, remote sites, and Defence operations running.

And now, Darwin Logistics is shaping the future of Indigenous employment, proving that a localfirst approach is the way forward.

At the heart of it all? A man who bet on himself, a family that backed him, and a team that delivers.

“Business isn’t easy, but the hard work pays off when you’re building something that lasts.” TQ

JAKE EGGLETON AND BUSINESS PARTNER RAY PRATT