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According to media reports today, the deal is likely to be worth about $A140 million.
FCL has employed Sydney merchant bank Canterbury Partners to attract expressions of interest in the company before the end of the month.
Transport firms Linfox, K&S Corporation and SCT Logistics have also been mentioned as potential buyers of FCL, which was a Patrick target before that firm was taken over by Toll in a $6 billion deal in May.
FCL has a presence in all mainland capital cities and has a good relationship with Pacific National – the only major rail freight firm operating an east-to-west coast service.
QR chief executive Bob Scheuber said yesterday his firm had made no secret of its desire to acquire FCL.
The government-owned rail group has been active in takeover talks since the Toll-Patrick deal was first announced.
It has already paid $1.3 billion to acquire the Western Australian assets of the Australian Railroad Group with Babcock & Brown.
QR also signed a heads of agreement with P&O Ports in May to allow the port operator to take over the Acacia Ridge interstate rail terminal.
Scheuber has announced the firm is working on a major coal public infrastructure master plan that will be released shortly.
The plan is expected to look at issues such as port capacities, growth tonnages and capital expenditure.
