While this week’s announcement of a 26.3 cents per litre fuel saving at the pump makes a good headline, it does not translate into a true benefit for most transport businesses, warns the grassroots body for the nation’s truckies.
For operators who already have fuel levy mechanisms in place, the National Road Freighters’ Association (NRFA) said this saving is passed directly through to customers as a reduction in fuel surcharges.
For those without a fuel recovery mechanism, the NRFA said this saving simply reduces the extent to which they are currently subsidising their customers’ freight costs.
When the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) adjustments are taken into account, the NRFA said the net benefit to industry is 6.1 cents per litre, and this is only realised later through Business Activity Statements.
This is not a significant outcome for an industry facing an immediate cost crisis, the association said.
The NRFA said it is also concerned that these measures for the next three months may send an unintended signal to customers that freight rates should decrease, when in reality fuel prices remain volatile and continue to rise.
“Importantly, these measures were developed without sufficient consultation with transport operators who are managing these costs in real time,” said NRFA President Glyn Castanelli.
“The practical impact on businesses on the ground has not been fully reflected in the outcome.”
Critically, these measures do not address the immediate cash flow crisis currently facing the industry, said Castanelli.
“March fuel bills are now falling due, and many operators are already at the point where they cannot continue to fuel their fleets. Businesses are making decisions to park trucks as cash flow tightens.
“The current measures apply only going forward and do not assist with the fuel costs already incurred over the past month.”
Castanelli said the most important outcome for industry since the Iran war broke out remains the Fairer Fuel Bill which made a swift passage through both the Houses of Parliament this week.
“This reform creates the pathway for enforceable cost recovery through the supply chain, ensuring that fuel costs are carried by those at the top, rather than being absorbed by operators at the bottom.”
Castanelli said the NRFA, alongside the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation will now move urgently to progress an application to the Fair Work Commission to deliver these outcomes.
“This is a step forward, but it is not a complete solution,” Castanelli said.
“Without further action to address immediate cash flow pressures, transport capacity will continue to decline, placing Australia’s supply chains at risk.”
Extracted in full from: https://bigrigs.com.au/2026/04/01/nrfa-warns-fuel-relief-falls-short-for-truckies/
