The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) is calling for fuel relief support to be extended, as freight operators face the double blow of rising costs and changes to regulations.
The LBRCA is calling on the Australian and State Governments to support heavy vehicle operators, warning that the end of fuel price relief will mean the cost of living will rise and pressure on regional businesses will increase, along with Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) changes that commenced on 1 August.
The LBRCA said many operators who are transporting livestock, grain, fertiliser, hay, fuel and other essential commodities remain under significant financial pressure.
LBRCA President, Wade Lewis, said regional transport businesses travel long distances to move critical commodities, resulting in higher operating costs.
“Every kilometre travelled in regional Australia costs more. Operators are covering hundreds of kilometres between communities, often with limited or no opportunities to recover increasing costs,” Lewis said.
“Rural carriers are therefore vulnerable to fuel prices shocks and we are about to see fuel price relief come to an end, in addition to a suite of big changes to the rules governing our industry.
“We call for the government to extend relief measures, to ease the significant diesel price pressures from volatility in the fuel market.”
Following a recent meeting of the LBRCA, Lewis said that while operators were resilient, they could not keep absorbing higher costs.
He said there was also a strong view that transport agencies had more work to do in communicating the HVNL amendments.
“Diesel price relief ending and all these regulatory changes are a double blow, placing greater pressure on an industry already under strain,” Lewis said.
“If a livestock carrier cannot afford to stay on the road, producers cannot move stock. If a bulk carrier parks up, grain, fertiliser and feed cannot reach where they are needed. If fuel deliveries slow down, entire regional communities feel the impact.
“Supporting regional freight operators is not an industry subsidy, it is an investment in Australia’s food security, regional economies and national supply chains.”
Extracted in full from: https://primemovermag.com.au/lbrca-urges-greater-fuel-relief-for-freight-operators/
