The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) has met with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ensure rural carriers and regional transport operators have a strong voice in discussions about fuel prices, supply and competition.
LBRCA President, Wade Lewis, said the meeting provided an opportunity to share the firsthand experiences and concerns of livestock, bulk and rural carriers across Australia.
“We welcome the opportunity to provide the ACCC with real world examples of what is happening in the market for trucking businesses, including concerns about diesel pricing, fuel availability, competition and the commercial pressures facing regional transport operators,” he said.
Lewis said the engagement reflected the association’s commitment to listening to members and ensuring their interests were represented.
“Our members are the backbone of Australia’s regional economy and agricultural supply chains,” he said.
“The meeting highlighted the importance of explaining how freight contracts work, how fuel supply arrangements operate between transport companies and fuel providers, the way goods move through regional supply chains, and the commercial sensitivities operators must manage every day.
“When our members raise concerns, our responsibility is to listen, understand the issues and make sure their voices are heard by the people who can make a difference.”
The importance of that engagement is underscored by the ACCC’s latest weekly fuel price monitoring report, which recorded average retail diesel prices of 284.1 cents per litre across more than 190 monitored regional locations on 14 October 2026.
The report also acknowledges that regional fuel prices can be influenced by local supply stability, shortages, competition, demand and distance.
LBRCA General Manager of Policy, Scott O’Connell, said the association’s engagement with the ACCC was about connecting the experiences of operators on the ground with the agencies responsible for monitoring Australia’s fuel markets.
“Whether it’s the cost and availability of diesel, limited competition in regional areas or the challenges of running a transport business, these issues have real consequences for our members,” he said.
“Our advocacy is helping to build a better picture of the realities facing rural carriers and to ensure their experiences inform the broader conversation.
“The ACCC has the market data, but our members can explain what those figures mean in practice, and importantly, what might not be apparent from the numbers alone.”
Lewis said the LBRCA will continue working with members to identify emerging issues, gather practical examples and ensure rural carriers across Australia had a strong voice in discussions affecting their livelihoods.
From securing reliable fuel supplies to managing volatile costs and keeping essential freight moving across rural Australia, the association is focused on achieving better outcomes for members.
“We will keep listening to members and taking those experiences and pressures directly to regulators and decision makers,” Lewis said.
“Our members need to know that when they raise a concern, someone is listening and prepared to act.
“That’s what LBRCA is here to do, and that’s exactly what we will continue doing.”
Extracted in full from: https://www.trailermag.com.au/lbrca-addresses-fuel-pressures-in-accc-meeting/
