25 March 2026
NatRoad continues to call for an urgent and immediate response from Government to support trucking operators to manage their cash flow in the face of skyrocketing fuel costs. High demand is still impacting fuel availability in some areas.
Writing directly to Federal, State, and Territory Ministers and appearing regularly in the media – including live radio interviews around the country, we are making sure the voice of the operator is being heard.
We’ve made it clear, trucks and trucking businesses are essential to keep Australia moving, and the impact felt first by operators will ultimately hurt everyone in the community.
NatRoad recommends multiple actions the Government should take to allow operators to stay on the road.
Urgent and immediate measures we’re pushing for:
- Banks and equipment lenders to implement a six-month effective moratorium on lending repayments for the heavy vehicle industry, similar to the support provided during COVID.
- A temporary cut of the Road User Charge to relieve fuel cost pressures.
- $25K grants to be made available to small trucking businesses from the Disaster Recovery Assistance Fund.
- State governments to urgently review and update guidelines for freight cost calculations.
Longer-term measures to help sustain our industry:
- Allowing the passing of fuel costs through contractual chain orders is a good first step announced by the Government this week. However, caution is needed and NatRoad is working to clarify if there are any unintended consequences for members with these changes to the Fair Work Act.
- Permitting more usage of high-productivity freight vehicles could help operators to be as fuel efficient as possible.
We are talking to our members daily about their experiences and will continue to make sure your voices are heard. You can read more about NatRoad member and Townsville owner-operator Jason Tuttle here
NatRoad advice to operators
Right now, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re doing everything you can to support your cash flow and proactively manage your business. Understanding how fuel prices affect your overall operating costs, and how much of this can be charged to your clients is critical.
Our article in the NatRoad member portal provides links to business resources and websites that can help members manage your cash flow, including our fuel levy calculator.
We encourage all operators to:
- Talk to your bank or non-bank lender about utilising their hardship policy as soon as possible. This will help to create some breathing space to get on top of cashflow.
- Lodge BAS Monthly – If you are not already, change your BAS reporting cycle to monthly. Read more about how you can change your reporting here.
- Claim your Fuel Tax Credits – Fuel tax credits allow you to claim back fuel tax used for business activities, including operating heavy vehicles and equipment. Claiming fuel tax credits can significantly reduce fuel costs and improve cash flow. To claim, your business must be registered for GST and fuel tax credits, keep records of fuel use, and include the claim when lodging your Business Activity Statement (BAS).
- Review your contracts and understand the impact of fuel costs. If possible, adjust your fuel levies weekly or seek rate reviews.
- If you are in Victoria, use ‘Servo Saver’ – the official fuel price comparison tool in the Service Victoria app. to make informed decisions about where and when to refuel.
- Refer to our Get Fleet Fit resources to find more ways to improve your fuel efficiency.
