Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association

24/06/2026

August will be here before we know it!
Make sure you’ve got the date for the Livestock & Rural Transport Association of Western Australia - Inc conference in your diaries! 📆

From the July edition of WA Transport Magazine...

The 2026 LRTAWA Annual Conference will continue to unite and strengthen rural transport – For more than 40 years, the LRTAWA Annual Conference has been the beating heart of rural transport networking, advocacy and industry connection in WA. The 2026 event on 21st and 22nd August will be a combined conference with the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association with strong attendance from other states expected. All are welcome to attend

22/06/2026

ALRTA has drawn a clear line on heavy vehicle charging reform, and we're not moving from it.

We support a transition to the new Forward-Looking Cost Base. But we've backed Option 1 only. A 2.5% first-year increase, not 6%, not 10%.

Operators are already carrying higher costs across the board. A sharp jump in charges before the hard design questions are answered isn't reform. It's risk.

Regional operators must not end up subsidising city infrastructure. You should never be charged twice for the same road. And if industry pays more, the network has to visibly improve.

Full breakdown in this week's member update.

15/06/2026

An important heads-up for operators — the temporary Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge relief is due to expire on 30 June.

From 1 July, the 32 cents per litre relief currently provided through the Road User Charge arrangement is expected to cease, increasing operating costs for heavy vehicle operators.

ALRTA encourages members to review fuel surcharge arrangements, freight rates and customer contracts now to ensure costs are being properly recovered. Our Fuel Surcharge Calculator will be updated to reflect any changes — make sure you're using it.

Sustainable businesses require sustainable pricing. 💪

12/06/2026

Our drivers share the road — and the rail corridors — with infrastructure that isn't always visible.
The WA Opposition's new bill to mandate lighting on trains is a step in the right direction. Flashing beacons and side lighting on rolling stock should be a basic safety standard, just as they are in road transport.

We support this reform. Better visibility saves lives. Full stop.

Acknowledgement to Lara Jensen and all the families who have spent decades pushing for this change. Their advocacy matters.

Read more at

Advocates welcome a WA opposition bill enforcing better train lighting, after decades of campaigning.

10/06/2026

We're pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Maguire AM as ALRTA's new Executive Director.

Ben brings a wealth of experience across transport, agriculture, government and the not-for-profit sector - including his work with the Australian Trucking Association and, most recently, leading Corporate Affairs for Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds.

We'd also like to acknowledge our outgoing Interim Executive Director, Anthony, who will be taking a well-earned break before returning to support Ben and the team as we continue progressing ALRTA's Strategic Plan.

Welcome to the team, Ben. 🤝

09/06/2026

Regional Toolbox Talks happening across NSW in June & July.
These are fantastic sessions to learn about Chain of Responsibility over harvest!

Find an upcoming regional information session near you in NSW! 📍

Join Stakeholder Engagement Officer (Inland NSW), Beth, for a toolbox talk and prepare for grain harvest. These sessions are for drivers, transport operators, farmers and more to shed light on requirements around Chain of Responsibility, fatigue, access, and changing requirements around moving agricultural machinery.

An online session is available for those who can't attend in person.

👉 Register to attend an NHVR Regional Toolbox Talk on:
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/news-events/events

05/06/2026

In Rockhampton, road train combinations can only move across town during restricted after-hours access windows.

The result? Operators unhooking combinations and completing multiple trips, or sitting parked for hours waiting for curfews to lift.
That's not just a productivity issue.

It's a fatigue issue. A congestion issue. And an animal welfare issue.
In Queensland alone, approximately 10,000 head of cattle move every day from the Darling Downs into South East Queensland processing facilities. The productivity gains from moving more of that freight on higher productivity combinations across suitable corridors would be significant.

Fewer truck movements. Lower fuel consumption. Reduced congestion. Better utilisation of drivers and equipment.
This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world reform ALRTA is pushing for.

01/06/2026

Have you completed the ALRTA Fuel & Cashflow Impact Survey yet?
Fuel costs hit almost overnight. But payment cycles, fuel levy recovery and financing arrangements are still operating weeks behind.
That gap is placing real pressure on businesses across regional Australia — particularly smaller operators with less capacity to absorb prolonged volatility.
ALRTA is gathering direct operator feedback to build the strongest possible evidence base for discussions with Government, financial institutions and regulators.
It's short. It's practical. And your response directly strengthens the

Take our survey at https://bit.ly/3PJHFdn

29/05/2026

Livestock and rural freight represents approximately 25% of Australia's national freight task.
Let that sink in.

Every year, the sector:
- Consumes approximately 2.5 billion litres of diesel
- Travels approximately 3 billion kilometres across regional and remote Australia
- Supports up to 80,000 direct and closely related jobs
- Generates approximately $12 billion in transport service activity
- Underpins $60–70 billion in farm gate value across Australia, into $100B in agricultural output.

And yet, the sector's contribution is consistently underestimated in policy discussions.
That is exactly why ALRTA has been developing an Economic Contribution & Value Chain Analysis, to make sure Government understands what is actually at stake when regional freight is overlooked.
Food security begins with freight security.

26/05/2026

The latest Repco Commercial catalogue is out and there are some great deals worth getting across before the sale kicks off.
The good news? You don't have to wait until June 2 to secure what you need. Pre-orders are open now, so you can lock in your order ahead of time and make the most of the savings.
Get in touch with the Repco Commercial team today to place your pre-order.
🗓️ Sale dates: 2–4 June