National Road Freighters Association Inc.

09/06/2026

HVNL fine changes: Drivers deserve facts, not fear

Some are going up. Some are going down. Some apply to drivers. Others are aimed at operators, schedulers, consignors, customers, loading managers and other parties in the chain.

24/04/2026

Today we pause to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our country. It’s a time to reflect on their courage, resilience and mateship. Lest we forget.

20/04/2026

Today is a big day for the transport industry.

For the first time, we have a Road Transport Contractual Chain Order for fuel cost recovery in place — and that matters to every operator out there trying to keep the wheels turning.

A lot of people have put in a huge amount of work to get this across the line.

We want to acknowledge and thank the TWU, ARTIO, the ATA, and the NRFA executive and members who have backed this and pushed it through. This hasn’t been easy. It’s taken time, effort, and a real understanding of what’s happening on the ground.

Because the reality is, operators have been carrying the cost of fuel with no recovery in sight!

When diesel jumps, it’s not the people at the top of the chain paying for it first — it’s the person filling the tanks, doing the job, and waiting to get paid. And for many, that’s been the difference between staying afloat and going backwards.

This Order doesn’t fix everything overnight.

But it is a line in the sand.

It means from tomorrow, operators can start making decisions about their business with a bit more confidence — knowing there is now a framework that says fuel costs should be recovered, not absorbed.

It gives people a reason to stop and think:

“Can I keep going?”
“Can I make this work?”

And for the first time since this crisis started, the answer might be:

👉 “Maybe I can — if the system actually works the way it’s meant to.”

This is a step toward a fairer industry.

One where the cost of doing the job isn’t just pushed onto the bloke at the bottom of the chain.

And that’s something worth recognising.

14/04/2026

The National Road Freighters Association welcomes the Fair Work Commission Notice of Intent to introduce a draft fuel cost recovery order for the road transport industry.

This is a significant step forward in addressing the current fuel cost pressures being felt across the country and provides operators and owner drivers with something that’s been missing for a long time — confidence.

A big thank you to Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation, Transport Workers’ Union and Australian Trucking Association for their collaboration, along with our NRFA members who shared real insights from the ground.

There’s still more work to be done, but this is a strong step in the right direction for a fairer and more sustainable industry.

04/04/2026

Happy Easter from all of us at the NRFA

To our members and the wider road transport community, we wish you a safe and enjoyable Easter, wherever the road finds you this long weekend.

We understand the pressures currently being felt across the industry, with operating costs continuing to climb and placing strain on businesses and drivers alike. It’s a challenging time for many, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Over Easter, we hope you can take a step back, spend time with family and friends, and take a moment to recharge before getting back into it.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for the important role you play in keeping Australia moving.

Stay safe on the roads and look after one another.

Happy Easter 🐰🚛

02/04/2026

Cash flow relief is on the Horizon for industry through interest free loans.

Listen to ABC News interviews and commentary and analysis from radio programs like AM, PM and The World Today.

31/03/2026

Looks like relief… but is it really?

Fuel excise has been halved
➡️ 52.2c down to 26.1c
➡️ Pump price drops from $3.20 to $2.94

The Road User Charge (RUC) of 32.4c removed

Sounds great… doesn’t it?

But here’s the reality for transport operators:

We now pay:
➡️ 26.1c fuel excise
➡️ Claim back 20.2c through Fuel Tax Credits (FTC)

That leaves 5.9 cents per litre behind.

And even that small gap?
Only recoverable if FTC is lifted to 26.1c—and even then, it comes later through BAS.

So what does this actually mean?

➡️ The “saving” at the pump is largely passed on to customers
➡️ Or it just reduces how much operators are already subsidising freight
➡️ The real benefit to industry is minimal—and delayed

This is not an industry saving plan.

It does not fix the immediate cash flow crisis.
It does not keep trucks on the road today.

Transport keeps Australia moving.
We need real, immediate support—not optics.

30/03/2026

A win for transport—but the fight isn’t over.

The Fairer Fuel Bill has now passed.
This is a critical step forward for our industry.

For the first time, we now have a pathway to real fuel cost recovery through the supply chain—where it should have always been.

We thank the Government, and acknowledge the work of the TWU and ARTIO in getting this done.

But let’s be clear about the reality on the ground.

The removal of the RUC and halving of fuel excise sounds significant—but for most operators:

➡️ The 26c per litre saving at the pump is passed on to customers
➡️ Or it simply reduces how much operators are already subsidising freight

The real benefit? Around 6 cents per litre—and delayed through BAS.

That does not fix the crisis.

🚨 **Right now:**

* March fuel bills are falling due
* Cash flow is collapsing
* Trucks are being parked

This is happening now.

The Fairer Fuel Bill is the big win—because it allows us to push for enforceable fuel cost recovery.

That’s how we fix this properly.

But without immediate cash support, operators will still go under before that system kicks in.

Transport keeps Australia alive.

If we lose capacity now—
We don’t just lose businesses.
We lose supply chains.

We will keep pushing.

28/03/2026

Transport is not optional. It is essential.

To survive we need food, water, shelter and energy.
None of that exists without transport.

No trucks = no food.
No trucks = no homes.
No trucks = no water. No energy.

We learnt this during COVID.
Have we forgotten already?

Right now, transport operators are being crushed by fuel costs.
They are working for nothing just to keep the country moving.

This is how supply chains collapse.

We don’t need theory. We need action.

Step 1: Secure supply.

Put cash straight into transport—fast.

Return the Road User Charge from the March quarter through BAS.
32.4 cents per litre back into operators’ hands within days.

Simple. Targeted. Immediate.

Then we move to step two—
fair fuel cost recovery through the contract chain.

Playing with fuel excise at the pump won’t fix this.
It risks increasing demand when supply is already under pressure.

It does not help transport

Every home. Every business. Every Australian relies on transport.

If transport fails—everything fails.