On The Land
17 April, 2026
Transport cost relief ‘urgent’
THE Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is joining NatRoad and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) in calling for a six-month moratorium on heavy vehicle equipment finance repayments.
The organisations want urgent engagement between government, regulators and lenders to implement the moratorium, consistent with the successful Covid-19 model.
“This is a proven solution that can be implemented quickly and at no cost to government,” ALRTA president Gerard Johnson said.
“We’re aligned as an industry on this. This type of support will make a real difference on the ground.”
While both associations acknowledged the Federal Government’s latest fuel relief measures, including the additional 5.7 cents per litre reduction in fuel excise, as a constructive step in response to rising fuel costs, they assert it delivered no real net benefit for heavy vehicle operators.
“We acknowledge the government is acting and we welcome that, but for truck operators, this latest change doesn’t materially shift the dial, it just stops things getting worse,” Mr Johnson said.
“The real challenge facing operators is not just the cost of fuel, but the cash required to access it.”
Diesel prices had surged from approximately $1.70 per litre just a month ago to around $3, dramatically increasing the working capital required to operate trucks.
“Fuel credit facilities are based on dollar limits, not volume. As prices rise, operators can purchase less fuel within existing credit arrangements, restricting their ability to operate,” Mr Johnson said.
“The issue right now isn’t just price, it’s cashflow. Operators are having to find significantly more cash upfront just to keep trucks moving, and that pressure is building quickly,” Mr Johnson said.
The government’s broader response – including fuel supply measures and access to low-cost loans – was acknowledged as practical and well-intentioned. Although low-cost loans provide short-term flexibility, they also meant operators were borrowing money to continue operating.
The proposed model that was used through Covid-19 did not require new legislation or direct government funding.
It relied on lender participation, supported by government leadership and regulatory settings, rather than taxpayer funding, and involved repayment deferral for up to six months; loan term extension; no default classification; and targeted eligibility.
“If operators can see consistent fuel supply returning, panic demand will ease and prices will stabilise,” Mr Johnson said.
“Truck operators are doing everything they can to keep turning up and doing the job. Supporting their cashflow is critical to keeping supply chains moving.”
