The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has urged governments to limit any increase in heavy vehicle charges for 2026-27 to no more than 4 per cent, rejecting the proposed fourth consecutive 6 per cent rise. With a compounded 19 per cent increase already applied over the past three years, the ATA warns the industry is at breaking point.
Trucking operators are already facing extreme pressures: inflation, high interest rates, severe driver shortages, natural disasters, and the rapid rise of sham contracting. Insolvencies reached record levels in 2025, with one in every 12 road transport businesses closing.
The ATA argues that now is the wrong time for another steep increase and that governments must focus on rebuilding trust as the industry transitions to a Forward-Looking Cost Base (FLCB). Beyond charges, the ATA calls for renewed supply-side reforms, staged improvements to the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and the protection of fuel tax credits.