<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian "><span>Australian</span></a><span> truckers have warned households will suffer if the already embattled industry buckles under surging </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fuel" rel="" target="_blank" title="fuel prices"><span>fuel prices</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CreditorWatch's Business Risk Index report published today has found the price of diesel increased by 36 per cent in just two weeks and reached up to $3 a litre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-energy-minister-flags-work-from-home-as-sensible-option-for-millions/24b49ae8-9b6b-4cc7-8afd-02a569645e11" rel="" target="_blank" title="NRMA has warned it is a matter of when diesel hits $4 per litre"><span>NRMA has warned it is a matter of when diesel hits $4 per litre</span></a><span>, not if.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-how-much-does-australia-have-left-explained/f266e2d2-6b91-4166-8f7e-bb424620cc09" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>How much fuel does Australia have left?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This has left one of the nation's most essential sectors, road transport, exposed due to its heavy reliance on fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The report found there has been immediate pressure on margins as fuel makes up 40 per cent of operating costs in the trucking sector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While larger operators may partially offset this through fuel surcharges, smaller firms, which dominate the sector, often lack the pricing power or contractual flexibility to do so," the report said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-updates-iran-war-trucking-industry/13a5b797-8e31-40bf-8260-cc83f4f8601e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As a result, many may need to absorb part of the cost increases directly, leading to some cash flow deterioration."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The industry is quickly emerging as a "critical pressure point" after already experiencing pressures from fuel and insurance costs, driver shortages, compliance and increased competition from low-cost foreign companies before the global conflict, the report said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CreditorWatch's latest data found trucking is one of the most stressed sectors in the economy with 7.1 per cent of all businesses going under last year, up from 6.2 per cent the year before.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many businesses are expected to become insolvent this year, with more to come if high fuel prices remain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The National Road Transport Association warned businesses were already shutting their doors under the weight of rising fuel costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some of our members are telling us they simply cannot keep going," chief executive Warren Clark said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are seeing long-term operators parking their trucks and walking away from businesses they've spent years building."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/7-eleven-fuel-lock-customers-complain-app-feature-for-cheaper-prices-is-not-working/66bb6df2-c798-46d3-b4a3-26aa87ea2beb" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>7-Eleven faces complaints over 'disappearing' fuel price lock feature</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clark said the full impact of rising fuel costs will not be felt until April 21, when the fuel card bills for this month start landing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That will be the moment many operators realise they simply can't absorb these costs any longer," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is expected to create flow-on effects across many other sectors that trickle down to the consumer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The road freight sector's centrality to the broader economy, underpinning agriculture, construction, manufacturing and retail, means stress in this sector has implications far beyond its own balance sheets," the CreditorWatch report said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clark said this could lead to higher prices for groceries, fuel and essential goods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When trucking businesses collapse, supply chains suffer, and Australian households pay the price," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-fuel-shortage-us-israel-iran-war-poll/02a537c7-5e01-4ea6-9a6e-15ff7ead3976" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Almost a third of Aussies changing driving habits as petrol prices explode</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has been urged to temporarily remove the road user charge for heavy vehicles and activate disaster recovery funding arrangements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The time for talk is done. What we need now is immediate, decisive action," Clark said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not something small operators can absorb or pass on. It is an external crisis, and it requires a government response."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>