<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A truckies organisation is calling for action to help keep companies and drivers on the road amid the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fuel" rel="" target="" title="fuel "><span>fuel</span></a><span> crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says what happens to its members also impacts Aussie households.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is calling on the Federal Government to keep the Road User Charge (RUC), which is a levy for heavy vehicles at zero, until the end of 2026.</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><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-what-to-expect-signficant-changes-announcements-explainer/94106a49-6102-447d-bb6a-53aabc1d4a5f"><strong><span>Thousands of Aussies could lose popular $22 billion tax break</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was cut in April for three months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said while there has been some recent easing in fuel prices, underlying pressures remain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-arrested-three-people-killed-in-attack-sydney-rosemeadow/cf6c8972-f96c-46ae-b20d-e8cbe1c6924f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mother, father and son killed in alleged triple murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-truckers-australia/6cef89a2-decc-4220-bf7b-37ff0c06bb67" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Diesel prices are still well above where they were prior to the current global disruptions, and all indications are they will remain elevated for some time," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Truck operators are still facing sustained cost pressures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Those costs don't stay within the industry - they flow through to every Australian household.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-4donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/5d0eb4fe-9c97-450b-86e1-1bdb15badd54" target="_blank"><strong><span>Iran threatens to blow up ceasefire if 'Project Freedom' enacted</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Soon, if the road user charge is reintroduced at start of July, the price will increase by another 32.4 cents per litre."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clark said maintaining the RUC at its current zero rate would "provide immediate relief and much-needed certainty" ahead of the Federal Budget on May 12.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/eastern-paralysis-tick-mammalian-meat-allergy-jeremy-webb/f30b2db5-5467-406b-9e05-ec8a58b3d3ac" target="_blank"><strong><span>Teen's camping trip with mates ends in tragedy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said around 40 percent of operators have turned down or cancelled work due to rising fuel costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That affect availability and cost of goods for shoppers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We recognise the Government is under budget pressure, but this is a practical, time-limited measure to support an essential industry at a critical time," Clark said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's just the latest </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-businesses-urge-government-to-decrease-heavy-vehicle-road-user-charge-tax/5f06eb9d-5118-48a6-a82f-c83968c3db60" rel="" target="" title=" call over the cost of fuel."><span>call over the cost of fuel.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last month the Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) also urged the government to reduce fuel tax from 32.4 cents a litre to relieve pressure on transport businesses and owner operators in the new </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/federal-budget" rel="" target="" title="budget"><span>budget</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hantavirus-three-dead-after-suspected-outbreak-on-atlantic-ocean-ship-mv-hondius/ee7676a6-040e-4eb6-8fc9-30279814d78d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Rat faeces virus leaves three dead on cruise ship in the Atlantic</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" target="" title="Prime Minister Anthony Albanese"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> has warned the worst of the energy crisis may be ahead but won't guarantee an extension to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fuel" target="" title="fuel"><span>fuel</span></a><span> price relief.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking with 9News on the first anniversary of his re-election, Albanese said an extension to the reduced fuel excise, which is due to expire in July, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-politics--albanese-warns-fuel-crisis-could-worsen-as-end-to-reduced-excise-looms/d9962dd4-4ad5-4ab5-855d-31255cd7fc5c" rel="" target="" title="won't be detailed in next week's federal budget."><span>won't be detailed in next week's federal budget.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That'll be decided further down the track, there are too many changes," he said.</span></div></div>