<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Truckies are warning that without a financial lifeline, local businesses will vanish within months, triggering a collapse of regional jobs and the supply chains the country relies on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The nation's peak body representing freight drivers is urging the federal government to fast-track a $1 billion funding package, as fresh data lays bare an industry at breaking point.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this month, the Economic Resilience Program was trumpeted as a lifeline for local industries smashed by global market disruptions, offering zero-interest loans to businesses, including fuel and fertiliser providers.</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/world/clavicular-looksmaxxer-in-hospital-with-suspected-overdose-in-miami/43aa2485-e0b8-4650-964b-31b8cee321f4" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular breaks silence after suspected overdose during livestream</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NatRoad has flagged that the 'Economic Resilience' promised on April 2 has yet to materialise beyond an online registration page.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is not good enough," NatRoad chief executive Warren Clark said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Without access to cash now, we are going to see trucks parked up and supply chains disrupted within weeks."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/trucks-fuel-crisis-iran-war-supply-chain-natroad/61d4ce9c-b0ef-4ae8-8e61-ad59d10cbe9b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A survey of operators across the country found more than 70 per cent do not expect to remain viable beyond six months if conditions hold.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Among owner-drivers running one or two trucks, that figure rises to 78.1 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Confidence across the sector has also taken a hit, with a 91 per cent drop in positive outlook compared to before March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The data shows smaller fleets are already feeling the impact, with businesses running fewer than 20 trucks reporting a drop in available work of between 10 and 50 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About one in four surveyed have stood down staff.</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/geelong-oil-refinery-fire-corio-blaze-triggers-warning-for-residents-to-stay-inside/c9009c7c-4cf1-4674-86b3-02481b25154e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Firefighters continue to battle huge blaze at Geelong oil refinery</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/eZwLfInKf8MnhGMCjSFAtWQ_6oY=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F04%2F766771%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clark said the findings reflect what operators are already dealing with day-to-day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Small operators and owner-operators are the backbone of Australia's freight task. If they cannot afford to put fuel in their trucks next month, the consequences will be felt right across the supply chain," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NatRoad is calling for immediate action, including the release of program guidelines and a simple application process to get funds to operators quickly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Implementation of this program needs to happen within days, not weeks or months," Clark warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for the Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> that the program would be ready to support companies "very shortly".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The ERP, along with the fast-tracked delivery of the Net Zero Fund and the Forestry Growth Fund within the NRF, is complementing work currently underway across government to shield Australians from the worst effects of supply chain shocks and ease cost pressures on Australian firms and households."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><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><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>