Government Fast-Tracks Emergency Process to Aid Truck Drivers Amid Fuel Price Surge

New amendments will allow truck drivers to apply for emergency orders more quickly to ensure they are paid enough to cover fuel costs.

A driver gets into his truck seat before leaving the container terminal at the Port of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 4, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

The federal government has brought in a change to help truck drivers deal with rising fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Under new amendments to the Fair Work Act, truck drivers and transport companies can apply for emergency orders requiring their clients—such as retailers, mining companies and manufacturers—to pay enough to cover higher fuel costs.