Australian road-freight transport prices fell 3.0 per cent in the September quarter, although they remained 13.4 per cent higher than a year earlier, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The ABS attributed the quarterly decline to reduced fuel surcharges as diesel prices eased, alongside cuts to the heavy-vehicle road-user charge.
Rail-freight transport prices fell 2.9 per cent during the quarter, while courier pick-up and delivery prices declined 3.3 per cent.
The figures follow a sharp 15.5 per cent quarterly increase in road-freight prices in June, illustrating substantial movement in transport pricing during 2026.
However, the producer price index measures changes in prices received for transport services. It does not establish whether individual operators are earning stronger margins or whether subcontractors are receiving a fair share of freight revenue.
As fuel surcharges fall, a broader industry question remains: how are the savings being distributed between freight customers, transport operators and subcontractors?
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Producer Price Indexes, Australia, September quarter 2026, released 30 October 2026.