For regional Victorian taxi driver Jassi Bhangu, 12-hour shifts have rapidly transitioned from an occasional necessity to his daily reality. The Shepparton-based motorist is among thousands of commercial drivers struggling to stay afloat as fuel costs continue to climb following the end of the federal government's temporary fuel excise discount.

With petrol and diesel prices surging, regional transport operators are feeling the pinch acutely. Peak motoring bodies, including the RACQ, have projected prices could climb as high as $2.20 a litre for unleaded and a staggering $2.60 a litre for diesel, leaving small operators with shrinking profit margins.

Squeezed at the Bowser

For Mr. Bhangu, every extra cent at the pump translates directly into more hours away from his family. Under transport regulations, 12 hours is the absolute maximum a taxi driver is legally permitted to work in a single day—and he is now hitting that limit daily.

"Sometimes my kids call me asking when I will be home," Mr. Bhangu shared. "Instead, I have to tell them to wait just a few more hours because I haven't made enough money yet. When you pull up to the station and see petrol over $2 and diesel over $2.50, it takes an immediate toll on your livelihood."

The pressure has become so intense that many industry professionals in the region are actively looking for secondary employment. Traditionally, drivers could secure a reasonable living working eight to nine hours a day. Now, Mr. Bhangu says, 11- to 12-hour shifts are the baseline, and even then, savings are virtually non-existent.

Supply Chains Hold Steady Despite Retail Pressure

While consumers and transport workers face immediate financial strain, fuel retailers are working to manage both the pricing shift and consumer behavior. Peter Anderson, director of regional fuel retail chain APCO, confirmed that despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, physical oil supply to Australia remains robust.

APCO, which services a large footprint across regional Victoria, reports solid communication with major suppliers like Mobil and Viva. According to Mr. Anderson, supply routes from Singapore refineries have successfully adapted to international disruptions by shifting transit pathways.

"We don't have a problem with supply. We never did," Mr. Anderson stated. "It's just coming out of different areas, and supply is back in full swing coming out of Singapore without any worries at all."

However, Mr. Anderson acknowledged that the combination of rising prices and the end of the excise discount had triggered bouts of panic buying among motorists. This sudden spike in demand has tested regional distribution networks, leading to temporary, localized stock outages at some stations.

"It has certainly put some pressure on our logistics team," Mr. Anderson noted. "We’ve had a few minor, temporary stock-outs, but that is simply a logistical challenge of moving the product quickly enough. There is absolutely no shortage of fuel; there is plenty of product to go around."

For regional communities reliant on road transport, the hope is that retail prices will stabilize, offering much-needed relief to independent operators fighting to keep their wheels turning.