Australian freight costs & transport rules
Updated 18 October 2026
Moving freight in Australia is priced mainly on distance, the size and weight of the load, and whether it can travel as a backload. Below are published owner-driver operating costs, typical corridor distances, current diesel pricing, and the key compliance rules. Figures are indicative guides, not quotes — post a load to compare real prices.
How the preliminary range is calculated
We combine a confirmed road route with the Victorian government’s published 2025–26 owner-driver examples for suitable vehicle sizes. The model includes driving time, distance and loading time, then widens the result for equipment choice and empty travel. It is a cost planning guide, not a freight tariff.
Read the Victorian cost schedules or calculate a range for your route.
Typical capital-city corridor distances
| Route | Distance | Est. drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne to Sydney | ~713 km | ~9 hrs one-way |
| Sydney to Brisbane | ~732 km | ~9 hrs one-way |
| Melbourne to Brisbane | ~1,374 km | ~17 hrs one-way |
| Melbourne to Adelaide | ~654 km | ~8 hrs one-way |
| Sydney to Adelaide | ~1,162 km | ~15 hrs one-way |
| Sydney to Perth | ~3,290 km | ~41 hrs one-way |
| Melbourne to Perth | ~2,721 km | ~34 hrs one-way |
| Adelaide to Perth | ~2,131 km | ~27 hrs one-way |
Diesel & fuel
Freight rates track the diesel price closely. The current national average is about $2.20/L (Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP), last verified 2 Aug 2026). A loaded B-double burns roughly 0.55 litres per kilometre, so fuel alone on a ~715 km Melbourne–Sydney run is in the order of $860.
Key rules for moving freight in Australia
- Oversize/overmass (OSOM): loads over about 2.5 m wide, 4.3 m high or 42.5 t generally need a Class 1 OSOM permit.
- Who issues permits: the NHVR governs QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, TAS and the ACT (permits via NHVR Go). Western Australia and the Northern Territory run their own schemes.
- WA biosecurity: all used agricultural, mining and earthmoving machinery entering WA is inspected by DPIRD/Quarantine WA at the Eucla and Kununurra checkpoints and must be cleaned to quarantine standard before arrival.
- Cheapest option: backloading — using a truck's empty return leg — is usually the most economical way to move freight long-distance.
General guidance only — confirm current requirements with the NHVR, Main Roads WA and DPIRD before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Get a real price
Post your load and compare quotes from Australian carriers with visible verification status — free to post, free to compare.