Photo of a person filling a car with fuel

Fuel supply and supply chain disruptions can create risks and change to the way you operate your buisness. Business onwers should take early action to maintain continuity and reduce risk. Consider the practical steps you can take to plan ahead and limit the disruptions.

Managing operational and supply chain issues

 

  • Review supplier contracts and freight terms, including fuel surcharges and delivery timeframes.
  • Build flexibility into inventory planning where possible to manage delays.
  • Monitor fuel prices and transport costs, especially if operating in regional or freight‑dependent sectors.
  • Stay up to date on current domestic fuel prices and supply. 
  • Keep an eye on parcel delivery costs and adjust your shipping rates if needed. Many delivery companies are increasing their fuel surcharges in response to higher fuel prices.
  • Review how your business operates, find where fuel impacts may occur and prioritise the essential activities. 

Managing your employees

  • Keep staff informed about what is happening and if any changes may affect hours, workload or delivery times. 
  • Changes to fuel availability may affect how your staff travel and work. You may need to consider flexible working arrangements and know how to manage remote staff. 
  • Support your staff wellbeing as disruptions may cause stress in both work and personal life. 

Keeping your business safe

  • Fuel remains available and you do not need to stockpile or hoard fuel. Just keep buying based on your ordinary needs. Stockpiling flammable liquids such as petrol and diesel can be dangerous. 
  • If you or your staff are travelling overseas, check the official Australian Government travel advice on Smartraveller.
  • Review and identify the risks to help reduce the impact of an unexpected fuel and supply chain disruptions. 
  • Create a continuity plan for an emergency by identifying risks to critical areas and how to manage them.

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