‘Breaking point’: Victorian man’s eye-watering petrol bill

A small business owner is at “breaking point” after being forced to spend an eye-watering amount on petrol each month.

A local truck driver has revealed he spends an eye-watering amount of money on petrol just to keep his freight business alive.

Tristan Wernhard, who owns A-A Plus Driver Trainer and operates a fleet of six trucks, said fuel cost him an extra $25,000 per month compared to the start of the year.

He also spends about $1000 in tolls each week and told his drivers to try and avoid them.

Trucker Tristan Wernhard has revealed he has spent an extra $25,000 per month on petrol to keep his business afloat. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Speaking to Nine radio host Jim Wilson, Mr Wernhard said he was almost as breaking point and running his business was almost no longer sustainable because of the costs.

“When is this sustainable and when isn’t it … and it’s at the point where it’s not,” he said.

“It's not easy by any means.

“Drivers are struggling just as much and I can’t afford to give them an increase in wage because everything I have is an extra cost in fuel, tolls, tyres, maintenance. You either service your truck or you pay your bills. Which way do you go?”

Mr Wernhard said running his business was almost no longer sustainable because of the costs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

NRMA’s Peter Khoury said oil prices jumped to a record high earlier this week but said it was uncertain what could happen over the weekend.

“There is hope that some of the global factors causing this chaos may stabilise and there is some hope that supply issues will be addressed by September,” he said.

“But we won't hang our hat on anything.”

The average price for diesel and unleaded fuel in Sydney is still above $2 per litre.

NRMA’s Peter Khoury said it was unclear what oil prices would do over the weekend. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe