Tasmanian fuel prices: Surcharges loom as truckies, drivers pushed to limit

As RACT urges Tasmanians to avoid retailers charging exorbitant rates for fuel we’ve found out how much it will cost at the pump if we hit $3 per litre. SEE HOW MUCH + BEST LOCAL PRICES >>

RACT is urging Tasmanians to shop around to avoid paying eye-watering prices for fuel as some local stations hit $2.62.

With petrol prices forecast to stay around this mark for the “foreseeable future” the state’s peak motoring body’s chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey has encouraged locals to download the Fuel Saver App to avoid stations that are charging higher rates.

“The RACT FuelSaver app is free and lets people see up to date fuel prices in their area before they leave their driveway,” Mr Bailey said.

“Our app is helping to keep fuel prices down and we encourage people to support retailers with the lowest prices.”

See which stations you should shop at and which ones you should avoid, and how much a full tank will cost you if Tasmania hits $3 per litre below.

Hobart:

Cheapest

• Caltex Lindisfarne - 109 East Derwent Hwy, Lindisfarne - 219.9 cpl
• Independent Bob And Tom’s Hampden Road Service Station 64 Sandy Bay Road, Battery Point - 221.9cpl
• United Sandy Bay 149 Sandy Bay Road, SANDY BAY - 223.9cpl

Avoid

• Caltex Brooker 188 Brooker Avenue, North Hobart 235.9
• Coles Express Hobart 257 Elizabeth Street, Hobart 235.9
• Caltex New Town 71 Risdon Road near Queens Walk, New Town - 233.9cpl

Launceston:

Cheapest

• Independent Tas Petroleum Launceston (Unmanned) 58 Goderich Street, Invermay 214.9
• United York Park - 135 Invermay Rd, Invermay - 214.9cpl
• Shell West Launceston 167-169 Cambridge Street, West Launceston - 216.9cpl

Avoid

Coles Express Launceston Bathurst St - 106-114 Bathurst St, Launceston 239.9

Coles Express Newstead 1-3 Hobblers Bridge Road, Launceston 239.9

Coles Express Launceston 69 Wellington St, Cnr York St, Launceston 239.9

Burnie:

Cheapest

• Shell Tas Petroleum Burnie River Rd (unmanned) 16 River Road, Wivenhoe - 214.9
• United Burnie 74 -76 Mount Street, BURNIE - 214.9
• Ampol Terrylands Service Station 24 Joyce Street, Burnie 216.9

Avoid

• All Burnie fuel outlets remain cheaper than Hobart’s cheapest outlet

Devonport

Cheapest

• BP Tarleton Street - 54 Tarleton St, East Devonport - 210.9 cpl
• Shell Tas Petroleum East Devonport(Unmanned) 150 Tarleton Street, East Devonport 214.9cpl
• Caltex Spreyton, Ampol East Devonport, Ampol William Street and United Devonport are all selling for 217.9cpl

Avoid

• Ampol Devonport 32 Formby Road, Devonport - 223.5
• BP Devonport - 3 Friend Street, Devonport - 229.9
• Coles Express Devonport - 22 Formby Road & Ashburner Street, Devonport - 234.9

Fuel surcharges loom as Tassie drivers, truckies pushed to edge

Tasmanian rideshare, taxi and logistics companies and operators are being pushed to the breadline with the exorbitant petrol prices afflicting the world, with some saying they will exit the industry as a result.

Kings Meadows rideshare driver Bhagesh Goyal said he is working longer hours to make up for the cost of petrol.

“I am working up to 10 hours a day currently,” Mr Goyal said.

Mr Goyal, who has been driving rideshares for several weeks now, said he drives up to 300km a day, meaning he has to fuel up every second day.

“I am thinking of switching to another job where I don’t have to use my own vehicle,” he said.

In response to the elevated fuel prices, Uber and Didi have both announced fuel surcharges, both of which are six cents per kilometre for an average of an extra sixty cents going towards drivers per trip.

Breaking News Breaking News Kings Meadows rideshare driver Bhagesh Goyal. Picture: Alex Treacy

Uber’s surcharge comes into effect on Wednesday, with Didi’s in place from next Monday.

Mr Goyal said with him driving about 30-40 trips a day, he didn’t think the surcharge was enough to cover his expenses.

“I don’t think it’s going to be helpful but whatever, we’ve got to take it,” he said.

Launceston logistics company Brad Bell Transport said petrol prices were affecting their bottom line and they have been forced to pass on costs to their customers.

“We don’t actually have a fuel surcharge but we’re at the point of considering bringing it into effect, it’s ridiculous,” owner Brad Bell said.

“We were doing about $4500 on fuel but last month it was up to over $6000, more than a 33 per cent increase to our fuel bill.

“Fuel is now clearly second behind wages for our business, it’s pretty ugly at the minute.”

Mr Bell said his company is combating the increased costs by making sure trucks are filled to the brim.

Breaking News Breaking News Brad Bell of Brad Bell Transport. Picture: Supplied

“We operate now on a purely call-ahead basis, we’re not giving times anymore so we can streamline our operations,” he said.

Mr Bell said it was “pretty scary” thinking about where the prices would end up with the ongoing war.

“Distribution is going to be hit,” he said.

Premier Peter Gutwein has written to the federal government asking its fuel excise, which collects about $0.44c per litre, be temporarily lowered.

Fuel prices in Tasmania currently range from about $2.07 up to $2.33 per litre.