Australia’s trucking industry will head to the Gold Coast in November for NatRoad Connect 26, with this year’s conference focused on helping operators navigate rising costs, changing regulations and growing commercial pressures.
The National Road Transport Association’s annual conference will be held at The Star Gold Coast on 5 and 6 November 2026, bringing road transport operators from across Australia together to discuss the challenges affecting their businesses and share practical ideas for managing them.
This year’s theme, High Stakes, Higher Standards, reflects what NatRoad says has been a difficult period for transport businesses, with fuel shocks, regulatory change and higher operating costs putting additional pressure on already tight margins.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said operators needed access to practical information that could help them understand how changes across the industry would affect their businesses.
“The stakes are high for transport businesses. Operators need to know what is changing around them and understand what it means for their business and what they can do about it,” Clark said.
The two-day program will cover a range of commercial and operational issues, including strengthening customer relationships, negotiating fairer outcomes, managing cashflow, navigating changing compliance requirements and preparing for workforce and succession challenges.
The conference will also feature experienced transport operators and industry specialists sharing their perspectives on the pressures facing businesses and the strategies they are using to respond.
Senator Glenn Sterle will deliver the keynote address.
NatRoad says the event will also provide an important opportunity for operators to step away from the day-to-day demands of running a transport business and connect with others facing similar challenges.
“Running a transport business can be isolating, and there aren’t many opportunities for operators to get together with people who understand what they’re dealing with,” Clark said.
“NatRoad Connect 26 is a chance to compare experiences, catch up with industry friends and colleagues, and take home ideas that can make a difference to your business.”
With cost pressures, compliance obligations and workforce shortages continuing to shape the operating environment, NatRoad Connect 26 is positioning itself as a forum for practical discussion about how trucking businesses can strengthen their operations and prepare for what comes next.
