Upcoming Tolling Changes for Heavy Vehicles – West Gate Tunnel & West Gate Freeway
Brisbane | Patrick Fisherman Island Terminal Shutdowns
Transitional period ending 12 November - Khapra Beetle treatment and phytosanitary requirements
Shipping Charges & Fees
Upcoming Tolling Changes for Heavy Vehicles – West Gate Tunnel & West Gate Freeway
We would like to inform you of upcoming toll changes for heavy vehicles traveling on the West Gate Freeway and the new West Gate Tunnel.
Key Details:
New Toll Structure: A new toll will apply to heavy vehicles using the upgraded West Gate Freeway, new tunnels, and connecting ramps for travel to/from the west of Melbourne.
Coverage: This includes the West Gate Tunnel and West Gate Bridge. If your current route already incurs a toll, the new structure will replace the existing charge.
Implementation Date: Expected early December. We will confirm the exact date shortly.
Impacted Suburbs: The toll will affect suburbs west of Melbourne, including: Altona, Altona Meadows, Ardeer, Avalon, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Geelong, Hoppers Crossing, Lara, Laverton, Laverton North, Melton, Ravenhall, Seaholme, Werribee, Williamstown, Wyndham Vale.
Empty Container Collection/Return: If empty container movements require travel through the toll route to designated empty parks (e.g., Container Space, VCM, Greater Fortune, Allied, Westlink, ANL, OCS, MCP), the toll will apply. Previously, these routes could avoid toll roads, but new restrictions on the M1 corridor make this unavoidable.
USA Freight Updates
UPS Flight 2976 Crash & Impacts to Bookings
On November 4, 2025, UPS Flight 2976 (an MD-11F) crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing at least 12 people. The crash occurred after the aircraft lost its left engine during takeoff. Following the incident, UPS temporarily halted key sorting operations at its main global air hub, “Worldport,” significantly affecting flight and package volumes.
UPS has restricted new bookings while assessing its operations post-crash but continues to honour regular space allocations. Delays are expected, pushing delivery times toward the longer end of the standard 7–14 day range. Alternative carriers are being arranged for the upcoming weekend.
FAA Flight Reductions
Due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the FAA will reduce air traffic capacity by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday. Airports such as ORD, JFK, LAX, DFW, MIA, HNL, SDF, and ATL will be heavily affected. Combined with the UPS crash, this will further tighten capacity.
Trucking Workforce Shake-Up
USDOT and FMCSA are cracking down on “CDL mills” and undocumented drivers, potentially disqualifying up to 600,000 drivers. This will likely drive-up wages, reduce driver availability, and increase freight costs, especially in the LTL sector.
Maritime Oversight Paused
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has suspended most operations due to the government shutdown, pausing oversight on carrier filings, service contracts, and dispute resolution. With reduced regulation, carriers may delay filings or extend surcharges. Shippers face added uncertainty.
Stockwells will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with our partners in the U.S. to keep up to date with any changes.
BMSB Treatment Cost Increase for European Exports to Australia
Due to the lowering of minimum temperatures in European countries, BMSB Treatment will now have to proceed with the heating of the containers to keep the temperatures above the BMSB limits.
The additional heating cost will be €45.00 - €85.00 depending on the service provider for BMSB treatments until minimum temperatures are once again sufficient to ensure compliance in complete safety.
Brisbane | Patrick Fisherman Island Terminal Shutdowns
An authorised MUA stop work meeting will be held in DP World Brisbane from 07:00 am – 11:00 am on Tuesday, 25th November 2025.
There will also be a port shutdown between 07:00am - 11:00pm on Thursday, 27th November 2025 for yard infrastructure and system maintenance.
All terminal operations will cease during this period.
DP World Melbourne | Stop Work Meeting
DP World Melbourne will cease due to an MUA authorised Stop Work Meeting on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, from 1000hrs to 1400hrs.
Transitional period ending 12 November - Khapra Beetle treatment and phytosanitary requirements
Stockwells received the following notice which affects importers of plant products for human consumption (e.g. rice, beans, lentils, dried chilli, cumin and coriander seed).
Revised wording for gas permeable packaging additional declarations. (goods only)
New NPPO supervision requirement and additional declaration for treatments undertaken by a provider that is listed as suspended, under review, withdrawn or unacceptable on the lists of registered and unregistered treatment providers. (goods and sea containers)
Since 28 May 2025, a transitional period has been in effect whereby the department has accepted phytosanitary documentation that has not complied with the updated requirements.
The transitional period will conclude 12 November 2025. All consignments that have not yet been cleared through the Australian Border by 12 November 2025 must fully comply with the updated requirements.
From 12 November, consignments that do not comply with import conditions will be directed for remedial action to manage the associated risks, which may include export or destruction.
The in-transit policy will be applied to goods or containers that have been treated for khapra beetle by a treatment provider whose status changed to ‘under review’, ‘suspended’, ‘unacceptable’ or ‘withdrawn’ while the goods were in-transit to Australia.
We are exhibiting at the Global Sourcing Expo!
Our team is so excited to attend the Global Sourcing Expo in Melbourne this November.
If you are attending, be sure to pass by our stall and say hello - we would love to see you and chat all things freight!
Stockwells’ has introduced its new airfreight portal that will allow clients to directly book courier services themselves to fast track the process. If you would like more information contact your KAM or CSR
Domestic Transport Portal
Our domestic transport service was developed, seamlessly integrating into the user-friendly Domestic Transport Portal (DTP). This service connects customers to Stockwells extensive network of carriers, offering a range of benefits and logistics efficiencies.If you would like more information contact your KAM or CSR
Ports announce landside wharf charges increasing 1st January 2026
Following announcements from DP World, Partick's and VICT, landside wharf charges will be increasing from 1st January 2026 with details to follow in the coming weeks.
Stockwells’ ESG commitments are integral to our culture, company values, and long-term goals. That’s why we were thrilled to participate in Greenfleet’s annual planting day, joining forces to make a tangible impact.
Maddison “Maddy” Mangan is Stockwells’ Marketing and ESG Coordinator. She recently volunteered with NASCA in Epenarra Wutunugurra in the Northern Territory for the second year in a row.
Key shipping terms deep dive: CFR vs CIF When it comes to freight forwarding, details are important. Incoterms are no exception. Incoterms are terms of sale recognised across the globe used to define the responsibilities of parties involved with international transactions.
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