Hawkins Transport's fleet was grounded by the national regulator for safety and compliance issues. (Supplied: Hawkins Transport)
A major Gulf freight company has been grounded over safety and compliance concerns, putting the business at risk of collapse.
Remote communities fear the disruption could drive up freight costs and already-high food prices.
Hawkins Transport will appear in Brisbane's Supreme Court tomorrow seeking a stay of the action.
The price of food in Queensland's most remote communities could cost "an arm and a leg" as a major trucking company is grounded to address compliance issues.
Hawkins Transport runs 70 road trains across the Gulf of Carpentaria, delivering cattle and taking about 60 pallets of groceries a week to remote Indigenous communities including Kowanyama and Doomadgee.
Earlier this month, the Normanton-based business was issued a prohibition from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), which grounded its entire fleet.
A prohibition stops the company from operating its fleet and is considered a last resort from the regulator after a pattern of non-compliance, or if the body views the company as an imminent risk to public safety.
Doomadgee mayor Fred O'Keefe said the regulator did not understand the reality of living remotely.
Fred O'Keefe says finding an alternate supplier would be expensive and difficult. (Supplied: Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council)
"It's very, very difficult [to find drivers]," Cr O'Keefe said.
"If we get a trucking company from Brisbane, they wouldn't know where Doomadgee is until they get here."
As one of two major food transporters in the area, Cr O'Keefe said deliveries from an alternative supplier from Brisbane would incur a hefty premium.
"It will change the price, there's no two ways about it … we know we're going to hit with a higher freight cost if it's going to come out of Brisbane," he said.
"We are going to be paying an arm and a leg.
