The Victorian town of Morwell is at a standstill following the three-month long closure of a section of the Princes Freeway due to heavy rain.

There is debate over who is responsible for a leaking stormwater drain on the Morwell Bypass that needs to be lined before the road can be reopened, leaving truck drivers and residents frustrated.

There is no date as to when the freeway will reopen, with the Victorian Government and electricity generator Hazelwood Power currently arguing over who will pay to fix the drain.

Gippsland trucking companies are being forced to travel up to 30 minutes extra on each round trip to Melbourne due to traffic diversions through the centre of the town, adding costs to their business and causing traffic pain to Morwell residents.

Policy makers will consult the trucking industry on A-trailer registration fees after complaints that the current charging system is eating away bottom lines and disadvantaging operators.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has responded to an industry-led campaign to reform annual A-trailer charges, which are currently $6,372 and will rise by another 2.4 percent from July 1.

It says it has received complaints that charges are affecting cash flow, while others have contacted the NTC asking why safer combinations using A-trailers – such as BAB and ABB quads – are charged more than traditional road trains.

“In the coming weeks the NTC intends to engage with a wider range of industry stakeholders to develop a more detailed understanding of the issues and possible solutions,” the NTC says in a statement.