The cutting of the route of carriers generates delays and long lines of trucks on the Buenos Aires-Rosario highway

A protest by carriers maintains intermittent cuts on the Buenos Aires-Rosario highway, causing delays and long lines of trucks unable to move. The tough measure, which began this week, was launched by a chamber in the sector demanding an adjustment of the tariffs for the transport of cereals.

The claim is for a floor rate through the digital bill of lading provided by the Department of Transport. The last time it was repaired was in November. And the epicenter of the protests is on Route 9, near San Pedro.

The demonstration demands that the Minister of Transport, Diego Giulianoat the service of transport businessmen.

“We are stopping everything that is general transport, but there is free movement of cars, buses and we are working with the police to make it go as well as possible. The points we cut are Necochea, Bahía Blanca, San Pedro, Nelson, Chacabuco, Charata, Chaco, Las Breñas. It’s very strong, we are all carriers who feel the increases of recent years and there is a law that protects us so that we do not work below cost”, he explained. Daniel Rambaud, carrier that manifests itself in the cut of San Pedro.

“The Ministry of Transport had committed to a work table for the first days of February. They broke their word. We agree that we have the tariffs, we agree that with the government with FETRA, FATAC they prepare the costs that nobody bears. Today transport operates with rates between 30% and 40% below. What we want is for it to work as a floor and for each federation to negotiate from there,” he said.

“What we are asking from the government is to give us a hand so that we can collect what suits us. It’s a shame that we as carriers are trying to provide a service and the guy who hire us be whoever sets the price. If we don’t have a meeting within 24 hours, we’re going to mobilize from San Pedro to Buenos Aires, putting 3,000 or 4,000 trucks on the highway and marching to the Panamericana, for example. We are workers, in the midst of the pandemic we supported this country while people were locked down. We will not leave here until we find a solution for all transport in Argentina,” he added.

The bone transport costs cargoes ended 2022 with the highest inflation in 20 years, with an increase that totaled 121%. Diesel, tires and rolling stock are the items that have increased the most, according to the Federation which brings together companies in the sector.

The closures create inconvenience and long delays in both lanes of the highway. “As they never called us, we had to get back on the road. I think it’s the only way for them to listen to us, but this time we’re not going to leave without achieving our goal,” a protester from Sampedrino told local website La Opinión.

At the same time, the Nation’s Department of Transportation has called for the next March 14 businessmen and carriers in the sector to one negotiation table determine the reference rate update.

The meeting had been agreed between the parties during the last participatory negotiation table made up of representatives of the sectors that provide the service of automobile transport of goods under national jurisdiction of cereals, oilseeds, related products, by-products and derivatives.

The four national entities that represent them participate: the Argentine Confederation of Automobile Goods Transport (CATAC), the Argentine Federation of Transport and Logistics Entities (FAETYL), the Argentine Federation of Autotransporte de Cargas Commercial Entities (FADEEAC ) and the Federation of Argentine Transporters (FETRA).

During this time, as charge givers intervene: the Argentine Agrarian Federation (FAA); the Inter-Cooperative Agricultural Confederation Limited (CONINAGRO); the Argentine Rural Society, Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA); and the National Federation of Grain Collectors.

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