Representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda are scheduled to meet this Thursday with self-employed drivers and small to mid-size transport companies grouped under the Platform for Defense of Goods Transport. The group warns of renewed strikes if the regulation on preventing work below cost is not approved by month’s end.
After reaching the ministry, the Platform’s spokesperson, Manuel Hernández, indicated that strikes could resume, echoing protests that disrupted distribution logistics across Spain for days in March. He criticized the administration for not fulfilling its duties, while stressing that the Platform’s aim is to resolve the conflict and to guarantee that operations can proceed without losses.
Since the protests ended in early April, the platform has warned that autonomous carriers lose an average of 2,000 euros per truck, urging the government to meet a three-month deadline to pass legislation addressing shipments operating at prices below cost.
In this context, Minister Sanchez has called for calm and has emphasized a commitment to pushing the bill forward before July 31, ensuring support for autonomous carriers.
The meeting is taking place at the ministry’s headquarters this afternoon, with the government represented by Jaime Moreno García-Cano, director general of land transport, who confirmed to Efe.
Platform representatives led by Manuel Hernández express confidence that they will secure guarantees that the current contract-breaking framework, which has harmed their members, will extend through the end of the month. Their goal is to achieve a fair, sustainable livelihood for all professionals in the industry.
first draft
In this setting, the National Committee for the Transport of Goods (CNTC), a body made up of diverse industry groups and created to liaise with the government, announced its working hours, although the Platform states it is not represented. The committee already has a first draft from the ministry for review.
The proposed law aims to apply the principles of the Food Chain Law to road freight, prohibiting carriers from operating without covering their operating costs.
Efforts are focused on preventing abuse against the most vulnerable segments of the supply chain, including logistics operators, independent contractors, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The regulations seek to ensure that the price a carrier charges for services is always at or above its actual costs. The CNTC explains that, to achieve this, transparency in contracting and subcontracting of transport operations should be promoted.
However, the CNTC notes that it has not yet reviewed the text and will do so as soon as possible, contributing meticulously to strengthen the market and workforce dynamics.
Across several cities, various protest actions backed by this platform have demanded that the government honor its pledge to ratify the proposed law.
Earlier this April, the platform canceled strikes that had threatened to paralyze national distribution for nearly three weeks after pledging that the law would be ready within three months.
Despite repeated warnings from carriers, self-employed drivers, and SMEs, conditions have grown more unbearable over the long term. Fuel costs have risen since April, even with a government subsidy of 20 cents per liter in place, and the overall cost of fuel remains a heavy burden.
Recent data show that gasoline hit a new high, with diesel approaching a record as both fuels benefited from the public subsidy. The European Union Petroleum Bulletin, released this Thursday, includes average prices from over 11,400 service stations across Spain for the week of 7 to 13 June, showing diesel at an average of 1.803 euros per liter after discounts.
Germán Martínez, the platform’s coordinator in Extremadura, warned that many members are already financially stretched and could strike starting July 1 if the law remains unratified by that date.
These developments reflect the mounting pressure on policymakers to finalize a framework that can sustain transport operations while protecting independent operators and SMEs from unsustainable pricing practices [Source: CNTC & Platform for Defense of Goods Transport].