The National Transport Advocacy Platform, which unites thousands of self-employed road hauliers and small to medium enterprises, criticized the Government on Saturday and urged a response to ongoing tensions. The group declared that it would not back down, calling for action and signaling readiness to begin an indefinite strike if necessary. They stressed that engagement from authorities should be prioritized to prevent escalating disruption across the logistics network.
In a video shared across social networks on Saturday, Manuel Hernandez, the platform’s leader, voiced sharp criticisms of the National Committee for the Transport of Goods by Road CNTC, the body meant to represent the sector in discussions with the Government. He charged that the CNTC has failed to adequately represent the sector and accused it of not supporting the strike. The remarks highlighted a broader frustration with perceived insufficient outreach from traditional associations during a period of rising costs and operational pressures for drivers and freight operators alike.
Hernández argued that large organizations failed to unite the voice of smaller operators and criticized the Executive, noting that the political party in power should not automatically drive the outcome of labor actions. He asserted that political alignment should not dictate conflict decisions, stating that political affiliation was not a determining factor in the situation at hand.
The platform announced a planned national gathering in front of the Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid at 17:00 that afternoon to formalize its stance. It sanctioned a decision to pause normal operations, extending the action to align with the interests of the agricultural sector and other small freelancers, with the intention of sustaining the strike indefinitely.
Criticisms towards Yolanda Díaz
Hernández questioned why neither the Government nor its ministers are listening to frontline operators and why common-sense measures were not being adopted. He specifically criticized some statements from Yolanda Díaz regarding the rural sector, arguing that the dialogue needed to include practical, real-world considerations. He implied that the policymaking process was excluding voices from the field and that the current approach risked prolonging tensions rather than offering viable solutions.
The platform’s president added a pointed remark about how the dialogue had unfolded, suggesting that some public statements came from individuals detached from the day-to-day realities of farming and transport. The comments reflected a plea for more grounded engagement from officials with firsthand knowledge of the sector’s challenges.
Call for support from citizens
Hernández emphasized in the video that the decisions made in the afternoon should be respected and implemented. He urged citizens to show understanding and to stand with small operators across industries, calling on freelancers in all sectors to participate in the strike. He insisted that the aim was not to provoke but to respond to ongoing pressures that leave them with limited alternatives while facing rising costs and regulatory demands.
Without support in the industry
The group initiated a 20-day strike in the past that sought to disrupt the distribution chain, a move that occurred without broad participation from the major industry organizations. The Spanish National Federation of Transport Associations Fenadismer, which represents thousands of transport companies and tens of thousands of vehicles, had recently held an extraordinary congress to discuss the situation and indicated a more cautious stance. Fenadismer, which is part of the National Committee for Road Transport, described the sector as not being in the same critical condition as in previous years when fuel prices surged dramatically, a factor that had previously triggered large-scale actions.
Fenadismer’s assessment underscored the different dynamics faced by operators today, contrasting the pressures seen in March 2022 with current conditions and emphasizing the need for measured responses and sustained dialogue to prevent prolonged disruptions in supply chains.