The Undersecretary of Economy and Smaller Businesses, Karlfranz Koehler, met on April 14 with the undersecretaries of Mining, Álvaro González; Transport, Martín Mackenna; and Public Works, Nicolás Balmaceda. The meeting included more than 20 representatives from trucking and transport associations as part of ongoing discussions between the government and the sector about the impact of rising international fuel prices.
The talks are important because higher diesel costs affect operational expenses for freight transport companies. This can have a ripple effect throughout the logistics chain, potentially impacting pricing and stability across related industries.
After the meeting, Koehler called for all parties in the logistics chain to work together transparently to address how increased diesel prices influence real operating costs in cargo transportation. “We have listened to the concerns of transporters and truck drivers and share that it is fundamental that the real value of diesel is reflected coherently at all levels of the logistics chain: within regulatory frameworks and in transportation contracts,” Koehler said.
The Undersecretariat noted that during exceptional circumstances it is helpful to encourage dialogue between cargo generators and carriers so that changes in operational costs can be reasonably recognized within existing contracts for a limited time period. “We especially urge those cargo generators who have not yet started a tariff review process with their carriers to open this dialogue promptly. Addressing this process in a timely manner strengthens trust between parties and contributes to stability throughout the entire logistics chain,” Koehler said.
During their two-hour meeting, officials committed to forming a working group with sectors generating cargo to discuss these issues further and promote timely adjustments in transportation rates. The Ministry of Economy also opened a communication channel through its website banner and email (monitoreotarifascarga@economia.cl) for reporting possible irregularities or unfair competition regarding rate setting.
Additionally, last Friday Chile’s National Statistics Institute (INE) published March’s Transportation Cost Index (ICT), which showed a monthly increase of 2.3 percent—mainly due to fuel price rises (12.8 percent), contributing significantly to overall ICT variation. The INE also announced it would now publish this index two business days after releasing Consumer Price Index data.
