Chonburi: Truck drivers staged a protest demanding government assistance. Truck operators in eastern Thailand gathered at Laem Chabang Port to demonstrate and demand government assistance. They are burdened with increased transportation costs due to the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting rise in fuel prices.
According to Thai News Agency, from around 9:00 AM, the Federation of Land Transport of Thailand, along with truck drivers from TRUCK POWER, gathered in front of Big Food Market, next to the PTT gas station on Sukhumvit Road in Chonburi Province, to demand that the government urgently address the hardships faced by transport operators. They focused on three key issues.
The adjustment aims to match the price of fuel at the depot or refinery with the price at gas stations, after it was found that the current difference is as much as 12 baht per liter.
They requested a restructuring of domestic oil prices so that they do not have to be based on the Singapore market. Additionally, they sought a solution to the traffic congestion problem within Laem Chabang Port, where trucks waiting to load goods have to wait for 10-15 hours, increasing production costs for businesses and resulting in losses.
Most of the trucks participating in this protest displayed white signs with various messages detailing the impact they have experienced. The convoy moved from Big Food Market to Laem Chabang Port and then to the Thai Oil refinery, covering a distance of approximately 37 kilometers, to raise awareness of the problem among relevant agencies. They explained that for many years, waiting times for unloading have been extremely long, typically 10-15 hours, requiring the engines to be kept running constantly, which is considered wasteful. Compounding this, the current fuel shortage poses a significant problem for transportation businesses.
Meanwhile, the price of diesel fuel just increased by another 50 satang per liter today, effective at around 5:00 AM. The price rose from 29.94 baht per liter to 30.46 baht per liter.
Mr. Siripop Pichairattanapong, Secretary-General of the Federation of Thai Transport Associations, also commented on this issue, stating that today, over 200 trucks were divided into groups and deployed to various locations, including Sukhumvit Road, Laem Chabang Port, and Nong Khae area. Meanwhile, approximately a thousand more trucks will join in a symbolic demonstration by driving in a convoy with their lights on to highlight the problem and urge the government to urgently resolve the issue.
The main reason for this protest stems from a lack of confidence in the government's oil management. Despite announcements of sufficient oil reserves for 60-90 days, a clear shortage has actually occurred. Furthermore, even small price increases should be justified and clearly explained. The government should fully utilize available resources such as the oil fund, marketing margins, refining costs, and excise taxes before considering price adjustments.
In terms of impact on businesses, it's certainly the case that transportation is delayed, from one day to two days, resulting in increased costs. If this situation continues, it will be necessary to consider raising transportation fees. A 1 baht increase in fuel prices will lead to a transportation fee increase of approximately 3%, which is considered normal.
Mr. Siriphop emphasized that he disagrees with the idea of asking the public to reduce oil consumption to solve the price problem, viewing it as a burden that should not be placed on the people. He believes it is the government's responsibility to manage the situation in a balanced and fair manner. He urged the government to urgently address the problem and demonstrate tangible results to restore confidence across all sectors. He also stated that today's demonstration was merely a symbolic act, lasting only half a day, with no road closures and no overnight stay.