PATTAYA, Thailand – The Land Transport Federation of Thailand (LTFT) will raise nationwide freight rates starting April 1, 2026, to cope with rising diesel prices, its chairman Thongyoo Kongkhan said.
Representing 136 transport associations, the LTFT resolved to implement a tiered price hike as fuel now accounts for up to 50% of total operating costs.
The adjustments will cover various vehicle classes, from four-wheel trucks to 24-wheel trailers. Rates will initially rise by 10%, with potential escalations to 15% and up to 30% depending on fuel prices, which have jumped from 30 baht to 39 baht per liter. Thongyoo noted that every one-baht increase in fuel pushes average logistics costs up by 3% to 5%. Individual operators will renegotiate spot and long-term contracts, though rates will drop if fuel prices decrease.
Thongyoo warned that the rate hikes will inevitably trigger a domino effect, driving up consumer inflation and squeezing low-income citizens. He defended the decision as a necessary move to prevent the collapse of the transport network, but noted the LTFT could delay hikes if pending government relief measures prove sufficient.
The chairman also urged the government and media to investigate alleged market manipulation by “shadow figures” profiteering from the energy crisis. He cited academic estimates claiming that opportunists siphoned over 16 billion baht from the system in the past two weeks, calling on authorities to find those responsible for the market disruption. (TNA)
