Brazil tightens road‑freight rules
Brazil’s government announced tougher penalties and stricter oversight to prevent a new truckers’ strike, tightening enforcement of freight-rate rules. That move aims to stabilize overland logistics—and it signals regional governments will proactively shield supply chains from labor-driven shocks. (en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br)
ANTT concluded a technical revision of the national minimum‑freight methodology and published the updated rule set as Resolução ANTT nº 6.076/2026 (effective 20 Jan. 2026), changing the coefficients used to calculate legally binding freight floors. (transp.net) A Portaria SUROC nº 3/2026 adjusted those coefficients specifically in response to recent Diesel S10 price swings and invokes the law’s automatic “gatilho” mechanism when diesel moves more than 5%. (gov.br) Electronic enforcement tied to MDF‑e reporting began a new phase on 6 Oct. 2025 (Technical Note changes), after which ANTT autuações jumped sharply—reports show infractions rose from roughly 4,300 in 2024 to over 37,000 by October 2025 and fines rose from about R$18m to R$127m. (moreiraassociados.com.br) Transport Minister Renan Filho publicly said on March 18 that the government will expand electronic monitoring of freight contracts and increase on‑site inspections as part of measures intended to prevent a nationwide stoppage. (bloomberg.com) The immediate trigger for the enforcement push was a March diesel repricing: Petrobras raised refinery‑gate diesel to about R$3.65 per liter from March 14 (a jump of R$0.38/liter in distributor prices), and truckers’ unions were reported pushing for strike action in mid‑March. (bloomberg.com) Legal uncertainty is mounting: a federal judge suspended enforcement of an ANTT fine pending a full STF decision, and Minister Cármen Lúcia issued an order on 10 Feb. 2026 halting a decision that had blocked ANTT sanctions while the constitutionality of the minimum‑freight regime is litigated. (brasildotrecho.com.br)
