Truck drivers perform slow drive protests against rising fuel prices

Hundreds of truck drivers have begun the second week of protests against rising fuel prices. 

Cargo transporters performed slow drives in Barcelona and Manresa, causing traffic jams as their form of protest. 

On Monday morning, hundreds began a slow drive from the industrial area of Barcelona known as Zona Franca towards the two ring roads that encircle the Catalan capital. Vehicles will turn around in both directions, occupying only one lane. 

In Manresa, a city about an hour inland of Barcelona, some 30 truck drivers began another slow drive toward Zona Franca. 

Protests started all across Spain last week, as drivers are angry about the rising cost of fuel which they say makes their work “unfeasible.” Pickets were seen last week at the access points of the Mercabarna wholesalers in the Catalan capital, which prevented some products from arriving. 

Some 38% fewer deliveries of fish were made last week and 20% less fruit was brought in, especially ones due to arrive from Andalusia.

The Platform in Defense of the Transport Sector is the truck drivers’ association that called for the protests. "We represent 85% of national and international transport,” Miguel Ángel Maqueda, a member of the Platform and organizer of Barcelona's slow march, explained. 

“We are not a minority as the minister says, nor are we radicals, nor do we belong to the far right," he added. "We are families that are going bankrupt due to rising costs, we are working at a loss and we need urgent help."

Carriers complain that they feel "despised" by the central Spanish government, which does not recognize them as interlocutors, and they urge Pedro Sánchez to take action as other European Union countries have already done, such as France. 

"We can't wait until the 29th, the situation is unbearable,” Josep German says, alluding to the Spanish government’s promise of tackling fuel costs by that date. “Now it's us, but soon it will be the whole society," he adds. 

The truck drivers sounded their horns during the protest which caused queues on the C-55 and the applause of several people as they passed through the town of Castellgalí.

“Unsustainable” rise in prices

The main demand of the Platform for the Defense of the Transport Sector is for a minimum price to be applied by law to cover a journey. "It should be similar to the Interprofessional Minimum Wage for employees. And if less is paid, we should be able to report it," Miguel Ángel Maqueda said. 

"We know full well that there are customers who pay €600 euros for a service and we only get €150. And we are the ones who supply the truck, the fuel, and the work. Who has the rest of the money?" Maqueda questioned. 

Maqueda insisted that truck drivers will not call off their indefinite strike until the minister Raquel Sánchez speaks with them and “pays attention to our demands.” 

"Last year a full 550-litre tank cost me €450 plus VAT,” Maqueda explained, giving an example of the difficulties he and others face. “On the 1st of this month the price went up to €612 and on March 7 it cost me €712 plus VAT."

"This is unsustainable. Before the price of diesel accounted for 30% of costs and now it is 60%," Maqueda lamented.