Carchi truckers in Ecuador have organized a peaceful motorized protest to address a 90% drop in their work, demanding the repeal of security fees imposed by the Ecuadorian government and tariffs from Colombia.
In Carchi, Ecuador, more than 300 trucks participated in a peaceful motorized march that began in the Bolívar canton and ended at the Carchi Governor's Office in Tulcán, covering over 63 kilometers. The protest was organized as a substitute for a planned strike and aimed to draw attention to significant economic challenges faced by transport workers in the region.
Leaders of the transport association highlighted that their workloads have decreased by an alarming 90% due to government regulations affecting their operations. They specifically called for the repeal of a security fee instituted by the Ecuadorian government, as well as tariffs imposed by Colombia, which have compounded the difficulties faced by transporters. The situation is dire, with warehouses empty and workers in the loading and unloading sectors facing layoffs, indicating a broader economic crisis impacting export and import businesses.
Álvaro Lucero, a representative of the trucking community, reiterated the urgent need for the government to reconsider these measures to prevent further job losses and to support the livelihoods of many families dependent on the transport sector. The protest underscores the tensions between local transport needs and governmental policies, thus raising questions about the future sustainability of trade in the border region while emphasizing the socioeconomic dependency of transport workers on favorable regulatory conditions.
