Trailer operators that move containers to Chennai Port, Kattupalli Port and Kamarajar Port have put on a strike demanding 80% hike in hire charges. Justifying the demand, S.R. Raja, representing the trailers owners association said, diesel prices have increased, repair and maintenance charges of trucks have shot up, spare parts have become costly, hence the hire charges need to cover up this rise in costs. The trailer tariffs have not been revised for the past 8 years, hence they are demanding 80% hike in the charges.
Habibullah, a driver, said that several associations had come together demanding the increase in hires. “The owners have instructed us to wait at container parking lots, which we are doing. Many drivers get paid by the number of trips. And there is a shortage of drivers due to this,” he said. A port user claimed that an increase of ₹1,000 per trip was effected in 2019 but the owners were not mentioning it. Although a section of trailer owners tried to operate, it was prevented from doing so, he said and added that bringing all exim operations to a standstill was not right. “The Chief Minister wants business and industry to do well, in such a situation calling a strike is not correct,” said another port user.
