Truckers Block Chile's Route 5 in Protest Over Fuel Price Hikes

Truckers and school-van drivers staged protests on Chile's Route 5 on Tuesday over continuing fuel price increases. Heavy-haul transporters and school transport drivers coordinated separate actions on the highway linking the regional capital with Talcahuano.

In Greater Concepción, Juan Carlos Aguayo, president of the Biobío Container Transporters Union, confirmed his members would take to the routes. He said a large number of trucks would be present and invited anyone affected by fuel costs to join, including motorcyclists and workers who depend on private vehicles.

“Tomorrow we will be there on the Talcahuano-Concepción highway. There is a large number of trucks.”

Aguayo said organizers want to create a safe viewing area where people can see trucks and take photos. He added they hope to let drivers paint their windows with messages such as “no more fuel hikes,” describing the action as partly recreational for citizens.

Meanwhile, transporters in Tarapacá began a mobilization on Monday night that cut Route 5 Norte and route A65 in Pozo Almonte. The blockage mainly affects truck traffic and cargo transport to mining sites and other points inside and outside the region.

In the Biobío region, truckers from Los Ángeles started a protest on Route 5 Sur near Huaqui, at kilometer 491 on the northern exit of the city. The blockade caused a kilometers-long traffic jam toward the north, leaving private vehicles stopped.

Carabineros was present at the Los Ángeles blockade with flashing lights. Some affected drivers honked their horns to protest the congestion. The duration of the road closure remained unknown.

The Fuerza del Norte CTFN confederation said small and medium transporters are demonstrating because Sergio Pérez and Juan Araya do not represent most of Chile's cargo transport sector. Protesters consider government measures insufficient in the face of the fuel price crisis.