Fedetranscarga warns of possible legal and economic consequences of the government measure.
In a context of economic uncertainty for cargo transporters in Colombia, Arnulfo Cuervo, president of Fedetranscarga, expressed his concern about the decision of the National Government of increase the value of tolls in three phases during 2025: January 1, January 16 and April 1.
Cuervo explained that these increases reflect the accumulated inflation of 4.6% in 2023 and an estimate of 5% for 2024. However, he warned that this measure could be illegal, since “Tolls must be updated annually according to the inflation of the immediately previous year determinedby the Dane.”
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From a legal perspective, Cuervo noted thate the updating of tolls must strictly follow the inflation of the previous year, cas determined by the Dane. Any deviation from this rule could result in legal action against the State.or due to patrimonial detriment, affecting the rate structure of road concessions.
In economic terms, the increase in tolls represents a significant challenge for transportation companies. Cuervo indicated that January negotiations will be complicated, since companies will not be able to anticipate these additional costs in their budgets. ““Very likely, the load generators will not take these adjustments into account, which will directly affect the transporters.”he stated.
In addition, Cuervo expressed concern about the liquidity of transporters during a period of lower income, such as January, after the end of the year season. “This delayed increase will affect the cash flow of the transporters, especially at a time whenAfter the end of year season, income is reduced in January,” he explained.
Finally, Cuervo stressed the importance of maintaining the concessions model as a key mechanism for the development of infrastructure and the economic reactivation of the country. “Only through concessions can we build roads and promote civil works.” that generate employment and economic growth, fundamental for the advancement of the country,” he concluded.
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Fedetranscarga called on the National Government and the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that decisions on tolls and other costs in the sector are made within the legal framework and foster trust between the actors involved.
Source: Integrated Information System
