Goods transporters announce another 7 per cent freight rate hike

The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has announced a further 7 per cent rise in freight rates, citing sharp increases in fuel prices and operating costs. The alliance is led by its president, Malik Shehzad Awan, according to TechJuice.

The report says diesel rose by Rs26.88 a litre and petrol by Rs20 a litre over the past seven days. The latest government increase added Rs3.47 to diesel, taking it to Rs424.92 a litre. TechJuice reported that the surge in fuel costs has made it difficult for transporters to keep working at existing freight rates.

The announcement is the second of its kind, as TechJuice describes it as another increase. The report does not give the dates or size of the earlier rise.

For the startups that sell trucking capacity, the hike matters. Digital freight marketplaces and trucking fintechs earn their margins on loads moved by independent owners and fleets, and they price those loads against the rates carriers accept. Higher base rates tend to flow through to the shippers who book on their apps, although the report does not name any platform or say how any of them will respond.

TechJuice said higher freight charges could raise the cost of moving food, industrial products and other essential goods, and could add pressure on commodity prices.

Reported from TechJuice coverage of the alliance's announcement.