Negotiations to increase freight rates between trucking companies and shippers have been underway since new truck driver overtime regulations came into effect in April, and the Chugoku region is no exception to this trend.
The negotiations come as Japan faces the so-called 2024 problem, with the country’s freight transport capacity expected to decline due to regulations limiting overtime to 960 hours a year.
Transport companies are introducing higher rates to free up money to hire more drivers and increase the salaries of existing drivers whose working hours have been reduced. At the same time, the increased burden on shippers leads to increases in the prices of their products and services.
