The trucking industry has threatened to shut down operations for a month in the spring

Gruzavtotrans, an association of trucking companies, has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the State Duma with a request to cancel the so-called spring drying of roads in 2025. According to market participants, if this is not done, many representatives of the industry are threatened with ruin, in addition, prices for food and other consumer goods may rise.

Transportation challenges: every second company may leave the road logistics industry

Experts spoke about the problems in the freight transportation industry

"I'm already hearing threats from trucking companies that they will simply stop transportation for a month to avoid collecting millions of dollars in fines. Carriers will simply stop traveling to settlements that are not accessible by federal highways," Vladimir Matyagin, president of the association Gruzavtotrans, told Izvestia.

Spring drying is an annual restriction of heavy truck traffic on regional and municipal highways. Subjects of the federation limit the movement of heavy trucks (with a load on one axle higher than 3-6 tons) in March-April, so that they break the roads less, explained Vladimir Matyagin.

In the past, drying was also in effect, but the control over compliance with its conditions was not strict. But over the last year the network of automatic weight and gauge control points (AWGCP) has expanded dramatically - in 2025 they will cover almost all the roads of regional importance. And in the period of spring drying, even an empty mainline truck, passing through APVGK, risks a fine of 375 to 600 thousand rubles for overweight, emphasize in "Gruzavtotrans".

"For one trip the driver can bring at least two fines on the way to the destination and back. Thus, in the period of spring drying due to the APVGK on regional roads can be paralyzed the work of many carriers," - said Matyagin.

The head of the association "AvtoGruzEx" Vadim Filatov believes that in conditions of decreasing profitability, the additional financial burden from fines can lead to the departure from the market of a large number of carriers and a shortage of vehicles.

Read more in Izvestia's exclusive article:

To charge a ton: motor carriers threaten a month-long work stoppage in spring