President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) signed a law on Wednesday establishing a minimum freight table for road cargo transport across Brazil [1], [2].
The measure aims to protect truck drivers from abusive pricing by transport companies and ensure that earnings keep pace with operational costs. By setting a legal floor, the government seeks to stabilize the logistics sector and reduce the risk of transport strikes caused by economic volatility.
The legislation, identified as PLV nº 6/2026 and originating from MP 1.343/2026 [3], sets a minimum freight floor of R$ 5,000 [1]. This baseline is designed to guarantee a sustainable income for drivers while allowing the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) to increase its oversight of the sector [1], [4].
To address the volatility of energy prices, the law introduces a mechanism for rapid adjustment. If fuel prices change by five percent, freight rates must be adjusted within three business days [5]. This prevents drivers from absorbing the full cost of sudden fuel spikes, a primary driver of previous industry unrest.
Companies that fail to comply with these new regulations face strict penalties. The law allows for the imposition of fines and the possible cancellation of the National Registry of Road Freight Transport (RNTRC) registration [1], [4].
Lula signed the law on Aug. 5, 2026 [2], [4]. The move strengthens the role of the ANTT in monitoring compliance and ensures that the freight table reflects current operational realities [1], [4].
“The law sets a minimum freight floor of R$ 5,000.”
This legislation represents a significant intervention in Brazil's logistics market to prevent the systemic instability that has historically led to nationwide trucking strikes. By indexing freight rates to fuel costs and empowering the ANTT with registration-canceling penalties, the government is attempting to shift the financial risk of inflation away from individual drivers and onto the transport companies.
