Hundreds of trucks and their drivers, affiliated with the Land Transport Federation of Thailand, gathered this morning (Tuesday) at muster points on six main routes in different parts of the country, in a show of “truck power” to press their demand for the diesel price to be pegged at 25 baht/litre for a period of one year.

The federation, however, assured the public that the trucks will not enter Bangkok, to avoid inconvenience to motorists and commuters.

The six main routes affected are:

• Rama II linking with Kanchanapisek Road, starting at Ratchaburi’s Muang district, through Pak Tho junction, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon and ending at the outskirts of Bangkok and returning to Samut Sakhon
• Borommaratchachonnani and Kanchanapisek roads, starting at the cargo terminal on Buddha Monthon, through Kanchanapisek, across The Mall Bang Khae Bridge and U-turn at Buddha Monthon 6 Road
• Asian highway linking Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya province
• Bang Na-Trat highway linking with the western section of Kanchanapisek Road in Samut Prakan.
• Sukhumvit Road in Si Racha district of Chon Buri, from Laem Chabang deep-sea port through Ao-udom district and U-turn back to the sea port
• Ubon Ratchathani province

The federation chairman, Apichat Prairoongruang, said that they have submitted several petitions to the government to address the steady rise in diesel prices, but to no avail.

He claimed that the premium grade diesel price has passed 30 baht/litre and this has increased transport costs by 10% for every 100km.

The federation has proposed that the government cut the excise tax by 5 baht/litre, so the price of diesel can be kept at no more than 25 baht/litre.

Apichat claimed that there are currently 6.7 million trucks, of different sizes, from four wheels up to 22 wheels, which are properly registered, adding there are 400,000 which are affiliated with the federation.

Today’s prices of the various types of diesel fuel are: premium diesel, 34.26 baht/litre; B20 diesel, 29.24 baht/litre; and B7 diesel, 29.49 baht/litre.

Director of the Fiscal Policy Office, Pornchai Thiravech, explained that excise tax collection is not intended to stabilize energy prices, but to be utilized for environmental causes.