Bangkok: Thailand's transportation sector is on the brink of collapse as soaring fuel prices have stalled more than 50,000 trucks in the Northeast region. The Federation of Thai Transport Operators is urgently appealing to the government for relief to prevent businesses from going bankrupt.

According to Thai News Agency, the rising energy costs are placing an unsustainable burden on the country's transport operators. Thongyoo Kongkhan, President of the Federation of Land Transport of Thailand, highlighted the ongoing financial strain over the past month, emphasizing the need for immediate government intervention.

Currently, operators in 19 northeastern provinces are experiencing substantial losses due to the grounding of trucks, attributed to unmanageable fuel costs. The inability to adjust fares has left many operators absorbing the financial impact. Public bus services are equally affected, prompting calls for the Bus Terminal Authority to introduce fuel subsidies during peak times to maintain public services.

The Federation has presented four urgent proposals to the government:

1. Stabilize energy prices to mitigate cost fluctuations.

2. Implement financial measures, such as soft loans, to enhance liquidity for entrepreneurs.

3. Reduce social security contributions for both employers and employees by half to ease financial pressure.

4. Restructure the energy pricing system for sustainable solutions beyond temporary fixes.

In the interim, businesses are adapting by incrementally increasing transportation fees and leveraging technology to optimize operations. The Federation is hopeful that the new Minister of Energy will take swift action, particularly in reducing fuel prices during festive periods to uplift public sentiment. Without decisive government measures, the sector faces a looming crisis that may become irreparable.