Recently, the Ministry of Transport issued the "Notice on Promoting the Establishment of a Coordinated Fuel Price and Freight Rate Adjustment Mechanism by Online Freight Platforms" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), to promote the orderly transmission of changes in refined oil prices to road freight rates, reasonably guide market expectations, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of truck drivers.
The "Notice" clarifies that for matchmaking platforms engaged in trunk freight business, the freight rates that need to be adjusted include suggested prices (reference prices), minimum blocking prices, etc. For carrier platforms engaged in trunk freight business, the freight rates to be adjusted refer to the actual transaction prices of the carriers. For matchmaking platforms engaged in city freight business, the freight rates to be adjusted include starting prices (base prices), segment prices (mileage fees), etc.
The "Notice" also specifies the benchmarks, objects, cycles, ranges, and calculation methods for the coordinated fuel price and freight rate adjustment mechanism.
For matchmaking and carrier platforms engaged in trunk freight business, freight rate adjustments are coordinated with changes in the national average of the maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel (calculated as the arithmetic average of the maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel in regions implementing a one-province, one-price policy). For matchmaking platforms engaged in city freight business, freight rate adjustments are coordinated with changes in the maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel in the cities where they operate. The adjustment targets include all cargo trucks accepting orders on the platform.
Provincial-level transportation authorities are required to guide online freight platforms in their jurisdiction to carry out coordinated adjustments of freight rates with the maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel on a monthly basis. Freight rate adjustments are based on the cumulative monthly adjustment ratio of the maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel, taking into account the composition of total transportation costs, including fuel costs, tolls, labor costs, insurance costs, depreciation costs, and reasonable profits. In the event of significant fuel price fluctuations, that is, if a single adjustment of the maximum retail price of gasoline and diesel exceeds 10% (inclusive), the adjustment plan should be prepared in advance based on this adjustment ratio using the above method and publicly announced. The adjustment must be implemented within three working days after the fuel price increase. For two consecutive adjustments where prices first rise and then fall, or first fall and then rise, the freight rate prior to the two adjustments is used as the base to calculate the amount that needs to be increased or decreased, and then the rates are adjusted accordingly.
The "Notice" requires provincial-level transportation authorities to actively coordinate with relevant departments to guide online freight platforms in implementing clear marking of prices. They must urge online freight platforms to adjust freight rates reasonably and strictly prohibit the release of rates below cost.