Bolivia Faces Potential Tanker Strike Over Unpaid Debts and Frozen Rates

Tanker truck drivers in Bolivia are on the verge of a strike, threatening to disrupt the country's productive sectors and cause public chaos. The drivers, represented by the Federation of Tanker Entrepreneurs of the East, are demanding immediate payment of outstanding debts for April and May. Sergio Kosky, president of the federation, stated that drivers cannot be expected to work for five months without pay. The strike is set to begin on Monday, August 24, 2026, if their demands are not met. The drivers also have a second, long-standing structural demand: a readjustment of freight rates. They argue that these rates have been frozen for the past 14 years, making their operations increasingly unsustainable. Recognizing the potential impact of the strike, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, and representatives of the tanker companies are currently engaged in urgent negotiations. The meeting, convened at YPFB's offices, aims to find a resolution and prevent the impending work stoppage. Minister of Hydrocarbons Marcelo Blanco Quintanilla and the president and vice-president of YPFB are participating in the talks. Kosky acknowledged the potential disruption but appealed for public understanding of the drivers' plight.

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We know it will affect the normal development of the productive sector, transport, and will generate some kind of chaos in the population.