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Korea Reinstates Truck Safety Freight Rate System After 3-Year Gap
Date Created 2026.01.09 Views 26
Korea is reinstating its safety freight rate system for cargo trucks after a three-year hiatus. Shippers who pay freight rates below the minimum safety rate will face fines of 5 million won per violation.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Tuesday that the 2026 Cargo Truck Safety Freight Rate System was finalized by the Cargo Truck Safety Freight Rate Committee.
The safety freight rate system establishes minimum freight rates for truck drivers and transport operators. It was designed to improve working conditions in the cargo transport industry, where low freight rates had led to chronic overwork, overloading, and speeding. Originally introduced in 2020 with a three-year sunset clause, the system expired on December 31, 2022 without extension.
Following the expiration, truck drivers' income instability worsened and safety concerns over overwork and overloading persisted, prompting the reinstatement this year. The revived system will run from 2026 through 2028 to objectively verify its effectiveness and build social consensus.
Compared to 2022 rates, the safety consignment rates for export container cargo that truck drivers receive will increase by 13.8 percent, while the safety transport rates paid by shippers will rise by 15 percent. For cement cargo, safety consignment rates will increase by 16.8 percent and safety transport rates by 17.5 percent.
"Despite difficult logistics conditions due to declining cargo volumes and rising exchange rates, this decision reached through in-depth discussions among stakeholders is significant in ensuring public safety and establishing safeguards in the logistics sector," said Kim Geun-oh, Director General of Logistics Policy at the ministry. "We will continue to work closely with the cargo transport industry to ensure the safety freight rate system takes root smoothly in the field."