Container lorry owners operating at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, have announced an indefinite strike from August 6, 2026, citing rising operating costs and unresolved issues affecting transport operations.
In a notice issued by the Tuticorin Customs Brokers Association and addressed to trade stakeholders, the transporters said escalating diesel prices, higher costs of spare parts, insurance premiums, toll charges, RTO-related expenses and vehicle maintenance have made container transport operations financially unsustainable.
The lorry owners also highlighted operational bottlenecks at container yards, container freight stations (CFSs) and the port. According to the notice, transporters face delays and difficulties from the time containers are picked up at container yards and CFSs until they are delivered to the 8th and 9th berths through the port’s Green Gate.
The association stated that despite repeatedly raising these concerns with the concerned authorities and industry associations, no effective solution has been implemented. As a result, members have decided to launch an indefinite strike from August 6 unless their demands are addressed.
Key Demands
The container lorry owners have put forward the following demands:
- Full payment of the revised freight rates to all vehicle owners.
- Advance payment of 90% for outstation container trips.
- Settlement of freight bills within 15 days of submission.
- Immediate discontinuation of container washing on transport vehicles inside container yards.
- Inclusion of crane handling charges (“mamool”) in the lift-on bill instead of collecting them separately from transporters.
- Completion of container loading and unloading within one hour of vehicle arrival at container yards.
- Elimination of separate crane “mamool” charges for loading and unloading at CFS facilities.
- Completion of container loading/unloading at the 8th and 9th berths within two hours of vehicles entering the port through the Green Gate.
The proposed strike could significantly impact container movement through V.O. Chidambaranar Port if no agreement is reached before August 6. Exporters, importers, customs brokers, shipping lines and logistics service providers are expected to closely monitor developments, as any disruption in truck operations may affect cargo evacuation and supply chain efficiency at one of South India’s key container gateways.
