The Ministry of Transport has issued a notice urging online freight platforms to establish a coordinated adjustment mechanism linking fuel prices and freight rates. The notice is directed to transport authorities in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
The initiative aims to leverage the demonstrative role of online freight platforms, facilitate the orderly transmission of refined oil price changes to road freight pricing, reasonably guide market expectations, and promote the establishment of a synchronized adjustment system for fuel and freight costs.
The notice specifies the scope of freight rates requiring adjustment. For online freight platforms, which include matching platforms and carrier platforms, the applicable rates vary by business type. For matching platforms engaged in trunk line freight services, rates requiring adjustment include suggested prices, reference prices, and minimum blocking prices. For carrier platforms involved in trunk line services, the adjustment applies to the actual transaction prices paid to carriers. For matching platforms operating in intra-city freight services, rates subject to adjustment comprise base fares, starting prices, and segmented pricing such as mileage fees.
A coordinated adjustment mechanism between fuel prices and freight rates is to be established. For trunk line freight platforms, both matching and carrier types, rate adjustments will be synchronized with changes in the national average maximum retail prices of gasoline and diesel. For intra-city freight matching platforms, rate adjustments will be coordinated with changes in the maximum retail fuel prices of the cities where they operate. The adjustment applies to all operational trucks within the platforms that accept orders.
Provincial-level transport authorities are instructed to guide online freight platforms within their jurisdictions to perform monthly coordinated adjustments of freight rates based on the highest retail prices of gasoline and diesel. The adjustment should be calculated using the monthly cumulative change in maximum fuel retail prices, taking into account components of total transport costs such as fuel expenses, toll fees, labor costs, insurance, depreciation, and a reasonable profit. Detailed calculation methods are provided in an appendix.
In cases of significant fuel price volatility, defined as a single adjustment exceeding 10% in the maximum retail price of gasoline or diesel, platforms must prepare and publicize a freight rate adjustment plan in advance based on the fuel price change ratio. Adjustments must be implemented within three working days following a fuel price increase. If rates are adjusted twice consecutively due to sequential price increases and decreases, the adjustment amount will be calculated based on the pre-adjustment rate, with corresponding increases or decreases applied accordingly.
Provincial transport departments are to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure platforms clearly list prices, indicating service items, content, and pricing methods. If estimated prices are displayed, potential differences from final settlement prices must be clearly communicated. Platforms are prohibited from charging undisclosed fees beyond the listed prices. When adjusting rates due to changes in fuel prices, platforms must prominently announce the adjustment using noticeable methods such as pop-ups or pinned notices before implementing any increases.
Authorities must strictly enforce pricing laws and regulations, coordinate market regulation and expectation management, and supervise platforms to ensure reasonable rate adjustments. Platforms are prohibited from publishing rates below cost. Local road freight enterprises should use online platform rates as a reference for offline transactions to foster a fair competitive market environment.
The notice was issued on April 11, 2026.
Comments