China is facing a nationwide strike, something unprecedented under the decades of Communist rule. Currently, related news is spreading on both domestic and international networks. Truck drivers are earning increasingly less money, facing stricter deductions from authorities, making it difficult to make ends meet, leading many to desperation. Can Chinese drivers truly organize a nationwide strike? Will similar actions become more common in the future?
During a recent episode of New Tang Dynasty’s “Elite Forum,” independent TV producer Li Jun mentioned a report from the Chinese Collective Struggle Events Record Network, stating that Chinese truck drivers are planning to launch a nationwide general strike starting from midnight on March 1st. Their demands include: increasing freight rates, ensuring survival; rejecting exploitation, reducing commissions; bidding farewell to low prices, unity for self-help, and opposing excessive control and arbitrary fines.
Li Jun pointed out that while some truck drivers will likely respond to this strike initiative, forming a large-scale strike would be challenging. Chinese truck drivers have long been a severely disadvantaged group, enduring hardships. Reports indicate that over one-third of China’s truck drivers drive for over 12 hours a day, with 50% driving over 10 hours daily. Many suffer from various health issues due to prolonged driving but persist out of necessity to support their families. Recently, there were reports of a truck driver dying on the road, highlighting the dire circumstances. It seems they have reached a point where they can no longer survive, prompting the call for a massive strike.
In the past two years, there has been a rising number of truck driver suicide cases. A notable incident from 2023 involved a truck driver named Jin Deqiang who, after being fined 2,000 yuan for a disconnected satellite positioning device in his truck, left a suicide note in despair and anger. His death shocked many. Another widely circulated video featured a large truck driver revealing that two of his acquaintances had also committed suicide. One hanged himself in his 6.8-meter-high truck in Hubei, while another, driving a 4.2-meter-high truck, took his own life at a repair shop due to financial difficulties.
Media veteran Guo Jun mentioned during “Elite Forum” that in 2018, China witnessed a major truck driver strike. In June of that year, truck drivers in at least 10 provinces and cities, including Shandong, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Anhui, staged a series of protests. Their slogans included resistance to fatigue driving, and opposition to low prices. Many truck drivers collectively gathered at parking lots and highways, with a significant occupation of toll booths by drivers in Zhejiang on June 9th.
Some drivers at the time called for over ten million truck drivers to join the massive strike due to severe exploitation, rendering their lives unsustainable. Some even chanted slogans against the Communist Party. However, despite attempts by the propaganda department, the strike news concerning truck drivers was ordered to be removed from national websites. Given the relatively better economic conditions at the time, the strike did not escalate significantly and quickly waned after a couple of days.
Guo Jun noted that the current truck driver strike differs significantly from previous ones due to the economic downturn in China. Reduced cargo volume and internal trade, or at least the lack of growth, have amplified the pressure on truck drivers, now affecting a broader spectrum of drivers.
The total number of large trucks in China is estimated to be over ten million, with private owners constituting over 70%. These individuals usually take personal loans to purchase trucks, rely on freight platforms to source orders, with each province in China having its own platform. The largest freight order platform, such as Manbang, is expanding into a nationwide platform. This intensifying competition has big companies vying for national market dominance, leading to price wars.
For truck drivers, freight platforms typically charge a 30% commission, similar to ride-hailing services. In the face of fierce competition, prices tend to decline. However, despite low rates, some drivers are compelled to continue due to their financial obligations and debts, as the monopolization of freight orders by platforms leaves them with no alternative.
Moreover, this strike targets not only freight platforms but also unfair toll charges on highways and excessive fines imposed by local governments, directly challenging governmental departments. Reports over the past two years have highlighted instances of rampant arbitrary fines across various regions.
One particular concern is the toll charges on expressways. Recently, a video showcased a driver transporting goods from Xinjiang to Hebei over 3,500 kilometers for a freight fee of over 8,000 yuan. However, the toll fines alone amounted to over 7,000 yuan, leaving the driver with a meager profit after fuel expenses, exemplifying the harsh reality faced by truck drivers.
The decision to commence the strike on March 1st coincides with the implementation of China’s Stage VII emission standards for vehicles. This standard significantly impacts truck drivers. Considering that the Stage VI standard was only recently enforced in 2023, the abrupt transition to Stage VII this year poses substantial challenges for drivers, especially amid a volatile economic climate.
With the new standards imposing strict emission requirements on truck engines, coupled with heavy penalties for non-compliance, many drivers, including freight owners, platform operators, and repair shops, face hefty fines. Notably, truck manufacturers remain exempt from penalties, safeguarded due to their status as large state-owned enterprises.
Guo Jun elaborated on the struggles faced by truck owners such as the dilemma of upgrading or disposing of their vehicles, along with the burden of existing loans. For veteran drivers, these issues present significant disturbances.
Shanghai-based entrepreneur Hu Liren, currently residing in the United States, expressed during “Elite Forum” that truck drivers constitute one of the most oppressed and unique groups within China. They encompass a cross-regional industry where entities such as highways, transportation, public security, and judiciary view them as easy targets for exploitation.
Hu Liren recounted a distressing conversation with a friend in China running a transportation company, specifically focusing on transporting school children. Despite consistently profitable operations, a fleet of vehicles acquired four years ago and having covered approximately 50,000 kilometers were deemed unfit during this year’s inspection due to emission non-compliance, forcing the shutdown of the business.
Hu Liren noted that with many local government offices facing financial strains, low incomes have driven officials to aggressively seek revenues by excessively taxing service providers. His friend indicated a sense of hopelessness, unsure how to proceed, ultimately leading to closure. These alarming circumstances are prevalent across China, painting a grim picture of societal realities.
Amidst the discussion on “Elite Forum,” Guo Jun emphasized the critical role of economics in shaping current events, highlighting the vulnerability of individuals in the absence of financial security. The prevailing authoritarian structure in China, spanning thousands of years, prioritizes stability by inhibiting massive solidarity movements among transient groups of people, like truck drivers.
In recent years, the most notable sources of societal unrest in China have been veterans and now, truck drivers. As a mobile group, truck drivers were previously considered part of the middle to upper-income bracket, with an average monthly income ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 yuan. However, the sudden income plummet since last year has destabilized this group, making them potential catalysts for unrest.
Guo Jun underscored that while China had numerous societal issues in the past, rapid economic growth often masked them. However, entering an era of sluggish economic development, or even regression, would inevitably amplify existing structural and political challenges, leading to a buildup of societal discord that may prove insurmountable.
“Elite Forum,” a new TV program introduced by New Tang Dynasty and Epoch Times, serves as a prestigious talk show addressing critical issues within the global Chinese community. The program assembles elite individuals worldwide to dissect pressing topics, providing audiences with profound insights into current affairs and historical truths.
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