Noting that overseas trucking and shipping companies are struggling with the soaring costs of transportation, Mohammad Javad Atrchian added that Iran’s international truck fleet has 20,000 heavy-duty vehicles whose businesses have been roiled by the rising costs of spare parts and tires.
"Despite the fact that truckers need to have foreign cash for their overseas assignments, the government has not envisioned a mechanism to provide them foreign currency even at open market rates,” TCCIM's news portal quoted Atrchian as saying.
“Many troubles beset drivers when applying for visa from the European countries. International banks do not offer services to transfer foreign currency to the Iranian transportation companies. Such transactions were conducted by exchange shops in the past, but as we speak, they do not provide such services now. And now truckers are being squeezed for foreign currency to manage their international businesses."
According to Financial Tribune, Atrchian noted that the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran has also raised demurrage and warehousng fees due to the depreciation of the Iranian rial against the US dollar.
"In addition to these, tax and insurance costs have significantly added to the pressures on transportation industry. As a result of these problems, many transportation companies are facing the possibility of closure," he said.