Workers from Santos, Guarujá and Cubatão go on strike on Wednesday against charges for the use of Regulatory Yards
Sindgran (Union of Autonomous Bulk Cargo Transporters of Santos, Guarujá and Cubatão) announced that autonomous bulk cargo transporters in the three cities will go on a 24-hour strike starting on Wednesday (25th March 2026). The strike starts at 8am. Here is the statement (203 kB – PDF).
The category will mobilize at the Cubatão Regulatory Yard in protest against the requirement to pay for the use of regulatory yards as a condition for truck drivers to enter port operations.
The union’s president, José Cavalcanti, known as Salgadinho, told the Poder360 that the expectation is that around 5,000 truck drivers will participate in the event. The union stated that the demonstration will be peaceful and orderly and will not be intended to block public roads.
Salgadinho stated that the category has been trying for around 20 days to hold meetings with the terminals responsible for billing to resolve the impasse, but without success. According to the union president, those who should pay for the use of regulatory yards are the terminals, not the truck drivers.
The truck drivers’ representative also said that the cost of staying 24 hours in these yards is around R$800. “The price is so high that sometimes the truck driver isn’t even able to pay back the fuel.”, these.
Salgadinho stated that, if the 24-hour stoppage is not effective, truck drivers from Santos, Guarujá and Cubatão could stop for 48 or 72 hours next week.
“Regulating patios” are parking areas strategically located close to ports, cargo terminals or large logistics centers. The main function of these locations is to regulate the flow of heavy vehicles to avoid congestion on access highways and queues on urban avenues.
