Gasoline and oil prices increase, transportation businesses stabilize freight rates to "retain passengers

Not in a hurry to adjust fares

From the beginning of 2026 to now, due to the impact of world gasoline and oil prices, domestic gasoline and oil prices have been adjusted in an upward trend, creating significant pressure on the cost level of the economy. In the context of escalating input costs, many production and business sectors, especially transportation and services using direct fuel, are clearly affected. However, instead of immediately adjusting freight rates, many transport businesses choose to self-balance and reduce costs to maintain market stability.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Vu Manh Thang - Manager of Cuong Thang Trading and Transportation Services Joint Stock Company (specializing in transporting goods from North - Central - South) said that although gasoline and oil prices have tended to increase since the beginning of 2026, the current increase is still within the control of businesses. According to Mr. Thang, since the beginning of the year, gasoline prices have increased by more than 1,500 VND/liter. However, this increase has not created too much pressure on operating costs.

In fact, the price sometimes decreases slightly by a few hundred VND and then increases more sharply. But if it fluctuates up around 1,000 - 1,500 VND/liter, transport businesses can still balance it, not increase fares. Only when the price is adjusted up to about 2,500 - 3,000 VND/liter or exceeds the excessively high threshold to 22,000 - 23,000 VND/liter, then businesses will really create great pressure" - Mr. Thang shared.

According to the business representative, gasoline and oil account for a large proportion in the operating cost structure, but with the current increase, overall costs only increase by about 2–3%. Therefore, businesses still try to maintain the same freight rates to maintain customers and ensure competitiveness in the market.

According to Mr. Vu Manh Thang, difficulties due to fuel price fluctuations are a common situation of the entire industry, not just any business. In the context of high competition, most transport units tend to maintain prices to protect market share.

Technology drivers have to drive overtime to cover costs

Among the groups that are most quickly and clearly affected, the team of technology drivers must be mentioned. With the characteristic of using personal vehicles and fuel costs accounting for a large proportion of total operating costs, each gasoline price increase directly affects the actual income of drivers.

An average technology motorbike driver can consume 3-5 liters of gasoline per day. When gasoline prices increase by a few thousand VND/liter, monthly fuel costs can increase by several hundred thousand VND. Meanwhile, the basic discount rate, vehicle maintenance costs and other arising expenses are almost not reduced, causing drivers' net income to be eroded.

Mr. Tran Dinh Truong (21 years old, technology driver in Hanoi) said that although the increase in gasoline prices in the past time was not too large in each adjustment, each shift had to spend more money to refuel. The amount of money added for each refueling may not be much, but accumulated in a month becomes a fairly significant amount.

Gasoline prices increase while income from driving does not increase, and sometimes even decreases. For example, during peak hours, traffic jams, and non-value applications, a ride costs only about 20,000 VND, but it takes up to 30 minutes to complete. The prolonged time makes the car consume more fuel, while the fare is not enough to cover expenses. That difference is almost something I have to pay out of my own pocket to compensate. The effort spent is more, more tiring, but the amount of money brought back is lower than before. Working hours must also increase," Mr. Truong said.

Mr. Truong added that if in 2025, running for only about 6 hours a day would be enough for the desired income, now it is necessary to run for 8 hours to compensate for the difference in costs due to the increase in gasoline prices.