The Land Transport Federation of Thailand (LTFT) is preparing to lead 500 lorries to the Energy Ministry on Tuesday to draw attention to its demand that the government resolve the issue of rising fuel prices.
The LTFT said it hopes the move will prompt the government, private sector and media to acknowledge the impact the spiking price of oil is having on both the general public and transport operators, and take action to alleviate this.
The move, which is being dubbed "Truck Power Season II", will be organised in line with the Emergency Decree on Public Administration and Communicable Disease Act 2015, the federation said.
It comes after an earlier protest in the middle of October when more than 1,000 lorries plied seven main roads demanding the government bring down the price of diesel and maintain it at 25 baht/litre for one year.
At the time, the government said it would cap the price at no higher than 30 baht/litre.
Thongyoo Kongkan, advisory chairman of the LTFT, said Tuesday's protest would begin at 9am and run until 5pm. Truckers will take their lorries along four major roads leading to the Energy Ministry, he added.
The first group will travel along Asia Road around Bang Pa-in, north of Bangkok. The second will drive along Sukhumvit Road from Chon Buri to Bang Na-Trat to meet the third group at Bang Na-Trat Road en route to the ministry.
The fourth group will travel from Nakhon Pathom to Phetkasem Road, coming from the west of Bangkok.
At 1.30pm, all 500 drivers will park their lorries on both sides of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road where the ministry is located.
The move comes after the federation met with Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow earlier to discuss possible resolutions while also relaying the measures decided on by the government and private sector on Oct 18.
Petitions, including those calling to cap the price of diesel at 25 baht per litre, were also submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday.