Truck drivers in Colombia complained Monday about the poor state of the road system throughout the country, claiming the heavy rain and lack of maintenance made the situation “unworkable.”
Pedro Aguilar, the head of the Colombian Truck Drivers Association, said that the government is not taking the issue seriously. “For ten years we have been asking the president and ministers to solve the issue of the transportation network, and to sign a free trade agreement, and they have done nothing,” Aguilar said.
This year’s rainy season caused many roads to close down, preventing efficient transportation of goods and food throughout the country.
Truck drivers also complained about the high prices at toll booths, arguing that they should not have to pay the tolls on affected roads.
Truckers said that the total fare for toll booths reaches around $450 to travel from Bogota to the Atlantic coast.