Reasons for Proposal and Major Provisions

The system of safe trucking freight rates, introduced in March 2018, was implemented for some transport items (containers and cement) as a three-year sunset system from 2020 to 2022 for the purpose of ensuring the safety of cargo transportation by guaranteeing appropriate profits for transport providers. According to the performance analysis data of the safe freight rate system by the Korea Transport Institute, it was evaluated that cargo transport workers' working hours decreased but their income increased after implementation. However, the safe freight rate system expired without extension on December 31, 2022.

Also, since the application of the safe freight rate system is limited to export/import containers and cement, it does not properly reflect the actual conditions of transport business sites. So, there was a demand that safe freight rates be applied to items and vehicles excluded from the application of the system even though they are the same type of transportation.

In addition, there is the Safe Trucking Freight Rate Committee under the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to deliberate and decide on matters such as the determination and adjustment of safe rates, transport items, and types of vehicles to which safe rates are applied, and minutes must be prepared by the operating rules, but the results of the meeting can only be announced with the consent of the members.

Therefore, this adjustment aims to reintroduce the safe freight rate system without a sunset rule and forcefully apply the safe freight system limited to export/import containers and cement, and impose an obligation on shippers and transport business entities to make efforts to comply with safe freight rates for other items such as steel materials, hazardous materials, automobiles, grains, and feed. This adjustment also aims that the Safe Trucking Freight Rate Committee should submit the meeting minutes if requested by the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly (Articles 5-2 through 5-8 and Article 9 newly inserted).