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KPTU-TruckSol Welcomes the Supreme Court Ruling Sounding the Alarm on Illegal Deductions from Safe Rates!
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Must Fulfil Its Promise of Strong Enforcement and Punishment for Violations of the Safe Rates System!

On 16 March, the 3rd Division of the Supreme Court (Presiding Justice Lee Heung-gu) ruled that “the Safe Contract Rate is designed to guarantee a minimum rate for truck drivers, and therefore it is not permissible for transport operators to deduct or charge costs beyond what is allowed by relevant laws and administrative notices after paying the rate.” He added that “even if there is an agreement between the parties regarding such deductions, it cannot be recognised if it runs counter to the purpose of the Safe Rates system.”

This amounts to a clear warning to shippers (cargo owners) and transport operators attempting to undermine the Safe Rates system through fee deductions and similar practices.

However, on the ground, there are ongoing attempts to undercut the Safe Rates system through various unlawful fee deductions. In addition to illegal deductions for items not specified in the supplementary provisions, there have been continued efforts to unilaterally raise ji-ib (vehicle registration) fees and parking charges without reasonable justification. Furthermore, there are widespread practices of issuing statements that lump all fees into a single category, preventing drivers from verifying what fees are being charged and on what basis. If even this Supreme Court ruling goes unheeded, those violating Safe Rates will face TruckSol’s unwavering struggle.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is not free from responsibility. While the Ministry has promised to actively consult workers to ensure the proper establishment of the system, and pledged strong enforcement and penalties, these commitments have not been felt at all on the ground. Through its passiveness, the Ministry is effectively allowing conflict and confusion surrounding the system to persist. With the reintroduction of the Safe Rates system under a three-year sunset clause, such conflicts were entirely foreseeable. President Lee Jae-myung has also pointed this out, calling for discussions on abolishing the sunset clause and ensuring the continuation and expansion of the system. The Ministry must now fulfill its promise to workers suffering under illegal fee extraction by significantly increasing enforcement and the application of penalties for violations.

The recent surge in diesel prices has further exposed the structural vulnerability of truck drivers. Even the small proportion of drivers covered by the Safe Rates system are fighting against violations and abuse, while the vast majority outside the system are being pushed into even harsher conditions, facing extremely low rates and the shifting of various costs onto them.

The demand of truck drivers for safe and fair working conditions is clear. KPTU-TruckSol will not cease its struggle until all truck drivers are guaranteed Safe Rates as a basic right.

Cargo Truckers’ Solidarity Division

March 17, 2026