Deregulation of Freight Transport in Argentina

In line with his deregulation agenda, President Milei issued Decree 832/24 (published in the Official Gazette on September 13, 2024), introducing significant changes in Argentina’s freight transport regulations. This Decree redefines the criteria for classifying a vehicle as freight transport, deregulates a substantial portion of the sector, and simplifies administrative procedures for drivers and companies.

Previously, any vehicle with a load capacity exceeding 700 kg was automatically classified as freight transport, requiring drivers to register with the Single Automotive Transport Registry (RUTA). Under the new regulations, only vehicles with a load capacity above 3.500 kg must meet this requirement. Additionally, for trailers, the threshold has been raised to 750 kg. This implies that pick-up trucks, vans, and urban trucks with lower load capacity will be exempt from this obligation, reducing the bureaucratic burden and facilitating operations for a large number of transporters.

Transporters providing interjurisdictional services with vehicles that do not exceed these load thresholds will also be exempt from obtaining the National Interjurisdictional Transport License (NITL). This not only streamlines operations in the sector but also removes bureaucratic barriers, allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency in freight transport.

For drivers and companies that are not yet registered in the RUTA, the process has been modernized. Registration will be fully electronic, declarative in nature, free of charge, and without the need for in-person procedures. This development significantly reduces the bureaucratic burden, removes administrative hurdles, and ensures quick and efficient access for transporters.

While these measures aim to reduce bureaucracy in the sector, they also pursue a broader objective: to boost economic activity, lower costs, and increase competitiveness. By streamlining and deregulating freight transport, the government seeks to stimulate companies’ growth and encourage the formalization of activities that used to be constrained by the high costs and delays associated with the permit and license processing. Decree 832/24 marks a major step toward a more flexible and efficient regulatory framework, creating a more favorable environment for drivers and companies in Argentina’s freight transport sector.