Towards the end of May this year, truck drivers in Brazil announced that they would be striking. Their decision was in response to a law being changed that had previously ensured that oil sold domestically was cheaper than that sold internationally. The state owned oil company Petrobras was behind the change that saw fuel prices increase, resulting in the truckers ending up more out of pocket and facing further hardship.
Over the course of the strike, drivers blocked roads and held demonstrations to oppose the change and demanded lowering the cost of fuel. The effects were felt quickly all over the country:
It goes to show just how much people, companies and industry rely on truck drivers, and how quickly everything can be disrupted by them going on strike. Truck drivers are often overlooked and under appreciated and sadly it is only when they stop driving that people pay attention and realise the importance of their work.