CCI Finds Truck Associations Guilty of Freight Rate Fixing and Market Restriction

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  • Last Updated on 16 June, 2026

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Freight Rate Fixing by Truck Associations

Case Details: Indian Steel Association, In re - [2026] 187 taxmann.com 520 (CCI)

Judiciary and Counsel Details

  • Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, J.
  • Percival Billimoria, Sr. Adv., Rahul Goel, Ms Aditi Sharma, Yash Agarwal, Ms Shweta Yadav & Ms Anu Monga, Advs. for the Petitioner.
  • Ranjan Sardana, Ms Nidhi Khanna, Ms Aishani Narain, Advs. & Mrs Madhavi Divan, Sr. Adv. for the Respondent.

Facts of the Case

In the instant case, the Informant, an association of steel manufacturers, filed information against OPs (truck associations operating in Odisha’s mining areas), alleging that OPs were engaged in fixing and revising freight rates for the transportation of mineral-carrying goods carriages and were not allowing any independent transporter to transport raw materials from mines.
It was noted that OPs were engaged in fixing and revising freight rates for the transportation of mineral-carrying goods carriages. Further, the conduct of OPs of fixing and revising freight rates for transportation of mineral-carrying goods carriages amounted to an agreement which determined prices, and was therefore in contravention of provisions of Section 3(3)(a) read with Section 3(1) of the Act.
The CCI observed that the conduct of OPs in not allowing any independent transporter to transport raw materials from mines amounted to limiting and controlling the market for the provision of transportation services and, therefore, was in contravention of provisions of Section 3(3)(b) read with Section 3(1) of the Act.
Further, the CCI observed that since the allegation of the informant that OPs deliberately restricted the deployment of higher-capacity vehicles to create artificial scarcity and inflate freight rates had not been substantiated by credible evidence, no contravention of provisions of Section 3(3)(b) read with Section 3(1) was made out against OPs on this issue.

CCI Held

The CCI held that since office bearers of OPs were responsible for the conduct of business of OPs, they were liable under Section 48(1) of the Act. Accordingly, OPs were directed to cease and desist in future from indulging in any practice/conduct/activity that had been found in the present order to be in contravention of provisions of Section 3 of the Act.

List of Cases Referred to

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Author: Taxmann

Taxmann Publications has a dedicated in-house Research & Editorial Team. This team consists of a team of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Lawyers. This team works under the guidance and supervision of editor-in-chief Mr Rakesh Bhargava.

The Research and Editorial Team is responsible for developing reliable and accurate content for the readers. The team follows the six-sigma approach to achieve the benchmark of zero error in its publications and research platforms. The team ensures that the following publication guidelines are thoroughly followed while developing the content:

  • The statutory material is obtained only from the authorized and reliable sources
  • All the latest developments in the judicial and legislative fields are covered
  • Prepare the analytical write-ups on current, controversial, and important issues to help the readers to understand the concept and its implications
  • Every content published by Taxmann is complete, accurate and lucid
  • All evidence-based statements are supported with proper reference to Section, Circular No., Notification No. or citations
  • The golden rules of grammar, style and consistency are thoroughly followed
  • Font and size that's easy to read and remain consistent across all imprint and digital publications are applied