Phoenix Legal - Competition Monthly - July 2026

CCI FINDS ODISHA TRUCK ASSOCIATIONS GUILTY OF CARTELISATION IN FREIGHT FIXING

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), by its order dated 09 June 2026, found four truck associations i.e. Bhadrasahi/Guali Truck Association (OP-1), Bonai Truck and Tipper Owners’ Association (OP-2), Keonjhar District Truck Owners’ Association (OP-3), and Joda Truck Owners’ Association (OP-4) (collectively, OPs), operating in Odisha engaged in anti-competitive practices in contravention of Section 3 of Competition Act, 2002 (Act).

The Indian Steel Association (ISA / Informant), alleged that OPs were engaged in (i) fixing freight rates for transporting mineral-carrying goods carriages, even beyond the maximum freight fixed by the State Transport Authority (STA); (ii) not allowing any independent transporter to transport raw materials from the mines; and (iii) using only smaller trucks (6 and 10-wheeler trucks) for transportation, resulting in higher freights and limiting the quantity that can be