From October 6, 2025, a new monitoring system for the National Minimum Freight Policy for Road Cargo Transport, established by Law No. 13.703/2018, came into effect. This law ensures that freight payments do not fall below a minimum level set by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), guaranteeing fair compensation for professionals in the sector.

The update came through Technical Note 2025.001, which updates the Electronic Manifest of Tax Documents (MDF-e). Now, carriers and contractors must include detailed information about full-load operations.

With these changes, the ANTT can automatically cross-check information between contracts and the official freight table, allowing it to quickly identify when a freight is contracted below the minimum rate.

The expectation is that the electronic monitoring will result in a higher number of penalties for companies that violate the rule, either due to formal errors in tax document completion or by practicing rates below the legal minimum.

The measure requires greater administrative rigor and transparency in transport contracting, especially since the law explicitly prohibits agreements or conventions that result in freights lower than the minimum. This means that even if there is consensus between carrier and contractor, it is not allowed to practice rates below those set by ANTT.

For carriers and contractors, the new model imposes an immediate need for internal adjustment, including reviewing transport contracts to ensure compliance with the current table and correct completion of the MDF-e, preventing formal inconsistencies that may lead to penalties.

It is important to note that compliance with Technical Note 2025.001 is mandatory, as it reinforces the monitoring of obligations already imposed by Law No. 13.703/2018 and ANTT normative resolutions. Companies that do not comply are subject to fines, compensations, and other administrative, coercive, and punitive measures applied by ANTT.