# Brazil road freight floor price methodology review

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-road-freight-floor-price-methodology-review
> Updated: 2026-09-05T14:00:45.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) Esalq-Log group have released a study suggesting that the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) methodology for calculating minimum road freight floor prices in Brazil may systematically overestimate costs.

The study identifies 17 areas for improvement, specifically noting that current parameters do not align with the reality of the Brazilian fleet. Key discrepancies include the use of 181 monthly working hours instead of 220, and a seven-year economic life for vehicles that fails to account for the national fleet's average age of 16.4 years.

Proposed adjustments to depreciation, capital return, and working hours could reduce floor prices by an average of 7.6%. In the grain transport sector, simulations suggest reductions between 6.38% and 11.04%. These findings have been presented during an ANTT regulatory review and are being utilized by the Parliamentary Agriculture Front (FPA) to advocate for regulatory changes.

## Claims

- A USP study identified 17 factors that may be artificially inflating minimum freight floor values. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The current methodology for calculating fixed costs uses a monthly utilization of 181 hours. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Researchers propose increasing the monthly utilization reference from 181 to 220 hours. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Increasing monthly hours to 220 could reduce calculated floor values by an average of 7.6%. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- In grain transport, the proposed change could result in cost differences between 6.38% and 11.04%. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: USP study identifies factors inflating Brazil's minimum freight floor prices

A USP study identifies 17 factors inflating Brazil's minimum freight floor prices, prompting calls from the agricultural sector to revise ANTT regulations and increase monthly hour references.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/usp-study-identifies-factors-inflating-brazils-minimum-freight-floor-prices

### 2026-08-26: USP study proposes changes to Brazil's freight floor price

A USP study suggests revising Brazil's freight floor price methodology, which could reduce grain transport costs by up to 11% by better reflecting actual vehicle usage and depreciation.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/usp-study-proposes-changes-to-brazils-freight-floor-price

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Cite as: Brazil road freight floor price methodology review. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-road-freight-floor-price-methodology-review