Songthaew and motorcycle taxi drivers in the Bangpli area of Samut Prakan Province have reluctantly accepted the recent 6-baht fuel price increase. They warn that if they cannot manage the higher costs, they may have to stop operating or temporarily suspend passenger transport.
Following today's sudden fuel price hike atgas stations,which jumped sharply by as much as 6 baht per liter, affecting nearly every profession inevitably, especially public transport drivers who must bear the unavoidable rising fuel costs.
At 10:00 a.m. on 26 Mar 2026, reporters visited public transport drivers in Bang Chalong Subdistrict, Bangpli District, Samut Prakan Province. These included drivers of the public hire songthaew line 1292, from Hua Takhe to Hua Chiao, serving daily commuters and students who must rely on this service. They unanimously stated they are heavily impacted by the rising diesel prices.
Mr. Thanom Champol, a songthaew driver, said that besides the difficulty in finding diesel fuel, he faces nearly double the daily fuel costs while fares remain unchanged. If fuel prices continue to rise without fare adjustments, he will not be able to bear the costs and may have to stop passenger services at times.
He added that if fares are adjusted, he hopes the Department of Land Transport will consider raising fares from 8 baht to 10 baht to help drivers survive. Though profits are modest, this would at least cover family expenses and the rising cost of living.
Another driver, Mr. Nakorn Promna, revealed that current income from fares has dropped, with peak daily earnings once between 1,000 to 1,200 baht, not including daily expenses like food and fuel. Net income averages only a few hundred baht per day. On days when drivers queue for passengers, they must run assigned routes even if no passengers appear at some times, or only a couple ride, causing losses on those trips. They reluctantly accept these conditions. The recent fuel price hike will worsen their situation, and if unbearable, they may have to pause or stop services.
With schools currently on break, passenger numbers have greatly decreased. Drivers want the Department of Land Transport to visit and see the real impact on songthaew drivers. If fare increases from 8 to 10 baht are approved, they believe it is still manageable given the nearly 30-kilometer round-trip route.
Ms. Thiyanun Bupphatha, a third-year student and frequent user of public transport, especially songthaews, expressed sympathy for operators and drivers due to rising fuel costs. She noted some routes charge fares between 8 and 10 baht. If fares on her route increase from 8 to 10 baht, she, as a regular passenger, finds this acceptable.
Mr. Chalerm Sukkaew, head of the motorcycle taxi stand at Wat Sri near Hua Chiao University, by the entrance of Wat Sri Waree Noi Road, said that with the rise in gasoline prices,the situation will certainlybe difficult, as costs have increased while fares remain the same. At this stand, there has been no fare increase yet because of sympathy for passengers who would face additional burdens if fares rose, especially since minimum wages have not increased.
Raising fares would further strain low-income commuters. For now, drivers must accept the situation and adjust spending. But if they cannot cope, they may have to stop or pause operations temporarily while awaiting government solutions to this issue.He also wished tourge the government to sincerely address the current fuel price problem for the people.
