Brazil Leads Efforts to Advance International Road Transport at Mercosur Meeting

On August 27^th–28^th, 2025, the city of Foz do Iguaçu hosted a meeting of great significance for international transport. Under the coordination and leadership of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay—joined by Chile as a guest country—gathered for the VII Ordinary Meeting of Working Subgroup No. 5 – Transport. The event fostered an open and productive dialogue with both the private sector and public institutions.

The meeting highlighted the importance of joint work between governments and businesses. Contributions from the private sector were key to identifying day-to-day challenges, proposing solutions, and ensuring that decisions taken translate into real impacts on road transport operations. Among the topics discussed were the revision of vehicle weight and dimension regulations—reaching consensus on increasing the maximum length of trucks and car carriers—and the development of the Mercosur Unified Vehicle Technical Inspection Certificate, aimed at greater safety and standardization for special vehicles.

Sensitive issues for the Brazilian sector, such as subrogation and insurance reimbursement, also received attention. Discussions on rights of recovery after indemnifications reinforces ANTT’s commitment to removing barriers and ensuring clearer, more efficient processes. At the same time, the Mercosur webservice project—currently in testing between Brazil and Argentina—promises to modernize the exchange of freight transport information, with production expected to begin in November. The system will enhance integration, oversight, and efficiency, and later expand to passenger transport, promoting even greater harmonization among countries.

Another important topic addressed was the minimum age of vehicles in circulation. Brazil proposed setting the limit at 30 years, enriched by Chile’s shared experiences, broadening the debate on best international practices. The meeting also enabled alignment on strategies and standards, consolidating information sharing, systemic integration, and cooperation among countries to ensure higher service quality and regulatory improvements.

The next meeting, scheduled for October 14^th–16^th, 2025, in Brasília, under Brazil’s Pro Tempore Presidency and coordinated by ANTT, will continue this work, focusing on safety, cargo and passenger regulations, and systems integration. The progress achieved demonstrates that international road transport within Mercosur is moving toward becoming safer, more efficient, and more modern, benefiting drivers, companies, and passengers—while further strengthening Brazil’s role as a leader in strategic transport initiatives in the region.