Why Brazil’s latest truckers’ strike flopped

In 2018, Brazil was engulfed by chaos as disgruntled truck drivers called a nationwide strike. For 11 days, protesters blocked major roadways and goods did not leave storage depots, leading to food and fuel shortages in several parts of the country. Agricultural producers incurred billion-dollar losses to their production as livestock starved to death, dairy products spoiled, and major shipments were delayed. So, when truckers’ unions called for an even larger protest on Monday, many braced for the worst.

Over 60 percent of all cargo in Brazil is transported by trucks. If we exclude crude oil and iron ore — which are largely moved around the country by trains — that rate spikes to 90 percent.

Furthermore, in the middle of a deadly pandemic, a new truckers’ strike could disrupt vaccine distribution, interrupt trade routes, and hurt the revenue of millions of families who were left worse off by the end of the government’s coronavirus emergency aid program.

But, after the country rolled out of bed on Monday morning fearing the worst, the...