KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking to amend the law to hold consignors and consignees accountable for forcing lorry operators to carry loads beyond the permitted limit, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the move aims to ensure every party in the logistics chain shares responsibility for road safety, and not just the driver or transport company.
“We are drafting amendments to make consignors and consignees - the senders and receivers of goods - equally liable.
“The entire ecosystem must comply and work together to ensure road users’ safety by not allowing excessive loads,” he said during a press conference at Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 15).
Loke said the ministry, through the Road Transport Department (JPJ), will soon launch a large-scale operation against heavy vehicles that exceed weight limits.
He explained that overloading not only increases the risk of accidents but also causes extensive road damage, leading to higher maintenance costs for the government.
“This has been repeatedly raised by the Works Ministry and the Public Works Department (JKR), especially in industrial zones, near ports and quarries, where overloaded lorries cause roads to deteriorate faster,” he said.
Loke said damaged roads, particularly with potholes, pose serious dangers to motorcyclists - especially during rainy or dark conditions - and are among the main contributors to accidents.
He said the new approach will not target only lorry drivers or transport firms, but also industries that pressure them to overload.
“We understand that most lorry drivers don’t want to carry excess loads. Many do so because cargo owners push them due to cost and competition pressures.
“JPJ will meet with quarry, steel and other industries involved to issue warnings. If they continue, stricter action will follow,” he said.
Loke said the policy also supports the government’s road-to-rail agenda to encourage the transportation of heavy and hazardous cargo via railway instead of roads.
“This is in line with our road-to-rail policy,” he said, adding that the amendments will ensure consignors and consignees are no longer exempt from liability when overloading occurs.
