KLANG: Transport industry player associations are appealing to their members to support the Transport Ministry’s current drive to curb overloading.
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Trucking Association president Datuk KK Wong said the government has to act in the interest of public safety.
“When lorries are overloaded, they can easily be involved in accidents and this jeopardises not only the safety of other road users but also that of the driver and the lorry attendant,” said Wong, who agreed that there has been far too many road accidents involving lorries in Malaysia.
Former industry player, Alvin Choong, who is now retired, concurred with Wong, and said various associations should tell their members to keep to their stipulated limits, while criticising those who do not play by the rules.
“They want to gain higher profits at the expense of safety and they compel transporters to overload for their own benefit,” he said, adding that consignors can actually use their respective weighbridges to determine the weight before lorries are sent out.
“But they allow overloading because of profits,” he said when asked to comment on the current crackdown against overloading by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF) assistant secretary-general Jeff Teh also welcomed the initiative.
“This is a good turn of events for the sake of public safety and the well-being of the drivers and attendants,” he said.
On Oct 14, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the operating licences of companies breaching the overloading prohibition for a third time will be revoked during the nationwide crackdown that runs until Dec 31.
If a lorry is caught overloading for the first time, the entire company’s operations will be stopped for two weeks, while a second offence will invite a suspension of an entire month.
“And the company’s operating licence will be revoked if caught for a third time,” said Teh.
The Johor Trucking Association (JTA) also supported the ministry’s move, with its chairman Chai Pei Yoon saying safety must be paramount.
“We recognise that some operators are pressured into overloading due to intense competition, but economic challenges must never justify putting lives at risk,” she said.
She said JTA backed the ministry’s move to hold both cargo owners and consignors equally accountable, adding overloading often began “at the point of loading and commercial instruction”.
“Enforcement cannot focus just on transporters alone. Consignors who instruct or benefit from overloading must also face action,” she said, adding that such enforcement must be evenly applied across the supply chain to ensure lasting compliance and genuine industry reform.
She also encouraged industry players and cargo owners to work with the ministry to identify practical and safe loading practices, improve planning efficiency and adopt fair business terms that do not compel transporters into taking illegal risks.
Chai added that while sectors such as construction and manufacturing might raise concerns, there should be no room for negotiation on overloading.
“The transport industry must evolve beyond unsafe practices to protect lives, improve professional standards and strengthen Malaysia’s logistics reputation.
“Malaysia cannot afford to build its logistics future on dangerous and illegal practices,” she said.
