PETALING JAYA: Instead of bracing for a fight, transporters have thrown their weight behind the crackdown on overloaded lorries.
They say this marks a long- awaited reset after years of unsafe demands have worn down trucks and roads, and put motorists at risk.
Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF) president Datuk Ng Koong Sinn said it is high time to end the days of overloaded heavy vehicles.
“On top of safety concerns, overloaded vehicles burden our roads. Such practices increase the cost of maintenance and repairs due to the higher rates of wear and tear,” he said, noting how a new truck costs more than half a million ringgit, not including the container or trailers.
Last week, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told Parliament that neither pressure from industry players nor cost concerns will sway the government’s firm stand against overloaded lorries.
He stated that the current crackdown will continue despite pressure and complaints from several industries, emphasising that safety of road users and protection of public infrastructure are the top priorities.
“Which is more important, profits or lives? For me, it has to be saving lives,” he said, as MPs thumped their desks to show support.
Loke had previously stated that there were also plans to amend related laws, ensuring that every party in the logistics chain shares responsibility for road safety.
Ng said holding both consignors and consignees accountable for forcing lorry operators to carry loads beyond the permitted limit is a step in the right direction.
Ng added that while there will be pushback, things will settle down in due time.
He was referencing the uproar over heavy vehicles being banned from certain routes on selected highways in the Klang Valley during peak morning and evening hours.
“Everyone was complaining at that time, but look at the situation now. The industry always adjusts and adapts,” he said.
Ng added that overloading contributes to unhealthy competition, as transporters often feel they need to keep their rates low to meet market expectations.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association secretary-general Alvin Choong said industries affected by the crackdown on heavy vehicles must accept that they can no longer force transporters to overload their trucks.
“They have to review and accept the rates we put out.
“These rates ensure we comply with regulations and stay afloat,” he said.
Ng added that the Transport Minister must have the political will to follow through amidst resistance from related industries.
“Public safety is the most important factor here. Each of us has a family on the road.
“The transport Industry needs to be revamped once and for all,” he said.
A seasoned industry player, meanwhile, said it is high time for the transportation industry to consider increasing its rates to offset the costs of complying with regulations.
“Stricter enforcement means that delivery costs increase. This is not what businesses want.
“All this while, the transporters have been at the mercy of the consignors. If we do not comply with overloading requests, they will seek smaller players who provide cheaper rates and effectively spoil the market,” said the player, who spoke anonymously.
He said this issue is generally more prevalent in the construction sector, where overload requests are more frequent.
Recently, it was also revealed that the main cause of the crash involving a police truck carrying Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel and a lorry in Teluk Intan earlier his year was due to the lorry being overloaded.
The Transport Ministry said the tipper lorry carrying gravel exceeded its permitted gross vehicle weight by 70%.
Nine FRU personnel were killed, two seriously injured and seven others hurt slightly.
