PETALING JAYA: Enforcement actions against heavy vehicle overloading have not dented the supply of transport services, says the Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF).
The group, in a statement on Monday (Dec 15) said that it fully supported the Transport Ministry's stance and enforcement on vehicle overloading.
"We acknowledge that during the first two weeks of enforcement, the industry experienced a period of adjustment and adaptation. However, as operators, shippers, and customers became familiar with the requirements, overall operations have since stabilised.
"Over the past eight weeks, the MTF has observed that there has been no general increase in transport rates. For cargo that has consistently complied with legal weight limits, transport pricing remains unchanged.
"The fight against overloading is not only a critical measure to safeguard public safety, but also an important step towards creating a healthier, fairer, and more competitive environment for Malaysia’s transport and logistics industry," it said
The MTF added that only sectors that relied on overloading had been affected by the enforcement.
"In such cases, the price per trip remains the same, while the cost per tonne now accurately reflects lawful and compliant transport rates," it said.
It also said that overloading had no place in modern-day operations and urged all offending operators to cease the practice.
"To ensure that policies can be implemented effectively under real operating conditions, the MTF proposes the establishment of a formal and long-term communication platform with the Transport Ministry to share industry data and insights, report implementation challenges, co-develop more practical and workable policies and enable the government to better understand operational realities on the ground
"We believe that with continued cooperation between the government and the industry, Malaysia can achieve a win–win outcome in terms of road safety, logistics efficiency, and overall economic competitiveness," it said.
