PETALING JAYA: Despite the enforcement on overloaded vehicles, there has been no transport shortages, says the Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF).
The federation said it fully supports the Transport Ministry’s position and enforcement measures 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, MTF has observed no general increase in transport rates.
“For cargo that has consistently complied with legal weight limits, transport pricing has remained unchanged,” it said in a statement.
MTF stressed that 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 the nation’s transport and logistics industry.
It said only sectors which relied on overloading were 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.
The MTF also said that overloading had no place in daily operations, urging those still continuing to do so to cease such practices.
To ensure that policies can be implemented effectively, MTF proposed the establishment of a formal and long-term communication platform with the ministry to share industry data and insights.
“This would help in the co-development of more practical and workable policies while enabling 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.
