PETALING JAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has directed Puspakom to tighten the inspection regime for lorries to strengthen road safety by addressing brake setting parameters.
Logistics sector players, however, have pointed out potential challenges linked to the revision.
In a statement on Wednesday (Jan 21), Puspakom said heavy vehicles would fail inspection if brake settings were found to be excessively tight or loose, conditions that can increase the risk of loss of control, longer stopping distances and serious accidents.
"Brake performance is one of the most critical safety elements in heavy vehicles.
"Settings that are too tight or too loose compromise a driver’s ability to control the vehicle, particularly during emergency braking or when travelling downhill," said its chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman, addressing the directive that took effect on Jan 12.
One of the key aspects assessed under the revised protocol is drag force, which refers to residual friction that keeps brakes partially engaged even when the pedal is not pressed.
Excessive drag can create unwanted resistance, heat and reduced brake efficiency over time.
"While most vehicle owners and operators comply with standards, a small number temporarily adjust brake settings to pass inspections before reverting the system for operational convenience.
"This practice places not only the driver at risk but also other road users," Mahmood Razak said, urging vehicle owners to work with certified workshops to ensure brakes are properly calibrated and maintained before inspections.
In response, the Association of Hauliers Malaysia (AMH) acknowledged the revised protocol but highlighted potential operational challenges.
"Since the introduction of Puspakom inspections in Malaysia, the industry’s common approach to trailer drum brake adjustment has evolved around ensuring the braking system meets inspection requirements, particularly because most trailer drum brake systems do not provide a clear, standardised indicator of the remaining brake lining/pad or drum condition.
"As a result, operators have historically tended to adjust settings conservatively (often at the maximum acceptable level) to avoid borderline results during inspection.
"With the new inspection criteria now also flagging over-tight settings as a failure criterion, AMH is concerned that a significant number of otherwise roadworthy vehicles may fail inspections due to legacy adjustment practices that were previously accepted and widely adopted across the industry," its secretary Azuan Masud said when contacted.
"In this regard, AMH respectfully calls for JPJ and Puspakom to conduct a formal engagement and technical briefing session with industry stakeholders before full enforcement.
"This is essential to ensure the industry clearly understands acceptable operational parameters and to avoid unintended operational disruptions while maintaining the shared objective of improving road safety," said Azuan, who also echoed the call for members to use only qualified workshops for vehicle maintenance, especially for the braking system.
"At the same time, clear communication, engagement and transition support are critical to ensure consistent compliance and fair outcomes for operators who have acted in good faith based on previous inspection norms," he added.
