The government’s move to ban lorries from using certain highways during peak hours in the Klang Valley has sparked furore in the logistics industry, according to The Star. The Association of Malaysia Hauliers (AMH) said that authorities failed to engage it and other stakeholders before making its unilateral decision, indicating that as many as 1,000 lorries belonging to its members would be affected.
“If the trucks of non-members are included, it will be several thousand more,” executive secretary Mohamad Azuan Masud told the publication, adding that existing movement restrictions have already resulted in longer working hours for drivers, lowering productivity due to prolonged waiting times.
Explaining how the ban would affect the industry, he continued: “For example, if a haulier needs to deliver an empty container from Port Klang to a factory in Bentong in the morning, the driver must leave before the road ban starts, but will arrive too early while the factory is still closed, leading to [a] longer waiting time.
“If the driver waits until the restriction period ends, the delivery will be delayed. This will lead to supply chain inefficiencies, making the industry less productive.”
Azuan said container haulage was “a matter of national interest” and any disruptions to supply chains would impact the national economy. He also noted that during the movement control order (MCO) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hauliers were required to continue moving containers that were vital to the import-export ecosystem.
“Most haulage trips involve port terminals, not city centres, but our routes often go through paths leading to city centres. Despite heavy vehicles being major highway users and key contributors to the national economy, we were not consulted by highway concessionaires and LLM,” he said.
The lorry ban also drew ire from social media users, with Firdaus Abd Latiff saying that the authorities might as well place a blanket ban on lorries on weekdays. “Easier to just allow heavy vehicle movements just on weekends, right? Movement restrictions starting 4.30pm? Do you think lorries work office hours only? Congrats to whoever drew up this regulation.
“We are already paying Class 2 and 3 toll rates [significantly higher than Class 1 rates for private cars], and we still don’t get appreciated,” he added.
When approached by reporters yesterday, a Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) official said an engagement session will be held before the police and Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforce the restrictions. Meanwhile, the concessionaire for three of the highways involved (North-South Highway, NKVE and ELITE), PLUS Malaysia, said it would respond today.
The ban, which is set to take effect on PLUS’ Klang Valley highways as well as the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) from February 19, will bar heavy vehicles in all directions to ease traffic flow. The indicated peak hours will be from 6:30am to 9:30am and from 4:30pm to 7:30pm from Monday to Friday. Buses, refuse trucks, public cleaning vehicles, emergency services and highway maintenance.
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Why would anyone want to ban lorries during peak hour in the first place? Could it be that poorly maintained lorries breaking down are contributing to jams? Or have wheels falling off killing people, causing jams? Or overloaded lorries whose old engines can’t haul the load up hills at a reasonable speed are causing jams? Poorly trained lorry drivers causing accidents (exacerbated by other poorly trained road users)? All in the name of maximising profits for the company…so apa lagi lu mau?
Yey yey… I am FOR it. Waited for this for 20+ years since I last wrote to LLM and RTD requesting for a ban on peak hours on highways. Each truck/lorry/16 wheeler of the road, can provide space for 2 mid size cars. The logic of the AMH spokesperson is talking crap! Plan your members travel time properly. Nothing is different from current where your truckers hog the R&Rs to “sleep-off” the waiting time. Start revising their payment scheme from “number of deliveries” to standard monthly salary. It will create “less” loopholes and route-preferences or selections
Appreciate the lorries services you say….
If every vehicle driver is given a vote, you’ll be banned from using the road 24/7.
Remember those days when there’s no e-Hailing and taxi drivers blatantly do as they like.
Your lorries and heavy vehicle drivers are the same in their driving manners on the highway especially.
No, it’s not a small number of them doing it but more than half of em.
There is no legal basis to prohibit lorries from using highways at any time. As long as the roads can accommodate these lorries and it’s fully licensed and road worthy, they can use these roads any time they wish.
Confirm lorry driver or logistic company people.