Earlier this month, the government announced that from February 19, lorries would be banned from using certain highways to and from Kuala Lumpur during peak hours in a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the Klang Valley during these periods. The move drew a response from the Association of Malaysia Hauliers (AMH), which said it would reduce productivity and result in longer delivery times.
Now, other transport industry associations have chimed in about their views on the peak-hour ban, stating pretty much the same thing, that the move will cause disruptions to supply chains and impact members’ livelihoods, as the New Straits Times reports.
“Due to the ban, the hours for lorry drivers to transport goods will be reduced. Now, trucks will have to remain parked for several hours before resuming their journey, and this will disrupt the supply chain and increase industry cost,” said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association secretary-general Alvin Choong.
“Highways are built to ease the transport of goods. We have to pay toll charges, but we are still restricted from driving during peak hours,” he added. Choong urged authorities to review the rules and consult stakeholders about the matter.
This sentiment was echoed by Malaysian Tipper Lorry Operators Association secretary-general Tan Boon Hing, who said the restrictions would also reduce drivers’ working hours, leaving drivers with only five hours of operational time.
“Not only that, if drivers finish their delivery at 5 pm, they may be unable to return home immediately as they must wait until the 7.30 pm restriction is lifted. By the time they get back, it will be 8.30 pm or 9 pm. Regulations require they need enough time to rest,” he said.
Malaysian Federation of Land Transport Associations supreme council member Mohamad Khairillah Md Ali also agreed that time constraints and inefficiencies caused by the ban would negatively affect drivers’ well-being.
“Because of the restrictions, drivers won’t have enough time to load and unload goods. Worse-case scenario, drivers may not be able to leave before the afternoon restriction and they may head back only at night. Drivers have families and personal lives. When we cannot complete our work, and we are unable to go home for days, it causes stress and anger,” he stated.
He urged the government to consider other solutions instead of imposing blanket restrictions, and proposed that authorities look into setting up logistical hubs such as that practiced overseas, where cargo from larger lorries could be then transferred to smaller trucks to continue deliveries.
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then stop killing ppl bros
Exactly – Keep yourselves in tip top shape, or don’t bother travelling peak hours at all!
Why this year lorries was not stopped from running during CNY? PH Gomen sudah masuk poket dorang?
Lorries driver too smart now using shortcut via housing area trunk roads to avoid getting caught using highways KEK
Non peak hours are longer than off peak. Figure it out la. Semua pun nak kena cakap.
Check Puspakom, menipu. Load, overloading. Maintenance, minimal. Try living with integrity for once.
Talk nonsense la these lorries association. Already now the efficiency is bad due to numerous accidents caused by them. The lorry driver dont even mind long work hours because they can claim OT. So ? The reason is only because the lorry bosses wants to curtail their OT.
Are they saying that government are stupid making decision without getting data and at the same time they saying that thier business more important than problem that they have caused including many rakyat have to suffer because of them especially in the morning during rush hours and not following rule/queues and causing accidents?