Logistics industry opposes lorry peak hour ban on highways – longer working times, lower productivity

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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