THE Malaysian Logistics Council (MLC) has undertaken a comprehensive study calling for the “long overdue” revision of road haulage weight limitation regulations.

MLC land and rail transport focus group chairman Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Shaffie said that with the current technology in land haulage trucks, the industry required a higher weight limit.

“Our current regulation on load limitation for road haulage is 30 years old while trucks have evolved to bear heavier cargo.

“And truck operators should be given the permission to load cargo based on the current specifications and capacities of their vehicles,” he told StarBiz.

Furthermore, he said, the country's gross axle weight rating (GAWR) was much lower compared to international standards.

GAWR is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle.

The Axle is an important structure of a wheeled vehicle that maintains the position of the wheels relative to each other and to the vehicle body.

Wheels and axles bear the weight of the vehicle plus any cargo, as well as acceleration and braking forces.

“Our regulations stand at seven tonnes per axle against international standards that allow 12½ to 13 tonnes per axle.

“In addition, our federal roads and highways have improved to cater to a maximum weight of 65 tonnes per vehicle,” he added.

Shalimin said if the current road haulage load limitation regulations were not revised, it would create a negative domino effect that would spiral down to consumers.

“Increasing transportation cost will be passed on to our consumers. Also, this revision will ease the shortage of trucks for the local market,” he argued.

He said the focus group hoped to present the study to the MLC board this quarter.

“The study will focus on prime mover and trailer ratings as well as axle numbers in relation to weight load capacity.

“Currently, we have received the green light for technical support for the study from the Public Works Department and Road Transport Department,” he said.

Shalimin, who is also Association of Malaysian Hauliers president, also mentioned the issue of too many players in the container haulage industry.

The haulage industry gained its liberalisation from Government-controlled tariff on April 1, 2006, after 31 years.

“The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board is now doing a study on the situation and will come out with a decision soon.

“Industry players feel that there is an oversupply of services that has resulted in unhealthy price undercutting.

“This will then affect the service level and disrupt the smooth flow of the supply chain,” he said.

Shalimin said CLVB should consider stopping the issuance of new haulage licenses or giving the new licences only to existing companies to expand their fleet if the need arises.