Ministry proposes tough rules for commercial vehicles

Heavy commercial vehicles at the Kitengela junction near the Mlolongo weighbridge. The ministry of transport and infrastructure is the process of developing tough guidelines in an attempt to reign in rogue trucks. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Similar to the tough rules that were developed for public transport operators, the proposed guidelines are aimed at enforcing self-regulation among heavy commercial vehicle operators in observing traffic rules.
  • Late last year, the transport ministry also developed tough rules that were aimed at taming disorganization in the public transport sector.

The ministry of transport and infrastructure is the process of developing tough guidelines in an attempt to reign in rogue trucks.

Similar to the tough rules that were developed for public transport operators, the proposed guidelines are aimed at enforcing self-regulation among heavy commercial vehicle operators in observing traffic rules.

National Transport and Safety Authority is the body tasked with developing the guidelines.

They propose to impose heavy blanket penalties to transport companies whose members shall be caught flouting existing laid down rules.

“Chief among the proposed guidelines is a strict observation of the axle load requirements…we want to make it very expensive for them to break the law,” Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli said in a statement.

HEAVY FINES

Granted, Commercial vehicle companies and owners shall have to take full responsibility for their truck loads with the aim being to deter the ferrying of illegal imports along the northern corridor.

All commercial vehicle owners shall also be required to be licensed by the National Transport and Safety Authority before being allowed to operate in the country.

There is a proposal to have operator’s present details of their designated parking areas along the entire northern transport corridor before being registered by NTSA.

Late last year, the transport ministry also developed tough rules that were aimed at taming disorganization in the public transport sector.

The rules restricted the issuance of public service vehicle licenses to companies that owned at least five vans, resulting in the formation of matatu Saccos by abolishing individual investors.

Mr Nduva said that they have not arrived at the fine to be met by those fail to observe the proposed guidelines but in the Matatu sector, failure to observe any of the provisions attracts Sh100, 000 or up to one year in jail.