THE Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) is asking government to adopt standard anti-overloading requirements at the North and South Luzon expressways.
CTAP president Ruperto Bayucot told PortCalls the dissimilar rules breed confusion.
At the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), the load limit is 13.5 tons per axle but at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), the limit is more variable: A 10-wheeler can carry a maximum load of 16 tons; an 18-wheeler up to 33 tons; and a 24-wheeler, up to 51 tons.
Bayucot said transit delays occur because in some cases truckers traveling in both directions have to stop and recalculate the weight of their vehicles before entering either expressway.
The varying rules, he added, discourage fleet modernization since truck operators are unlikely to spend on equipment when policies are unclear.
Bayucot said truckers prefer the limit applied at NLEx because it follows provisions of the Anti-Overloading Law (Republic Act 8794) to the letter.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have been debating over which agency should rule on the load limit. LTO had said the NLEx and SLEx operators may perhaps be the best agencies to decide on the issue.
CTAP will likely seek an audience with TRB and LTO to push its agenda.
Earlier, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed amendments to RA 8794 to make it more compliant to world standards.
The country’s 13.5-ton per axle limit is higher compared to other countries’, resulting in greater wear and tear of roads, DPWH said. The agency is proposing a limit of 12 tons per axle.
In the United States, the limit is 9.1 tons per axle; in the United Kingdom, 11.5; European Union, 11.5; Thailand 9.1; Pakistan, 12; and India, 9.3.
