First Deputy Speaker Chairs Meeting with Transport Companies
Press coverage 2 newspapers covered this event: Al-Jarida · Al-Qabas →
The First Deputy Speaker chairs a meeting with transport companies to discuss protecting roads from overloaded cargo.
Translated by Qiyas from القبس — Original source
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, attended by Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, chaired a meeting today with relevant government entities and representatives of several transport companies to discuss measures necessary to protect roads and state property from damage caused by overloaded trucks. The Deputy Prime Minister reviewed a visual presentation outlining the causes of road deterioration and the impact of truck overloading, and examined ways to mitigate such damage by establishing construction standards for lanes designated for high-load vehicles, aligned with authorized weights under prevailing laws. The meeting also covered the review of technical specifications and requirements for trucks and their loads.
Discussions with freight transport companies and state-contracted firms for equipment transport focused on the causes of overloading and methods to curb it, including regulating weighbridge locations and truck passage, monitoring weights during tractor changes, and designating appropriate routes by leveraging Gulf regional experiences. The importance of cooperation between relevant authorities and transport companies in safeguarding roads was emphasized. The meeting addressed imposing immediate fines on companies or truck owners upon confirmation that overloading caused road damage, enabling repairs without awaiting the completion of judicial procedures.
Other topics included stricter penalties for exceeding permitted weights, failure to adhere to designated truck lanes, and neglecting brake and tire maintenance, as well as the suspension of drivers committing serious violations in accordance with established regulations. Enhanced supervision was also discussed for buses operating in passenger transport outside their licensed activities.
The meeting touched upon a study being prepared by the Ministry of Public Works to establish truck parking facilities outside cities, equipped with residential and living amenities, to reduce truck congestion in residential areas. It also noted the possibility of offering state-owned lots in strategic locations to the private sector for the development of multi-story parking facilities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participating entities presented their plans, with each entity to begin implementing its respective responsibilities at the earliest opportunity.
