Porac, Pampanga—A group of sand haulers in Pampanga has reduced their cargo to its maximum allowable limit set by authorities of the North Luzon Expressway and other road regulating agencies to continue their trucking business.
“Seventy percent of our members have complied with the regulations set by NLEx,” said Lenard Lansang, president of the Porac Truckers Association (PTA).
Lansang however admitted that there are some members who defied the “no overloading” regulations, but this is being looked into for necessary actions.
“Inaamin ko meron kaming miyembro, ilan lamang ito na hindi sumusunod sa batas, kaya tinitingnan namin kung paano sila idisiplina,” said Lansang over the phone.
Lansang’s PTA has more than 300 truckers plying different quarrying sites in Pampanga, NLEx and nearby Metro Manila and even as far as Southern Tagalog region to deliver high quality sands.
He said all trucks under his organization are certified road worthy by the government regulating agency.
The multimillion trucking industry have been greatly affected by NLEx strict implementation of no overloading policy that prompted PTA members to put up blockade, using quarry trucks, on all eight exits toll gates of the expressway Pampanga section on Saturday (Oct 7).
The barricade lasted for almost an hour that created a monstrous traffic jam along the Dau and Sta. Ines toll gates in Mabalacat City; Angeles City, San Fernando, Floridablanca, Porac, San Simon and Mexico.
Lansang said his group will seek audience with the top management of NLEx, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the provincial government of Pampanga today to iron out issues and hopefully allow the trucking business to resume normal operations.
The allowable load limit of sand haulers for every truck is inly up to 25 cubic meters, said Lansang but imported trucks acquired from abroad has extended sidings allowing trucks to carry more weight.
Overloaded cargo trucks are blamed by observers as caused for rapid deterioration of roads due to heavy load.