LTFRB gives in, eases rule on aging trucks

GINEZ

Age is relative, after all, even for trucks.

After drawing protests last week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) agreed to let operators of old trucks prove their roadworthiness and skirt a year-old policy that imposes an age limit on cargo haulers.

Operators of trucks-for-hire (TH) may now file an appeal for their franchise to remain valid under a new provision approved by the LTFRB.

The agency’s plan to phase out trucks that are 15 years old and above drew protests from transports groups on May 18, particularly those servicing the ports in Manila.

The operators argued that a vehicle’s roadworthiness—not its age—should be the basis of any vehicle phaseout policy.

“While we want to help the government find a viable solution to address port congestion, we also consider the plight of truck-for-hire operators. Hence we decided to come up with the provisions on NCY (Non-Confirmation Year) policy,” LTFRB Chair

Winston Ginez said on Saturday.

Under the NCY policy, trucks that are 26 years old will only be allowed confirmation of franchise for one year; those that are 21-25 years old for two years; 16-20 years old for three years; 11-15 years old for four years; and 10 years or less for 5 years.

In approving the provision allowing appeals, Ginez said the board considered the motions for reconsideration filed by truck operators and the importance of having enough trucks to deliver primary goods across the country.

“The board will not disrupt the regular operations of TH services but we need to also ensure that the units being offered for hire by operators are safe and roadworthy,” Ginez said.

TH operators will also be required to indicate the year model of the truck units as part of the registration.

“Eventually, the LTFRB and the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) will come out with a policy that will fix the maximum age for trucks,” Ginez said.

According to Teddy Gervacio, president of the Integrated North Harbor Truckers Association, around 2,000 to 3,000 trucks have been phased out since last year under the LTFRB policy.

Gervacio warned that of the 300,000 trucks nationwide, up to 80 percent would be taken off the road if the policy is not modified.