Jakarta Transport Agency reaffirms truck supervision following flyover collapse

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of Traffic for the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Dody Setiono, has affirmed that his department continues to supervise freight vehicle operations in accordance with applicable regulations. The statement was made in response to a request from the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) to tighten oversight of truck operating hours, load limits, and vehicle height. “The Transportation Agency continues to supervise the implementation of these provisions together with relevant agencies,” Dody said in Jakarta on Thursday. He explained that the Jakarta Provincial Government has regulations governing the operating hours of freight vehicles on both toll roads and non-toll roads. These provisions follow the Minister of Transportation Regulation No. PM 62 of 2011 concerning the regulation of freight vehicle operating hours on inner-city toll roads in DKI Jakarta. Dody added that supervision is also carried out in accordance with the Governor of DKI Jakarta Decree No. 5148 of 1999, which stipulates time restrictions for freight vehicles on certain roads in the province. He stated that his agency, together with the Metro Jaya Regional Police, will continue to enhance supervision of freight vehicles. The oversight focuses on compliance with vehicle dimensions, cargo loading procedures, and traffic safety regulations. This effort is also part of the broader campaign against Over Dimension and Over Load (ODOL) vehicles. The statement follows an incident where a pedestrian bridge (JPO) collapsed in the Tendean area. DPRD DKI Jakarta member Achmad Yani stressed that this event must serve as a wake-up call for the provincial government and related agencies to strictly enforce operational hours, load limits, and vehicle height restrictions on the capital’s roads. According to Achmad Yani, the losses from the incident are not limited to physical infrastructure damage but also include massive economic disruption caused by total gridlock that paralysed public activity. “The collapse of the JPO in Tendean is a loud alarm. Public facilities built with public money were destroyed due to violations of road regulations. We cannot allow ODOL vehicles or those violating operational hours to roam freely without strict supervision,” Achmad Yani said. He assessed that the rules regarding operational hour restrictions for trucks and heavy vehicles on protocol roads are already very clear. However, weak supervision and law enforcement on the ground have allowed violations to recur, culminating in a fatal accident that damaged public facilities. Achmad Yani urged the Jakarta Transportation Agency and the Metro Jaya Police Traffic Directorate to take concrete steps, including imposing strict sanctions without exception. These sanctions could include maximum legal action, ranging from revoking the operating permits of bus or truck companies to criminal penalties for drivers or owners proven to have violated load, dimension, and operating hour limits.