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There is a 20-30% shortage in cargo trucks being used in the Manila port area
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Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth president Ferdinand Mañebo said 2 to 3 out of 10 members’ trucks are not being utilized due to the shortage
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He attributed the deficit to the Land Transportation Office’s license restriction code requirement
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The LTO now requires more driving experience to handle heavily articulated vehicles
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HATAW proposed simplifying the application process for the license code
There is a 20-30% shortage in cargo truck drivers in the Manila port area amid an unprecedented growth in the cargo transport industry fueled by a vibrant e-commerce sector.
A survey of more than 150 members of the Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth’s (HATAW) found 2 to 3 out of 10 trucks are not being utilized due to the shortage, HATAW president Atty. Ferdinand Mañebo said.
Mañebo, who was one of the speakers during the recent Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show (PCVS) 2024 at SMX Convention Center Manila, attributed the shortage to the Land Transportation Office’s license restriction code requirement.
To obtain a Driver’s License (DL) Code CE:04 for heavy articulated vehicles over 10,000 kilograms, a driver must have a minimum of four years’ driving experience, he said. This compares with the relatively more lenient pre-2021 requirement (DL Restriction Code 8) that allowed licensed drivers to operate articulated vehicles with gross vehicle weight of 4,501 kg and above.
“As a result, we are experiencing a driver shortage, especially in the heavy commercial vehicle classification,” the HATAW president added, despite the “unprecedented growth in the cargo transport industry.”
HATAW has proposed simplifying the application process for the DL CE:04 code, provided the driver has completed training at an accredited school. Mañebo said the LTO is currently reviewing requirements for the license code.
“(At) HATAW, we conduct road safety seminars and training, and we are also in the process of developing a comprehensive commercial vehicle driving academy. This would solve the shortage problem and avert a transport crisis. It is hoped that we can work with government agencies, particularly with LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), in the development, implementation, delivery, and accreditation of our training programs,” Mañebo highlighted. – Michael Barcas
