Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has denied requests from truck owners and drivers who want their vehicles back after having them confiscated due to overloading. Transport Minister, Mr. Sun Chanthol, says they cannot grant the requests because truck overloading is a violation of the Law on Roads and Legal Regulations.

On Tuesday, a group of truck owners and drivers protested along the border of Phnom Penh and Kandal, demanding that the MPWT release their trucks and ease the current provisions of truck overloading. They have asked to increase the allowed overloading weight between 9 to 15 tons. Currently, the MPWT only allows overloading below 20% of the total weight of the loaded truck. If it exceeds this, the vehicle is confiscated for a year. Protesters also requested officials to stop seizing their trucks and instead, apply a fine.

The MPWT has advised transport companies, truck owners and drivers to work together to implement legal measures to ensure the protection of public property, roads and bridges. Most of them are transporting soil, sand and stones, plying daily routes across the country. The Transport Ministry says overloaded vehicles are damaging road infrastructure and are a danger to other road users.