BAGUIO CITY – The management of the NLEX Corporation urged truckers to strictly comply with the load limit being imposed along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to prevent the delays in the delivery of basic goods to the various markets in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Engr. Fernando Autor, assistant vice president of NLEX Corporation’s project management department, said that the company is currently implementing the 13.5 tons per axle load limit of trucks passing through the expressways pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations but there are still a number of truckers who are apprehended for alleged overloading.
“We reiterate our appeal to our truckers to make sure that they comply with the existing load limit being imposed along our expressways to prevent the untoward delays in the transport of basic goods to the markets not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country. WE do not give any warning to violators because they had been made aware of the regulation a number of years back,” Autor stressed.
The NLEX Corporation official said tollway companies in the country are not so strict about the load limit considering that the 13.5 tons per axle is much higher compared to the 8 to 9 tons per axle load limit being implemented along expressways in other countries.
According to him, one of the negative effects of the passing through of overloaded trucks on the expressways is the reported rapid deterioration of the surface that requires constant maintenance, thus, the need for the cooperation of truckers to the strict implementation of the load limit policies so that the expressways will be able to reach their projected economic life.
While management understands the desire of traders to put more load on their trucks to address the needs of consumers in their areas of destination, he explained that there is a need to balance the interest of the traders of goods and the interest of investors for the operation and maintenance of expressways to guarantee the good condition of the major roads.
Autor claimed that there are always a number of truckers who are apprehended by their personnel when passing through the designated weighing areas along the expressways that is why it is important for the company to constantly remind the compliance of truckers to the prescribed load limit for truckers not to be imposed stiffer fines.
Autor claimed the company does not want to contribute in the untoward delay in the delivery of goods to the desired markets, thus, the need for concerned stakeholders to be actively involved in making sure that there will be compliance of the truckers to the load limit on expressways for the greater advantage to the public.
NLEX Corporation now manages the operation and maintenance of the SCTEX and NLEX which are now inter-connected with the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Autor claimed that it is the investors that shoulder the investments for the upgrading of expressways that is why the government provides the companies the opportunity to recover such investments with the return of investments through long-term concessions on the operation and management of said highways.
By HENT
